Bob and Bill Odenkirk have built their careers as top Hollywood comedy writers.
Before Bob Odenkirk became known for playing Saul Goodman on Breaking Bad or the spinoff Better Caul Saul, he launched his career writing for The Second City in Chicago as well as Saturday Night Live and Late Night with Conan O’Brien.
His brother, Bill Odenkirk, earned a PhD in organic chemistry before writing episodes of Tenacious D, Futurama and The Simpsons.
The two brothers grew up in Naperville, Illinois.
For the first episode of a new season of Prairie Fire on WILL-TV, host Sarah Edwards sat down with Bob and Bill Odenkirk to talk about their upbringing, what draws them to comedy and what’s coming up for the two of them.
Interview Highlights
Bob Odenkirk on the role of a Midwest upbringing in comedy
[The Second City] is the name for a theater, and it’s a name that was borrowed from a name for Chicago, “The Second City.” It’s, you’re the underdog … and as a result, you have a suspicious chip on your shoulder towards all the whatever’s happening, whatever’s hype and happening. And that’s good for comedy, because that’s what comedy does. Comedy undermines. Growing up here lends itself to that perspective on the world, that wants to poke at the world and doesn’t take things seriously.”
Bob and Bill Odenkirk on what draws them to comedy
BILL ODENKIRK: I don’t write particularly political material, but I think that … anything you’re writing is examining something important or maybe even mundane in life that you have a question about or bothers you, usually, just irritates you.
BOB ODENKIRK: As long as there are irritating things in the world, there’s comedy. So please keep irritating us. You know, nobody quits show business.
BILL ODENKIRK: Show business quits people.
Bob Odenkirk and Sarah Edwards discussing the meaning of the name Prairie Fire
BOB ODENKIRK: I can’t believe you would do a show that is celebrating the worst thing that can happen in the Midwest. To remind you of the very worst thing that could happen.
SARAH EDWARDS: For your information, it is about the fire that we Midwesterners … and the creative fire—
BOB ODENKIRK: Oh the metaphorical … well, could you call it “The Metaphorical Prairie Fire” so we know that?
EDWARDS: Well, that’s just awkward.