New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Hasty Pudding fetes Bob Odenkirk as its 2023 Man of the Year
Award-winning actor and bestselling author Bob Odenkirk was feted Thursday as 2023 Man of the Year by Harvard University’s 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 “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul,” received his Pudding Pot award at the celebratory roast ahead of a preview of
Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ 174th production, “COSMIC RELIEF!”
“I’m thrilled and surprised and I’m knocked out by what’s happening today,” Odenkirk said following the roast. “It’s been fun meeting all these students. It’s a crazy honor.”
Hasty Pudding Theatricals, which dates to 1844 and calls itself the thirdoldest theater group in the world, has handed out a Man of the Year Award
since 1967. Last year’s 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.
“It fits. It’s nice. It makes me look sharp,” he said. “And I like the little bears.”
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.
“I’ve 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.
“As I’ve stated repeatedly throughout this speech, comedy and acting go hand in hand like a pendulum swinging up and down like a clock that’s broken but appears to work,” he said.