Why Bob Odenkirk Says Steve Carell Was the Right Choice for Michael Scott in 'The Office'

Bob Odenkirk, known for his roles in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, recently opened up about his audition for The Office and how Steve Carell ultimately landed the role of Michael Scott. Speaking on the “Office Ladies” podcast with Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, Odenkirk shared his thoughts on why Carell was the perfect choice for the role.

In 2003, Odenkirk was a frontrunner alongside Carell for the part of Michael Scott, the bumbling regional manager of Dunder Mifflin. Reflecting on this, Odenkirk, 61, noted that Carell’s superior comedic talents made him the right fit. “I am, in a strange way, a very earnest person for a person in comedy. I am oddly earnest, and… it’s one of the reasons I think Steve Carell is a better, you know — is the one who got the role,” Odenkirk said.