Bryan Cranston's Wild Ideas: From Rejected SNL Skits to Proud Father Moments to Complex TV Roles

If you're anything like me, you probably picture Bryan Cranston as Walter White first. Perhaps you think of Hal from Malcolm in the Middle second. He's played so many memorable characters. He recently revealed some very interesting experiences from his career. Even a celebrity like him has ideas that earn a quick "no" from a major show like Saturday Night Live. He also discussed his great satisfaction in his daughter's acting career and how he handles the ethically difficult roles he excels at.

Cranston was featured on David Spade and Dana Carvey's "Fly on the Wall" podcast. He discussed his experience anchoring Saturday Night Live in 2010. He stated he wanted to accomplish anything. He even had a few pitches for them. Cranston explained that his ideas were "almost immediately shut down." He also stated that he "had a great pitch." This makes you wonder what type of insane notion he came up with that even a show known for pushing the envelope would reject.

Bryan Cranston's "In The Sauce" SNL sketch idea proved too much for producers.

The Breaking Bad star recalled a bizarre pitch that left no room for discussion.

Cranston described his rejected sketch idea, which he dubbed "In the Sauce." He pictured himself going on a date with another couple. They couldn't believe they had reservations at this amazing restaurant. The place was called "In the Sauce." A haughty waiter walks in and asks, "Are you ready?" They ask to see the menu. The waiter responds, "No." We don't provide menus. We serve you meals. You eat the food. "You leave." Cranston described it as a place where everything revolves around the sauce.

So the waiter sets down a crudité. They dip it in the sauce, and it is simply amazing. The crudité has been taken away. Then the main course arrives. They consume it. They can't believe how tasty this sauce is. They eat excessively. They throw up. Then Cranston drops the bombshell: "We dip the barf in the sauce." Oh, my God. It's all about the sauce!" He went on to remark that it doesn't matter what you're eating as long as the sauce tastes delicious. He even provided an example of "a severed finger and you dip it in the sauce and it's still good."

Spade and Carvey both thought Cranston's skit idea was quite amusing. However, the producers of SNL in 2010 clearly did not agree with the "barf in sauce" concept. Cranston only hosted SNL once, on October 2, 2010, with Kanye West as musical guest. The cast at the time included Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers, and Kristen Wiig. Cranston also admitted to being really worried about hosting. He remembers standing backstage and thinking, "Oh my God, I'm about to host 'Saturday Night Live.'" He took some deep breathes. He then heard Don Pardo's voice. "That freaked me out," he added as the door opened and he walked out. "Like shot out of a canon."

Bryan Cranston is extremely proud of his daughter Taylor Dearden's acting success.

How A Father's Joy For His Child's Work Is More Important Than Any Personal Accolade

Beyond his own profession, Bryan Cranston has freely shown his pride in his daughter, Taylor Dearden. She is now gaining recognition for her role as Dr. Melissa King on HBO's medical drama The Pitt. The show has received a lot of appreciation, particularly for its talented cast of relatively unknown actors. Many of these actors have previous theatrical experience, which contributes to the show's realistic vibe. Taylor Dearden is no stranger to the entertainment scene, having grown up in it alongside her renowned parents.

Dearden has appeared in several productions after graduating from the University of Southern California in 2015. She appeared in MTV's Sweet/Vicious, Netflix's American Vandal, and Apple TV Plus's For All Mankind. Even before college, she appeared briefly as "Sad Faced Girl" in an episode of her father's hit show Breaking Bad. Dearden's public profile has expanded significantly since the start of The Pitt. Fans seem to enjoy the new medical drama. Dearden has earned widespread praise for her portrayal of Dr. Melissa King, whose neurodivergence is shown as a valuable asset to the medical team.

