Some things are always a treat. Ice cream on a warm summer night. long weekend. First day of sweater weather. and some people comedian Mike Birbiglia, Better Call SaulBob Odenkirk. So when the two came together in the former, solve Podcast (another treat, P.S.), I knew it would be fun…but I wasn’t expecting to tear up listening to Bob Odenkirk talk about being a father.
Odenkirk joined Birbiglia to discuss comedy writing (before making a name for himself as a theater actor, Odenkirk was a respected writer in film) saturday night live, Conan O’Brien, mr show ), acting, and how anger and comedy can blend together in a particular work. But things took a kind of bittersweet turn when Birbiglia asked who Odenkirk was jealous of.
“Anyone who has small, growing children at home,” Odenkirk answered. “There’s no question. As my kids were growing up, I knew what I was doing. I was being a father. That was my job. I didn’t have to ask myself, ‘What am I doing here? How can I be a part of this world? How can I make the most of this day?'” I didn’t have to ask that question. Because the answer is, “Put away everything between here and the door to make sure the kids get to school and laugh together.” Life…I understood my purpose. ”
Birbiglia, who has a 10-year-old daughter, quietly praised this as “the best answer.” Yes, we agree.
Odenkirk said during his appearance: glengarry glen ross Kieran Culkin and Bill Barr, who co-starred on Broadway earlier this year, are both fathers of children under the age of 10.
“I’m jealous of them,” he continued. “As stressed as they are, I envy them because they have to do this job and it takes away from them. (But) when you leave here, you know who you are. You absolutely know who you are. You’re a father.”
Sorry…it seems my allergies are getting worse. That’s why my eyes are moist. I’m not crying. shut up.
Odenkirk has two adult children, Nate and Erin. In 2023, he and Erin published a children’s book. Gilot and other important rhymes It was inspired by poems Odenkirk wrote for and with children when he was young. Drawn by Erin, a Pratt Institute graduate..
“About 25 of these poems were written when the children were older, but most of the poems were written with a small child sitting next to me on my lap. The child would write a line, or the child would suggest a poem,” Odenkirk said. romper “So[to write the new one]I had to think back to what kids are thinking and feeling and what’s going on that day. … Ultimately, it was defined by my two kids, Nate and Erin, when they were 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 years old, and it helped me think about how they saw the world.”
It seems like they also did a good job of coloring in how he saw his world…
Watch the full interview below.
