@Clutch7 Yeah I'm with you. The dynamic between and family roles of Homer and Marge compared to Hal and Lois should tell it all. Both very different kinds of fools.
Hal correctly learned skills he takes seriously. Learning shortcuts or facsimiles of what is taught results I scorn. Walter White has the same qualities, but years of accredited proof.
I never looked at it that way, but you're absolutely correct. He is such a great actor with an awesome and diverse skillset. Through his performances I have experienced just about every feeling on the motional spectrum from joy to terror to surprise to fear. I have slapped my thigh, unable to catch my breath from laughter, to sitting with my eyes and jaw wide open in abject shock. Amazing actor, really underrated and one of a kind. There aren't many in his generation that can illicit such a wide breadth of emotional experiences through his craft. Absolute pleasure to watch him ply his trade and hone his craft.
I think Malcolm in the Middle might be one of the best family sitcoms ever, it was very well grounded and realistic as opposed to other family sitcoms (Full House, Roseanne, Married with Children ect) they really evolved the characters as they grew and I began to realize that they were all technically genius' in their own way, well maybe except Francis, but Malcolm had the high IQ, Reese had a natural instinct for cooking, and Dewey was a natural musician, it was a very well written and hilarious show, I often compare it to King of the Hill as being a very underrated show in comparison to their peer shows when in my opinion they should be the top standard on how to make a comedy show
I probably wouldn't even have watched Breaking Bad if I didn't recognize 'Hal' . Watching both shows made me truly appreciate Bryan's range. He makes you believe he's that character.
I listen to the podcast Smartless. Every time they have a comedian/comic actor on, who has placed a dramatic role to acclaim, they inevitably say that playing comedy is ten times harder. Respect to Bryan. 😎
@Peter Sedesse God damn it, I was just about to write this. There's an excellent interview where he talks about the dangers he was told about taking the Role in Dumb and Dumber. On how it could affect him getting serious acting gigs after doing a comedy of this proportion.
@renslo689 The difference with most of the examples in this thread are they are movies. A role someone plays for a few months. I have to think it's not only infinitely more difficult to maintain a persona for a decade and then doing a 180, but also the type casting and being able to win over an audience who only sees you one way for 10 years. In order for the audience to be able to move past that preconceived notion, an actor has to be damn good. That's not something movie stars have to worry about nearly as much.
There’s one Hal moment that always stood out for me. The one where he’s in the boy’s room. He’s sitting there having a real fatherly moment while he’s caressing supposedly Malcom’s head which was a monster mask. And Reese’s head which was a balloon with a smiley face drawn over it. (I’m smirking like an idiot as I type this) Anyway he leans in to kiss Reese goodnight but the balloon explodes in his face causing him to freak out. All the while this wakes up Dewey, as he looks over to see the monster mask looking dead back at him. Dewey starts screaming which causes this domino effect of comedic writing. Which in turn causes Hal to scream even louder and more frantic 😂😂😂
u choreographed that perfectly. but, forgot one small detail that, tbh, we come to love & wish we all could have in our lives. the fade to black + door slam transition!
@heliopyre "if anyones stupid, they get ground up for food" "live, live, live DIE" "daaaddd youre embarrassing me in front of my men" loved that episode. appreciate your comment reminding me of it
MITM is one of the greatest shows of all time. It smashes every sitcom trope going. The cast is perfect, there's never a dull moment and it works on all levels for adults and kids.
@Juju on that queef They lived in a typical suburban house in a typical suburban neighborhood and drove two typical suburban cars. This show is from the late '90s and 2000s. I can assure you that cars looked like that in '99. They also wore clothes that were considered middle class and stylish back then. Their schools were suburban as hell. Nothing about them said lower-income except for Lois' job and their money management and poor upkeep of their decent home.
It's really bizarre yet amazing how Bryan is able to change his facial expression and look like a completely different person altogether, almost as if a different aura is felt.
This man cemented Walter White as the Greatest tv character of all time by giving us an amazing, spellbinding and a truly unforgettable performance. 4 Emmys for playing one Character Wow!!! Truly of one the greatest actors out there, Bravo Bryan 👏👏👏👏
@Eduardo García I completely disagree, the first 3 seasons had a lot of comedy, think Jesse, Hank, Saul, Skinny Pete and Badger. "this is my private domicile and i will not be harassed ... Bitch" -Jesse Pinkman
@Eduardo García It's labeled as a Dark Comedy/Drama the comedy is subtle and satirical that's why a lot of people don't pick up on it, there's actually comedy within every episode even the finale.
Malcolm in the Middle is a masterpiece. The writing is genius! I watched it as a kid when it aired and loved it. But now rewatching it as an adult, there’s more layers to the humour and you understand the hidden jokes. I laugh even more watching it now. Genius acting, writing and directing. Credit to Bryan, absolute legend!
