Bob Odenkirk Turned Down a Job at ‘The Simpsons’ Because It Sounded Like ‘A Lot of Work’
Until Bruce Vilanch decides to get jacked and join the Fast and the Furious franchise, Bob Odenkirk may be the only comedy writer to become a legit action movie hero. Odenkirk recently returned to ass-kicking mode for the sequel Nobody 2, but one wonders if his acting career would have ever taken off had he accepted a job writing for the residents of Springfield.
In a recent GQ video, Odenkirk answered a number of fan questions, including one about writing for The Simpsons — something he never actually did.
Don't Miss
“I did not write for The Simpsons,” Odenkirk explained before acknowledging that he was “almost a writer at The Simpsons.” After writing for Saturday Night Live and the cult Chris Elliott sitcom Get a Life, Odenkirk landed an interview for a job with the newly-launched Simpsons TV show. “Sam Simon, one of the original writers, and Heide Perlman; I went in for an interview (with them) and they liked me and offered me the chance to write there,” Odenkirk recalled. “And I passed on it, because I wanted to act more. And I knew that The Simpsons was a lot of work.
In his book Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama: A Memoir, the Mr. Show star explained that he was offered the Simpsons job when the series first began, noting that it was “rightfully seen as the most important new American comedy show” after just one year.
“The door at that show had been opened to me a year before,” Odenkirk wrote. “But I was wary of it. Animation seemed like a lot of work — no time to focus on my own material. I was right about that — animation allows for numerous rounds of rethinking and rewriting and The Simpsons writers I knew put in long days with no time for doing their own projects on the side. My whole life is side projects!”
Obviously Odenkirk’s plan worked out, and despite turning down one of the biggest shows in TV history, he became a big enough star to land an invite to perform on the show. Odenkirk guest starred in the Season 31 episode “The Fat Blue Line,” which, incidentally, was written by his brother Bill.
Fittingly, the Better Call Saul star voiced Fat Tony’s mob lawyer, who even sports a Saul Goodman-esque pinky ring.
Although it all worked out for Odenkirk, turning down job offers with hit shows probably isn’t the best move for most aspiring comedians.
