Digest

Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey welcome Bob Odenkirk to the "Office Ladies" podcast. They discuss his extensive career, from his early days in improv and sketch comedy to his transition into drama. Odenkirk shares stories about writing for "Saturday Night Live," working with Second City, and his experience on "The Office." He also talks about his regret of not fully embracing a sweet and fun movie project with Will Forte and Will Arnett. The conversation delves into Odenkirk's audition for Michael Scott, his experience with improv, and his thoughts on the differences between comedy and drama. He reveals that he was initially hesitant to take on the role of Michael Scott, but ultimately embraced the opportunity to showcase his comedic talents. Odenkirk also shares the story behind the iconic "Matt Foley, Van Down by the River" sketch, explaining how it came about during a stressful period in his life. He discusses the challenges of being a comedy performer and how he found his true calling in drama. The interview concludes with Odenkirk answering "Office Ladies" call sheet questions, revealing his first entertainment job, his favorite place to visit, his weekend routine, and his favorite midnight snack.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces the "Office Ladies" podcast, hosted by Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey, who were both on "The Office." They announce that they will be interviewing Bob Odenkirk, who played Mark Franks on the show.

00:03:39

Interview with Bob Odenkirk

This Chapter features an in-depth interview with Bob Odenkirk, covering his career in comedy and drama, including his time on "The Office." He shares stories about writing for "Saturday Night Live," working with Second City, and his experience on "The Office." He also talks about his regret of not fully embracing a sweet and fun movie project with Will Forte and Will Arnett.

00:50:01

Call Sheet Questions

This Chapter features Bob Odenkirk answering "Office Ladies" call sheet questions, revealing his first entertainment job, his favorite place to visit, his weekend routine, and his favorite midnight snack.

Keywords

Q&A

• What is Bob Odenkirk's greatest regret in his career?

  Odenkirk regrets not fully embracing a sweet and fun movie project with Will Forte and Will Arnett, which he believes could have been a great success.

• How did Bob Odenkirk's audition for Michael Scott on "The Office" influence the show's storyline?

  Odenkirk's audition, which involved him bringing his guitar and singing a song about Jenna Fisher's character, inspired a scene in the episode where his character, Mark Franks, does the same thing.

• What is Bob Odenkirk's favorite place to visit?

  Odenkirk's favorite place to visit is Ireland, specifically the Kenmare area in the southwest.

• What is Bob Odenkirk's favorite midnight snack?

  Odenkirk doesn't eat midnight snacks because he goes to bed early.

• What is Bob Odenkirk's advice for young actors?

  Odenkirk advises young actors to try to work for a casting director once to get a better understanding of the audition process and to realize that not getting a role doesn't necessarily mean they are not good enough.

• What is Bob Odenkirk's first entertainment job?

  Odenkirk's first entertainment job was playing characters in a singles bar, walking around and engaging with people.

• What is Bob Odenkirk's favorite thing about working on a show with improv?

  Odenkirk loves the feeling of reward from having written something that turns out well, but he also enjoys the spontaneity and creativity of improv, where he can invent things and have fun with his fellow actors.

• What is Bob Odenkirk's perspective on the differences between comedy and drama?

  Odenkirk believes that comedy performers often bring a certain level of earnestness or seriousness to their work, which can be a detriment in comedy but a strength in drama. He also believes that drama is often more rewarding because it allows for deeper exploration of characters and emotions.

Show Notes