Bryan can be someone who you don’t mind being stuck in an elevator with, and he can also be the last last last last person who you don’t want to be stuck in the elevator with..
@Orlando Trustfull and if you think playing a character like Walter White wouldn’t be difficult, then I need to know what flavor crayons you ate this morning
Breaking Bad is a timeless series, no doubt. And it's always top 3 all time with TV-critics. But I believe the main reason it's still being talked about is because Better Call Saul is a favorite with the TV critics these days. But for the rest of the world, instead of BCS actually hooking people on it's own, it just makes people go back to Breaking Bad.
“Heavens gonna suck.” - Hal Funniest line in the whole show. Destroys me every time. The best thing about Hal was how much he loves his wife. It was just so refreshing.
I loved Hal and Tim Whatley long before BB. The elevator synopsis I heard of BB was “the dad from Malcolm in the middle plays a chemistry teacher that discovers he has cancer and starts cooking meth to leave money behind.” One aspect of WW I found on rewatching is he was always difficult to work with and a very insecure narcissist. It’s why he taught a high school chemistry. He can’t deal with equals.
100% going into breaking bad he was always Hal from Malcolm in the middle and just turned into Walter White/Heisenberg is just amazing just hands down best acting in television since The sopranos.
I don't watch anywhere near the unfathomable levels of multiple forms of entertainment that I once did, but this conversation is one I have been waiting to hear. No disappointment. Enjoyable conversation. Kudos, people.
Not only is this guy one of the best and most versatile actors of our generation (from being hilarious comically, to bringing one of the best lead dramatic performances we have seen on television) but he also seems from all I have heard like an all around great person. Protect this man
As soon as I heard Bryan Cranston was going to star in Breaking Bad, I was so excited for that show. It delivered beyond my wildest expectations. Starting Walter out in his tighty whities I always assumed was a nod to Hal.
One of my favorite Hal moments was when he was adding extra sugar and maple syrup to everything Lois ate during her pregnancy. Then adding Dewey into the mix where he was telepathically communicating with the unborn baby
Me and my partner (both 22) started watching Malcom for the first time about a month ago we watch it every night and I haven't seen a show where there isn't a single weak link when it comes to comedy every character is a joy to watch but Hal often steals the show and its amazing.
Since we know they have cameras set up in the studio, it would be so cool for Conan and team to upload the full video podcast on KZclip! I love listening to the podcast on Apple podcast, however seeing the guests and hosts is always a fun treat!
These full of life performances in Malcolm in the middle have been brilliant to see. So much energy, just inspiring. And quite a brave approach for an actor, considering the risk of getting reduced to that special character. Making typical human flaws lovable is a quality thats far beyond laughing at someone. When you see something that exaggerated and still come to the point where you think, "yeah, there´s a little Hal in each of us", cause you gotta like this character, its not only superfunny, its delivering on many layers and provides an unspoken friendly comment on human nature and the ways you might look at it. Giving that complexity to it, combined with a very unique kind of acting and sweating out he had fun to do it in every minute, makes it outstanding for me and a joy to watch.
What I love about watching Bryan Cranston work in an interview is that he shows off his truly world class comedic ability. I don’t know if the world will ever truly grasp the true reach of Bryan’s skills. What a pleasure it has been to exist during the same period of time.
This man is one of the greats. Hal was such as amazing character but to then do breaking bad, it’s just on another level! I’ve seen breaking bad 3 times now and like Conan said, you watch is again and still surprised what happens, even though you know what happens.
What a terrific actor, definitely cemented himself as one of the best actors to ever do it. Bryan Cranston and James Gandolfini (may he rest in peace) are my all-time-favorites - few could deliver performances like these too!
It is amazing to think about when Breaking Bad came out, I was apprehensive to watch because it seemed too weird for Hal to be cooking meth. Looking back, playing Hal made Walter White's transformation even crazier to the audience. It is interesting how casting from one show can shape your opinion of a character in another. He really is this generation's Jack Lemmon. They have a lot of the same authenticity that matches the skill. 100% legend
Hal was always my favorite in Malcolm in the Middle, and its what made me watch Breaking Bad, because I hadn't seen him in anything since Malcolm, and I just was blown away with just how well he did as Walter White, he has the range to rival even Robin Williams, which is saying a lot, I cannot think of greater examples of individuals with such a range
Can I thank Conan for saying to Bryan Cranston what we all want to say...thank you. Thank you for all the great performances. Compliments well deserved.
No-one will ever be able to convince me that his best moment as Hal is the cold open where Dewey asks him to get rid of the spider in the bathroom. I cry laughing everytime I watch it.
