Bob Odenkirk Turned Down This Scene In "Better Call Saul"

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“John Wick: Chapter 4” Los Angeles Premiere At The TCL Chinese Theatre In Hollywood
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: Bob Odenkirk attends “John Wick: Chapter 4” Los Angeles Premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre on March 20, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Lionsgate)

This moment was a step too far for Odenkirk

Better Call Saul was beloved by fans. The Breaking Bad spinoff focused on Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman, a strip mall lawyer who would eventually represent Walter White. The show was a smash hit, getting six seasons and holding a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The show's final season is split across two timelines. The first nine episodes take place in Albuquerque about four years before Saul meets Walter White. The final five episodes take place in Omaha, where Goodman (now using the alias Gene Takavic) runs a Cinnabun franchise and is hiding from law enforcement after the death of Walter White. However, as the season unfolds, the past begins to catch up with "Gene".

Odenkirk Didn't Want to Kill Carol Burnett

Episode 12 of Better Call Saul's final season sees Saul sink back into his criminal ways. He befriends Marion, played by comedy legend Carol Burnett, whose son recognized him as Saul Goodman. However, after successfully committing a robbery with her son, Marion becomes suspicious of "Gene". Using the computer her son bought her with his cut of the robbery, she discovers that Gene is actually Saul Goodman. Saul attempts to intimidate her. Despite this, she alerts the authorities by triggering her Life Alert button. Saul flees the house before any harm comes to Marion. However, that is not how the script was originally written. On Wednesday night, NBC aired Carol Burnett: 90 Years Of Laughter + Love to celebrate the stars' 90th birthday.

Odenkirk was one of the guest speakers and revealed a shocking detail about the original fate of Burnett's character in Nippy. "“They rewrote this scene exactly how I wanted it, but not how your so-called good friend Better Call Saul executive producer Vince Gilligan had written it,” Odenkirk joked, “Carol, there’s something that you should know. Vince wanted my character to kill you in that scene. Look at him, he’s shaking his head. His exact words to me were, ‘Saul ends up killing Carol Burnett.’ And if I remember correctly, he didn’t say, ‘Kill Carol’s character,’ he said, ‘Kill Carol Burnett.’ But I refused, and I told him I’d walk."

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About The Author
Benjamin Mock (they/them) is a sports and culture writer working out of Philadelphia. Previously writing for the likes of Fixture, Dexerto, Fragster, and Jaxon, Ben has dedicated themselves to engaging and accessible articles about sports, esports, and internet culture. With a love for the weirder stories, you never quite know what to expect from their work.