Bob Odenkirk Says ‘SNL’ Taught Him ‘What Not to Do’

Bob Odenkirk learned a thing or two from his years as a writer for Saturday Night Live, including “what not to do” when he got his own show.

“At SNL, it was very easy, especially for young writers, to get their ideas shot down very quickly by older writers,” Odenkirk told Variety for its “Know Their Lines” series to promote his new action sequel Nobody 2. “When I went to Mr. Show and I was in charge over there with David Cross, I sort of made it a rule that you don’t shoot anything down. You have to talk about everything,” he continued. “You have to fully understand the writer’s idea before you let it go. So, it was a good thing to learn what not to do from Saturday Night Live.”

The Better Call Saul star worked as a writer on SNL from 1987 to 1991, during which time he wrote for comedy s