April 02--Bob Odenkirk, currently staring in "Better Call Saul" on AMC, will reunite with comedy partner David Cross for a sketch comedy series on Netflix.
The pair first worked together on "The Ben Stiller Show" and later collaborated on HBO's "Mr. Show with Bob and David" from 1995-1998, which has since become an influential comedy touchstone for a generation of performers.
The Netflix series, which will be called "With Bob and David," does not yet have a premiere date, but will have a considerably shorter run than is typical, with four half-hour episodes and an one-hour "making of" special.
Here's how Deadline describes its premise: "After being dishonorably discharged from the Navy SEALs, Bob and David are back serving our country the way they do best: making sketch comedy. Four half-hours of brand-new comedy featuring all new characters, all new scenes and, most importantly, all new wigs."
Cross and Odenkirk (who was raised in Naperville) are the show's writers and stars, with Odenkirk's wife, the well-regarded talent manager Naomi Odenkirk, on board as one of the producers.
How much influence she has on casting is an open question, but it seems a good bet we'll see some Chicago faces.
Her client list includes a deep bench of Second City veterans including Aidy Bryant, Andy St. Clair, Tim Robinson and Chris Witaske. She also reps former Chicago theater actors Mary Hollis Inboden (recently cast in ABC's Dan Savage pilot) and "Fargo" Emmy nominee Allison Tolman.
nmetz@tribpub.com
