How How I Met Your Mother Shaped a Key Character in Breaking Bad, Even Bob Odenkirk Admits
How I Met Your Mother is not only known for its humor and introducing Neil Patrick Harris as the legendary Barney Stinson, but also for its surprising impact on one of television’s greatest dramas, Breaking Bad. The Emmy-winning crime drama, known for its unforgettable characters, owes part of its success to a scheduling conflict involving actor Bob Odenkirk, who portrayed Saul Goodman.
In a revealing interview, Odenkirk shared how his commitment to How I Met Your Mother led to the creation of Breaking Bad‘s iconic character, Mike Ehrmantraut.
How Bob Odenkirk’s Role in How I Met Your Mother Led to the Creation of Mike Ehrmantraut
When Breaking Bad introduced Mike Ehrmantraut in Season 2, fans quickly embraced Jonathan Banks’ portrayal of the fixer. However, Mike’s character was never part of the original plan. Bob Odenkirk, who played Saul Goodman, was initially supposed to handle the dramatic scene involving Jane’s overdose and assist Jesse in covering his tracks.
During an interview with Wired, Odenkirk revealed that his commitment to How I Met Your Mother, where he portrayed Arthur Hobbs in nine episodes between 2008 and 2012, created a scheduling conflict. As a result, the Breaking Bad showrunners had to improvise and write a new character to take over Saul’s role in the crucial scenes.
“Because I had to do How I Met Your Mother, they had to invent another character to pull that plot along,” Odenkirk shared. That character was Mike Ehrmantraut, whose no-nonsense demeanor quickly made him a fan favorite. Odenkirk expressed gratitude for the conflict, saying, “Thank God I was on How I Met Your Mother because they could invent Mike, and then me and Jonathan Banks could do Better Call Saul.”
Jonathan Banks’ portrayal of Mike Ehrmantraut became an integral part of Breaking Bad‘s success. The character’s popularity eventually led to his reprisal alongside Odenkirk in the hit spin-off Better Call Saul.
Bob Odenkirk on the Legacy of Breaking Bad Amid Changing Pop Culture
Despite the lasting impact of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, Bob Odenkirk has expressed uncertainty about the long-term legacy of these shows. In an interview with The Guardian, he reflected on the ever-changing landscape of pop culture, saying, “I’m aware of how fast pop culture moves these days.”
Odenkirk acknowledged that while Breaking Bad remains beloved now, even highly praised shows like it might be forgotten over time, drawing parallels to older shows like MASH*. “Try to tell a 25-year-old about MASH*,” he said. “They won’t know what the f*ck you’re talking about.”
His comments highlight the transient nature of pop culture, but with streaming platforms making shows accessible to new generations, Breaking Bad and its unforgettable characters continue to fuel discussions long after their original air dates
