Bob Odenkirk On Why Better Call Saul Is More Dramedy Than Comedy

One of the things some fans were concerned about when the Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul was announced was that it would in fact be a half hour sitcom.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Bob Odenkirk, who stars as the misguided lawyer in the series, revealed that it would be an hour long show with at least 85% drama! “It’s total drama, man, it’s 85 percent drama, 15 percent comedy.”

The series will be set in 2002 well before the events of Breaking Bad but apparently won’t confine itself to the one time period, more than anything though Odenkirk is looking forward to not just reacting to other characters “That doesn’t happen so much with secondary characters because they don’t need to have that depth,” explained Odenkirk. “One of the cool things about playing Saul now is that I get to have those moments. I’ve certainly gotten a chance to dig deep in Better Call Saul.”

Bob also revealed that a failed “Girls” style sitcom ultimately led to his role on Breaking… “It was kind of like people hanging out. It would have been like Girls,” he said. “Really, it had that vibe of just young people with messed up personal lives trying to figure who they are.” [The series didn’t end up moving forward, which led him to collaborate with David Cross on Mr. Show with Bob and David. The HBO sketch comedy ran four seasons, and was, as Odenkirk would later find out, the reason why Vince Gillian gave him his role in Breaking Bad.]

Better Call Saul is due to air on AMC next February and a second season has already been ordered by the cable channel.