You’ve probably seen the memes. One is a rugged, Academy Award-winning legend who dances with wolves and protects the Yellowstone ranch. The other is a fast-talking, colorful-suit-wearing lawyer from Albuquerque who’s probably trying to fix a slip-and-fall lawsuit. At first glance, Bob Odenkirk and Kevin Costner don’t have much in common. But if you’re a fan of the Breaking Bad universe, you know that these two are forever linked by one of the greatest "long-con" jokes in television history.
It’s one of those weird things where once you see the resemblance, you can’t unsee it. They have the same receding hairline, the same squinty intensity, and—if the light hits just right—the same "approachable dad" energy. Honestly, it’s a connection that started as a throwaway joke and ended up becoming a pillar of Bob Odenkirk's character development.
The Breaking Bad Line That Started It All
Way back in Breaking Bad Season 3, Saul Goodman (Odenkirk) is trying to convince Walter White to use a laser tag arena to launder money. Walt is skeptical. Saul, ever the salesman, starts talking about the power of conviction. He tells Walt:
"If you're committed enough, you can make any story work. I once convinced a woman I was Kevin Costner, and it worked because I believed it!"
At the time, everyone just laughed. It was classic Saul—slimy, hilarious, and probably a total lie. We all just assumed it was a random name-drop because, let's face it, Bob Odenkirk is a handsome guy, but nobody is confusing him for the star of Field of Dreams while sober. Or so we thought.
The Better Call Saul Payoff
Fast forward about five years to the first season finale of Better Call Saul, titled "Marco." The writers, known for their obsessive attention to detail, decided to actually show us this moment. Jimmy McGill (the man who would become Saul) is back in his hometown of Cicero, Illinois, pulling "Slippin' Jimmy" scams with his best friend Marco.
The scene is absolute gold. It opens in a dimly lit apartment. A woman is staring at Jimmy in the morning light with a look of pure confusion and rage.
"You're not Kevin Costner," she says.
Jimmy, without missing a beat and still half-asleep, groggy as hell, just mutters: "I was last night."
It’s a perfect bit of writing. It proved that Jimmy wasn't just lying to Walt for the sake of a sale; he actually lived that ridiculous life. It also highlighted the "Slippin' Jimmy" superpower: the ability to sell a reality so hard that people actually buy it, even when it’s physically impossible.
Why Do People Actually Think They Look Alike?
Is there a real physical resemblance? Kinda.
If you look at photos of a younger Kevin Costner from the late 80s and compare them to Bob Odenkirk in Better Call Saul, there’s a definite "cousin" vibe. They both have that specific Midwestern look—sturdy, earnest, but with a hint of mischief.
- The Hair: Both have famously battled the receding hairline with grace (and some very good TV hairpieces).
- The Voice: There’s a certain raspiness to Odenkirk’s voice when he brings it down to a serious level that mirrors Costner’s dramatic whisper.
- The Awards Irony: The joke came full circle at the 2023 Golden Globes. Bob Odenkirk was nominated for Best Actor in a Drama Series for the final season of Better Call Saul. Who did he lose to? Kevin Costner for Yellowstone.
The internet absolutely lost its mind. The official Better Call Saul social media accounts even posted a clip of the "You're not Kevin Costner" scene to congratulate him. It was a meta-moment that felt like the universe finally closing a loop that started in a New Mexico strip mall office.
The "Yellowstone" Casting Rumors
Since Kevin Costner’s high-profile departure from Yellowstone due to scheduling conflicts and behind-the-scenes drama, fans have been joking about a replacement. The most popular suggestion on Reddit? Just hire Bob Odenkirk to play John Dutton.
Don't explain it. Don't mention it. Just have Odenkirk walk onto the porch, look out at the mountains, and say, "This is my ranch."
While that’s obviously never going to happen, it speaks to how much the audience loves this weird connection. Odenkirk has shown in movies like Nobody that he can do the "tough guy" thing just as well as he does the "scrappy lawyer" thing. He’s got the range to play a rancher, even if he’d probably end up trying to sell the cows a structured settlement.
What This Says About Saul Goodman
Beyond the laughs, the Bob Odenkirk/Kevin Costner link tells us something deep about the character of Saul Goodman. Jimmy McGill is a man who desperately wants to be someone else. He wants to be the "winner." He wants to be the guy who gets the girl, the guy who owns the room, the guy who everyone respects.
By pretending to be Kevin Costner, he’s not just pulling a scam; he’s trying on a skin that fits the version of himself he wishes he was. It’s a tragic kind of comedy. He can be Kevin Costner for six hours in a dark room with enough cheap tequila, but the sun always comes up, and he’s always just Jimmy McGill again.
Real Talk: How to Tell Them Apart
If you're still struggling (you aren't, but let's play along), here is how you distinguish the two in the wild:
- Check the Suit: if the person is wearing a pinstripe suit with a yellow shirt and a patterned tie, that’s Odenkirk. If they’re wearing a Stetson and look like they’ve just been on a horse for twelve hours, that’s Costner.
- The Dialogue: Does the person talk at 100 miles per hour about "legal loopholes" and "constitutional rights"? Odenkirk. Does the person talk slowly about "legacy," "land," and "the way things used to be"? Costner.
- The Location: Albuquerque? Odenkirk. Montana? Costner.
Moving Forward With This Knowledge
Next time you’re rewatching Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul, keep an eye out for those subtle nods. The writers loved the Costner joke so much they baked it into the very DNA of the show. It’s a reminder that in Hollywood, sometimes a one-sentence improv line can turn into a decade-long gag.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the Odenkirk-verse, here’s what you should do next:
- Watch the Better Call Saul Season 1 finale, "Marco," to see the actual morning-after scene.
- Check out Bob Odenkirk's memoir, Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama, where he talks about his transition from a "sketch comedy guy" to a dramatic lead.
- Keep an eye on Odenkirk’s upcoming projects—he’s moved far beyond the shadow of the Costner joke, but he’s always game to poke fun at himself.
The "Costner con" isn't just a funny bit; it's a testament to the fact that Bob Odenkirk is one of the most versatile actors working today. He can make you believe he's a criminal lawyer, a retired assassin, or even—for one night only—a Hollywood leading man.