BeforeBreaking BadandBetter Call Saulmade him one of television’s most recognizable faces,Bob Odenkirkwas sharpening his comedic chops as a writer forSaturday Night LiveandLate Night with Conan O’Brien, and as the co-creator and star ofMr. Show with Bob and David. Along the way, he popped up on several sitcoms in the ’90s, including a memorable one-episode role inSeinfeld’seighth season. Though brief, his turn oppositeJulia Louis-Dreyfusshowed off his sharp timing and playful delivery, offering an early glimpse of the versatility that would later define his career.
In the Season 8 episode “The Abstinence,” Elaine is thrilled to be dating Ben (Odenkirk), who she believeswill give her the cloutof having a doctor boyfriend. It turns out, though, thatBen isn’t actually licensed and has failed the medical exam three times. That doesn’t faze Elaine, who is more excited to brag about dating a doctor than concerned about whether he canactuallysave a life.
Her planunravels in spectacular fashionwhen a man collapses at the diner in front of Elaine’s nemesis, Sue Ellen (Brenda Strong). After proudly declaring she’s with a doctor, Elaine is humiliated when Ben freezes, unable to help. Even in this short scene,Odenkirk’s comedic timing is on point, andhis line delivery gets some of the biggest laughsin the episode.
In the episode’s parallel storyline, George (Jason Alexander) discovers that abstinence gives him newfound intellectual focus, which inspires Elaine to hold off on sleeping with Ben in hopes it will help him finally pass the exam. To her delight, it works and Ben finally passes and is now a doctor, seemingly making her dream come true. But inclassicSeinfeldfashion, the victory backfires. Now that he’s officially a doctor,Ben smugly dumps Elaine, telling her that the dream of becoming a doctor is to dump who he’s with and find someone better. Again, Odenkirk nails the punchline with his sharp deadpan, capturing a truth about dating that still resonates, andshowing just how seamlessly his style meshedwithSeinfeld’sblend of absurdity and realism, even ina single guest star role.
Bob Odenkirk’s Role in ‘Seinfeld’ Was Just the Beginning of his Versatile Career
Over its nine-season run,Seinfeldwelcomed countless guest stars whowould go on to become household names, including a pre-FriendsCourteney Cox, a pre-Law & Order: SVUMariska Hargitay, and even Odenkirk’s future co-starBryan Cranston,long beforeMalcolm in the MiddleorThe X-Files(the latter of which actually led to his audition for Walter White). With his background in comedy and his prior connection toLarry David, Odenkirk was offered the role of Ben. Ironically, though, he admitted thathe had never actually watched the showbefore stepping onto the set.
DespiteSeinfeldalready being in its eighth season,Odenkirk toldGQin 2021that he came into the role with little context, but the experience ended up being nothing but positive. “I went in, acted it, didn’t have to exaggerate the person, just played him earnestly. It was a great, great experience,” he recalled. That understated, natural delivery is exactly what makes his turn as Ben so effective,particularly opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who was at theheight of her popularity as Elaine.
It would take more than a decade after “The Abstinence” beforeOdenkirk landed his career-defining roleas Saul Goodman inBreaking Bad, which is another show he confessed he hadn’t seen before being cast. That serendipitous casting decisionlaunched the second act of his career, shifting him from a comedy veteran to one ofTV’s most celebrated dramatic actors. His pathunderscores just how versatile he’s always been, seamlessly moving between absurd comedy and nuanced drama.
Looking back,“The Abstinence”feels like a fun artifact of Bob Odenkirk in true comedy form, long beforeBetter Call Saulcemented him as one of television’s most layered performers. His role onSeinfeldmight not be the first thing people recall when listing his most iconic work, but it gives fans a chance to see him right before stepping into the darker, more complex world of Saul Goodman. Now, with his film sequelNobody 2in theaters, Odenkirkcontinues to prove his versatility, showing that for decades he’s been able to move seamlessly between comedy, drama and action without missing a beat.
All seasons ofSeinfeldare available to stream on Netflix.