I rewatched all of Malcolm in the Middle last year, and let me tell you - still so damn funny. I still recommend this show to everyone as one of the best series that television ever produced, right alongside Breaking Bad, and that the differences between Hal and Walt are testament to Cranston's skill and range as an actor.
I was smiling throughout all of this. All his compliments he gave about Hal were so damn accurate. I'd die laughing at him and Jim Carey as a kid. I always thought Hal was so underrated when I was younger... I guess he wasn't - he carried the show.
I maintain that Conan is the best interviewer of our time. So clever, so funny, so quick, so curious...but always willing to let the interviewee shine as bright (or as dim) as they can. He can carry anyone, but truly interesting folks really cut-through when Conan is involved.
Hal Wilkerson is hands down one of the best sitcom characters of all time, up there with the Fraiser Cranes and Jerry Seinfelds of the world in my opinion
One of my favourite scenes from malcom will always be when Hal burst into the lads room and offers them 5 bucks to take the heat for something he did. He drags one of them like a rag doll out of the room!!
I still think 'Hal' made the first season of breaking bad even better because we all started out seeing him as kinda that character which made the transformation even more stunning.
Bryan is great in everything he does but I think his performance as Vince in “Sneaky Pete” was phenomenal. The “Break it you buy it” speech he gives is sooo good.
Memorizing lines and being to act with a huge room of people with a lot of pressure to do it right is SO HARD. The breaking bad cast is so talented everything feels so real. All there characters feel so “lived in”
Part of why breaking bad was so amazing to me were the inner expectations connected to this amazing actor after years of seeing the comedic family dad in his face. Of course it's not the same character. But for me this background made breaking bad more monumental, the change of Walter White deeper and more serious or tragic somehow.
Everyone lost their mind when they saw Brian in Breaking Bad, but I was like uhhhhhhh, did you not see his absolutely ground breaking role of Hal? It's 11 out of 10. Flawless. Such an underrated role.
7:38 I think, the reason why the first episode of BB got me instantly hooked was exactly because it foreshadowed this extreme character arc. It was obvious from the start and made me super curious and excited about how Bryan Cranston would pull that transformation off. Going basicly from Hal to Scarface withtin a few seasons. Best thing ever!
I met Bryan when he and a business partner were opening an indie movie theater in Palm Desert. He absolutely exudes warmth and charm that isn’t the least condescending or fake. I am so glad he’s found the success he deserves.
One of my favorite Hal moments is when he goes for a job interview and they do a bunch of tests on him. But he's unsure of the job and goes back the next day to decline and the whole building is gone.
Fantastic and super insightful, laidback interview. It’s what Conan does best when it comes to his job, though he is multi talented and great all around, interviewing is definitely his forte. And it helps tremendously too, of course, that Bryan Cranston is an excellent speaker and quite knowledgeable person who is dedicated 100% to his craft and just has a great way of conveying his thoughts and emotions, especially in these types of public scenarios in front of a camera… 👌🏼
I love what Bryan said about a part coming back to you when someone asks you about it or if you end up returning to it. There's a great show on Disney+ called Prop Culture that looks at props of movies from yesteryear, and one episode includes Christopher Lloyd getting to see his costume from Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and he ends up putting it on again and he's right back in to the character, even though it was nearly 40 years ago he was right back in, it's incredible. Highly recommend watching that show, especially if you grew up on 80s and 90s movies.
Hal’s speed walking episode is still one of the funniest TV episodes of the 2000s. Malcolm In The Middle was my favorite show for a long time, I miss the 2000s and the way the world was then.
Conan was right, there's a lot of Hal in Walter White, especially in the early seasons. There are some legit "slap stick" moments in Breaking Bad. And that's what makes Walter's transformation all the more terrifying
I recently rewatched BB for about the 5th time and it still blows me away how much happens in such short a series, that kind of character development on only 5 seasons is phenomenal.
Indeed. The show is about chemistry, after all. The science of change. Every character goes through a traumatic change in themselves and their character throughout the series.
I was a huge fan of Malcolm in the Middle and the only reason I started watching Breaking Bad from the pilot was because of Bryan. Luckily taking that chance gave me the opportunity to watch one of the greatest shows of all time from literal beginning to end
The past 8 years, Breaking Bad is unparalleled as the greatest show of all time. Bryan is the most capable actors of all time as well. Loved Conan's observation that he runs away badly xD That's such a Conan-type observation - I looove this Podcast
Conan has nailed it! I loved and love malcolm in the middle as a kid! Hal's character was so great to watch... the physical comedy was first class. I always wondered why I remembered his character so clearly... and it was because of how funny and great his performance was... I see it more now that I'm older!
This was such an enjoyable listen. Bryan is entertaining and witty and the dynamic with everyone in the room was excellent. Thank you for this enjoyable watch.
