Better Call Saul Team Takes a Fun Jab at Yellowstone Star Kevin Costner’s Big Win with a Clever Meta Reference
Better Call Saul Star Bob Odenkirk and Yellowstone’s Kevin Costner: A Fun Connection
Bob Odenkirk, known for his role in Better Call Saul, is often noted for his physical resemblance to Kevin Costner. Meanwhile, Kevin Costner has reached new heights of stardom with his role as John Dutton in the hit neo-Western series Yellowstone. The show has been widely praised for its strong writing and performances, cultivating a devoted fanbase. Although Yellowstone has yet to receive any Primetime Emmy nominations, it has earned several other prestigious accolades.
One of the standout moments in Yellowstone was Kevin Costner’s Golden Globe win for Best Actor – Television Series Drama in 2023. Competing against industry veterans like Jeff Bridges, Bob Odenkirk, Diego Luna, and Adam Scott, Costner’s win was a major achievement. Not missing the opportunity for a bit of fun, the Better Call Saul team took to social media to congratulate Costner with a witty reference from their own show.
Better Call Saul’s Playful Tribute to Kevin Costner’s Golden Globe Win
Kevin Costner’s portrayal of John Dutton in Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone earned him widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike. Costner’s long-standing relationship with the Western genre dates back decades, notably with his Oscar and Golden Globe-winning direction of Dances with Wolves, a film credited with revitalizing the genre. In 2023, Costner earned his third Golden Globe, and his second acting award, for Yellowstone. His competition included notable actors such as Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul), Adam Scott (Severance), Diego Luna (Andor), and Jeff Bridges (The Old Man).
In response to Costner’s win, the Better Call Saul team posted a humorous tweet referencing a memorable scene from their show. In that scene, Bob Odenkirk’s character Jimmy McGill cleverly pretends to be Kevin Costner to charm a woman — only to be caught when she realizes he isn’t the real Yellowstone star. This meta-joke also plays on the uncanny resemblance between Odenkirk and Costner.
Interestingly, Better Call Saul lost the Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Drama to HBO’s House of the Dragon that year.
Bob Odenkirk’s Critically Acclaimed Role and the Emmy Curse
Bob Odenkirk led Better Call Saul as Jimmy McGill (a.k.a. Saul Goodman) for six seasons. Created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, the series garnered critical acclaim throughout its run on AMC. Many fans and critics regard it as a worthy successor — and sometimes even superior — to its predecessor Breaking Bad, where Odenkirk first appeared as Saul Goodman.
Despite Odenkirk’s lauded performance, he never won an Emmy or a Golden Globe for his role. According to Den of Geek, Better Call Saul amassed an impressive 53 Emmy nominations but did not secure a single win.
In contrast, Breaking Bad won 16 Emmy Awards and 2 Golden Globes, including multiple wins for Bryan Cranston as Outstanding Lead Actor. Some speculate that Better Call Saul’s awards drought was partly due to the overwhelming success of Breaking Bad.
The show also faced stiff competition from other high-profile dramas of the decade, including House of the Dragon, Yellowstone, and Succession. It lost the 2022 Golden Globe to House of the Dragon and missed out on Emmys to shows like Game of Thrones, Succession, and The Handmaid’s Tale.