Cranston, who recently participated in the film The Studio, is equally thrilled with his daughter's performance as everyone else. He spoke with Today about The Pitt and Dearden's performances. He said, "Taylor is an excellent, hardworking performer. She grew up in this field since my wife and I were actors. And we're quite proud of her." He also included something truly heartwarming. "When I hear compliments on Taylor's work on 'The Pitt,' it means more to me than anything anyone has ever said about my work. You know, you are a proud father. And I'm fine. "I could retire after hearing that."

This kind of speech exemplifies a parent's genuine excitement. Cranston has been asked about his daughter's role several times while promoting his new film, Everything's Going to Be Great. He continues stressing how great it is when your child is complimented. He believes there is nothing more fulfilling than that. He highlighted that her mother and he are "just over the moon" with her work. He noticed that she is a really hard worker. She grew up acting. It's "in her bones." She is doing it "for the right reasons" and enjoys it. While Hollywood frequently refers to "nepo babies," Dearden's career, like that of Patrick Schwarzenegger and Maya Hawke, demonstrates that hard effort is often rewarded with luxury. They appear to have earned their berths.

This also reminded me of another parental moment for Cranston. He recently attempted to get Erik Per Sullivan, who played Dewey on Malcolm in the Middle, to return for a revival of the show. Cranston informed him, "Hey, we have the show!" It will come back." Sullivan said he did not want to do it. He claimed he hadn't acted since he was around nine years old. Sullivan is currently enrolled at Harvard University, where he studies Victorian literature. Cranston certainly retains that protective, encouraging side, whether for his real daughter or his television kid.

Bryan Cranston's brilliant portrayal of morally complex characters, such as In Your Honor

Comparing Judge Desiato to Walter White: Understanding the Key Differences

After Breaking Bad finished in 2013, it took Bryan Cranston seven years to land another major television role that felt like a true sequel. This was Your Honor, which lasted from 2020 until 2023. In it, Cranston plays Judge Michael Desiato. Desiato is noted for his fair decisions and strict devotion to the law. However, his life is turned upside down when his teenage son, Adam (Hunter Doohan), accidently kills the son of a crime lord in a hit-and-run. Suddenly, Michael is working against the exact legislation he vowed to preserve.

This series depicts what happens when a good judge decides to breach the law to protect his loved ones. Cranston's character, as in Breaking Bad, strives to conceal his illicit activities from his family and the law. This results in an exciting and often stressful adventure as he delves deeper into a web of deceit. Cranston is as good as ever. While Your Honor contains some similar elements that will remind you of other shows, it is nevertheless a good performance following Breaking Bad.

There are obvious parallels between Walter White and Michael Desiato. Both males become involved in a criminal society. They can't get out without injuring people around them. Both Walter and Michael were forced into their situations by forces beyond their control. Walter confronted cancer. Michael addressed his son's error. However, there is a significant difference between them. Michael's whole focus is on protecting his son and family. Walter, on the other hand, is merely pretending to aid his family.

Walter pretends that all he does is for his family. But at the end of Breaking Bad, he ultimately admits that he did everything for his own pleasure. Michael Desiato doesn't have much choice. If the mob leader discovered his son had been murdered by Michael's son, Adam would almost certainly be assassinated, and Michael's entire family would be targeted. It's apparent that breaking the law is incredibly hard for Michael. Walter, on the other hand, is more than willing to disobey the law, regardless of the consequences. He definitely enjoys the power and control that come with his illicit activities.

Both Michael and Walter are fascinating characters. They demonstrate how good Bryan Cranston is at playing these types of roles. Cranston does not always get to portray such characters. He can be a pure humorous figure or a heroic one. His ability to combine humor, fury, and deep emotion is ideal for roles such as Walter White or Michael Desiato. He has the ability to make even the most unpleasant person understandable. He instills them with so much emotion that you begin to forget who the villain is. He explains why a good guy might commit a crime, or why a judge would obstruct justice. He achieves this without making the character appear fully justified or guilty. It's a difficult balance, but he nails it every time. I hope to see more of Bryan Cranston playing morally ambiguous characters in the future.