CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) 鈥 Award-winning actor and bestselling author Bob Odenkirk was feted Thursday as 2023 Man of the Year by Harvard University鈥檚 Hasty Pudding Theatricals, which included a roast during which he donned a pink dress over his clothes.
Odenkirk, best known as shady lawyer Saul Goodman on 鈥淏reaking Bad鈥 and 鈥淏etter Call Saul,鈥 received his Pudding Pot award at the celebratory roast ahead of a preview of Hasty Pudding Theatricals鈥 174th production, 鈥淐OSMIC RELIEF!"
鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled and surprised and I鈥檓 knocked out by what鈥檚 happening today,鈥 Odenkirk said following the roast. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been fun meeting all these students. It鈥檚 a crazy honor.鈥
Hasty Pudding Theatricals, which dates to 1844 and calls itself the third-oldest theater group in the world, has handed out a Man of the Year Award since 1967. Last year鈥檚 recipient was Jason Bateman, and previous honorees include Bob Hope, Dustin Hoffman and Sean Connery.
The awards are given out to people who have made lasting and impressive contributions to the world of entertainment.
During the 20-minute roast, Odenkirk was asked to don a pink dress over his clothes.
鈥淚t fits. It鈥檚 nice. It makes me look sharp," he said. 鈥淎nd I like the little bears.鈥
The student presenters also referenced many of his past roles, including going back to his early years writing for Saturday Night Live. They also repeatedly poked fun at his thinning hair.
鈥淚鈥檝e tried everything. Supplements. Plugs. Devil worship," he quipped during a sketch in which he read cue cards held up by students on stage.
He also read a comedically disjointed acceptance speech.
鈥淎s I鈥檝e stated repeatedly throughout this speech, comedy and acting go hand in hand like a pendulum swinging up and down like a clock that鈥檚 broken but appears to work,鈥 he said.
At the end of the event, he was asked to press his hands into a tray of butter 鈥 ala The Hollywood Walk of Fame 鈥 as part of new ad campaign 鈥淏utter Call Saul." Odenkirk complied and was handed his pudding pot.
During a news conference after the event, Odenkirk said he was looking forward to more comedic roles in the future.
鈥淚 love doing sketch comedy so much," he said.
Actress Jennifer Coolidge has been named Hasty Pudding Theatricals' 2023 Woman of the Year. She will be honored at a separate event on Saturday.
Odenkirk reprised his 鈥淏reaking Bad鈥 role of Saul Goodman, aka Jimmy McGill, in 鈥淏etter Call Saul,鈥 which earned him three Critics Choice TV awards and multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG Award nominations.
He is also the star and executive producer of 鈥淟ucky Hank,鈥 adapted from the novel 鈥淪traight Man鈥 by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Russo, which is scheduled to premier on AMC and AMC+ on March 19.
Other acting credits include 鈥淣obody,鈥 鈥淢r. Show with Bob and David鈥 and 鈥淕irlfriend鈥檚 Day.鈥
He received two Emmy Awards for his comedic writing for 鈥淪aturday Night Live鈥 in 1989 and for 鈥淭he Ben Stiller Show鈥 in 1993.
In 2013 Odenkirk co-wrote The New York Times bestseller 鈥淗ollywood Said No!,鈥 a collection of unproduced screenplays, and his third book released in March 2022, a memoir entitled 鈥淐omedy Comedy Comedy Drama,鈥 went to No. 2 on The New York Times bestseller list.
