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Rhea knows all about it, Odenkirk explains a few moments before Seehorn hops on the call.
She was part of all the conversations, and she saw me and Erin working on it.
I havent seen her in months.
I wanted to show her that the book is here.
You have the book!
Seehorn says as soon as she logs on.
Let me see it!
Odenkirk flips through the pages of illustrated poems and holds them up to the camera.
Yes, the answers yes, says Seehorn, adding, We like getting nominated for shit.
We get to hang out together again.
I would just be a fucking idiot for a minute and a half and leave.
I am beginning to think that I could do this based on that description, Seehorn laughs.
I can definitely pull off being a fucking idiot.
Well, yes, Ill help you, Odenkirk says.
You helped me be an actor for six years.
Ill help you be a fucking idiot.
This interview, conducted before SAG went on strike, has been edited and condensed.
Bob Odenkirk:How many have we won?
:Weve won two in Creative Arts, havent we?
:Youre going to think its bullshit, but people always say the nominations a win.
You know, winning, of course, would be fine.
I guess Ill find out one day … maybe.
But, really, its such a big fucking deal.
It was our final season.
We know we left it on the field, everything we had, and Im so proud.
This is an acknowledgement that you saw it and noticed it, and thats its everything.
:Bob and I both are in the Television Academy, so we did the voting.
Not only are there hundreds and hundreds of shows, theres a lot of really, really great shows.
Sometimes you do the best work of your life but no one saw it.
Sometimes the show is popular but you dont feel like it was your best work.
Its amazing to be recognized for that.
As a voting member, how do you approach checking out all these shows?
:Im not in the Academy.
:Oh, youre not.
Thats why I keep losing.
Im always one vote away.
:I used to be years ago.
I was in as a comedy writer at the time.
I worked really hard and I was actually very pleased by everything about it.
You had to watch, over the course of a day, every episode that was nominated.
What was great about that, obviously, is I actually had to see shows Id never seen.
We saw aHomicideand we saw two episodes ofNorthern Exposure.
It was drama writing, and theHomicideepisode was really hard.
The whole hour was an interrogation, so it was really dry, very well-written.
I thought,That wont win a popular vote.
Its not juicy enough for a regular audience.But as a writer, thats the best fucking writing.
So I voted for that.
What I loved about that was, theres so many secondary reasons why someone might win.
so you can do that, you have to watch the show.
Back thenThe Ben Stiller Showwon.
Why did this little show that no one had seen win?
Because they made you watch them.
And when you were forced to watchThe Ben Stiller ShowversusSaturday Night Live, you went,Oh shit.
This is better.I dont think they do that anymore, and I wish they did.
:Oh, absolutely.
It would be nice.
Obviously,Successionis a juggernaut.
It will be everywhere.
:AndThe White Lotus.
:Theyre great so itll be awful hard.
It would mean a lot to get even one.
:I agree with that sentiment.
They are all part of creating Kim Wexler.
Theyre all part of creating Jimmy.
:Theyre encouraged to be.
The prop people who have an idea are listened to, you know?
They feel like they helped make the show.
Maybe their idea was used, maybe it wasnt, but they were taken seriously.
A win for any of us is our whole team.
Or does Kim come back to visit again?R.S.
:I think she comes back.
I dont think she becomes the Kim she used to be.
But you do see her begin to practice law again.
I do think she returns.
B.O.:Wow.
:I know you dont!
Bobs always like, They never see each other again and they both die in a fiery car crash.
B.O.:[Laughs.]
Obviously itd be awful hard for Saul to die in a fiery car crash.
I just think it really is a goodbye.
The word that comes to mind when I think about the journey of that final episode is surrender.
Only with every other option stolen from them did Jimmy realize the only way out is through surrendering.
I thought it was beautiful.
What do you miss about working with each other every day?B.O.
:We had that from the beginning.
And then our respect for each others work grew at the same time as our friendship grew.
You dont always get that.
You also dont always get to play a character over the course of seven years.
Shows get ripped off the air in like three episodes now.
You also dont always get a chance to play a serialized character thats allowed to grow.
It was constantly cumulative.
Bob is a one in a million scene partner.
Have you talked about working together again at some point?B.O.
:We have not.
Ive been talking to my friend David Cross its been a long time since Ive done anything with him.
I like to keep relationships alive over the course of my career.
It would be a dream to work with Rhea again.
It can happen, I think.The Odd Couple on Broadway!
How are the strikes impacting both of you?B.O.
:Core issues are being argued and it deserves everybodys complete dedication.
I think its going to be a hard, long fight.
Weve got to stand our ground, man.
:Writing is a profession, not a hobby.
Peoples heads are still stuck in the era ofFriends, you know?
Thats not what were all making anymore.
:If you write a hit show, you should be rewarded.
If your show just falls away and nobody notices because it didnt come together, well, thats okay.
We took a chance on something.
Everybody knows theres a risk and is willing to take that risk.
Thats a model to encourage excellence.