Something I always loved about Breaking Bad, but I've never been completely sure was intentional, was that Walter always seemed like he was putting on a facade, because he knew that was the only way he could survive in this business. I always felt like there were flecks of "I don't belong in this lifestyle" peeking through the cracks of every performance he gave in that show as Heisenberg. I dunno if I'm imagining it, or if Bryan is just that damn good.
He’s is phenomenal in breaking bad and other serious roles BUT while there are other actors that could probably play those roles very well but I don’t think anyone could pull Hal off. It is just pure comical magic and I will always marvel at Bryan Cranstons genius as Hal.
Malcom In The Middle is where I was first introduced to Bryan Cranston and WOW! I just love him sooooo much!! I watched the show as a kid when it first came out and then watched it again as an adult and it is HILARIOUS!! I love this man so much!!!! 😂 pure gold!!!
I watched the show the first time and loved it. Truly great television. For some reason, I decided to watch from the start again. This time, I too am going through cancer treatment. How Walter faces the diagnosis and makes his decisions was absolutely compelling viewing for me. It was amazing how close he was to how I was confronted. I am not choosing to cook meth, but I really understand the process through which Walter works. It is like an entirely new show.
Malcolm In The Middle is the last genuinely great original sitcom, imo. Hilariously innovative. I discovered it in my adult years, so I came in recogonizing the shows many levels of satire and character arcs.
Hal is the closest anyone has come to capturing classic Homer Simpson energy in a live action show. Epic performance
YES! I typed this same comment and just saw yours. Doesn't he! Homer simpson in the flesh 🤣
i never watched the speedwalking bit but when Conan described it i instantly thought "huh sounds like a simpson sketch"
@Clutch7 Yeah I'm with you. The dynamic between and family roles of Homer and Marge compared to Hal and Lois should tell it all. Both very different kinds of fools.
Hal correctly learned skills he takes seriously. Learning shortcuts or facsimiles of what is taught results I scorn. Walter White has the same qualities, but years of accredited proof.
I never looked at it that way, but you're absolutely correct. He is such a great actor with an awesome and diverse skillset. Through his performances I have experienced just about every feeling on the motional spectrum from joy to terror to surprise to fear. I have slapped my thigh, unable to catch my breath from laughter, to sitting with my eyes and jaw wide open in abject shock.
Amazing actor, really underrated and one of a kind. There aren't many in his generation that can illicit such a wide breadth of emotional experiences through his craft. Absolute pleasure to watch him ply his trade and hone his craft.
Always loved how positive Bryan is about Malcolm in the Middle. Hal is high art just like walter white.
I think Malcolm in the Middle might be one of the best family sitcoms ever, it was very well grounded and realistic as opposed to other family sitcoms (Full House, Roseanne, Married with Children ect) they really evolved the characters as they grew and I began to realize that they were all technically genius' in their own way, well maybe except Francis, but Malcolm had the high IQ, Reese had a natural instinct for cooking, and Dewey was a natural musician, it was a very well written and hilarious show, I often compare it to King of the Hill as being a very underrated show in comparison to their peer shows when in my opinion they should be the top standard on how to make a comedy show
I probably wouldn't even have watched Breaking Bad if I didn't recognize 'Hal' . Watching both shows made me truly appreciate Bryan's range. He makes you believe he's that character.
I listen to the podcast Smartless. Every time they have a comedian/comic actor on, who has placed a dramatic role to acclaim, they inevitably say that playing comedy is ten times harder. Respect to Bryan. 😎
@Dane Anderson Well said.
Anyone can tell a joke. Not everyone can make you laugh.
"Dewey, go easy on the orange juice, that stuff doesn't grow on... wait, it does! So why's it so damn expensive?" - Hall Wilkerson
Best scene
Big Homer Simpson energy with that.
He's not Hal Wilkerson
he's just Hal
that's how he's known
I’ve watched Malcolm in the middle since I was a little kid and somehow never knew their last name was wilkerson
I feel like the writing on Malcolm in the middle is some of the most underrated brilliant timeless comedy gold in existence.
Hal & Walter..... not too many actors today or yesterday would be able to pull it off. Bryan never fails to amaze. Thank you.
@Peter Sedesse how was newsroom Jeff Daniels anything like Homer?
Absolutely amazing actor!!
@Peter Sedesse God damn it, I was just about to write this. There's an excellent interview where he talks about the dangers he was told about taking the Role in Dumb and Dumber. On how it could affect him getting serious acting gigs after doing a comedy of this proportion.
John Lithgow. 3rd Rock vs Dexter. He's the same caliber as Cranston.
@renslo689 The difference with most of the examples in this thread are they are movies. A role someone plays for a few months. I have to think it's not only infinitely more difficult to maintain a persona for a decade and then doing a 180, but also the type casting and being able to win over an audience who only sees you one way for 10 years. In order for the audience to be able to move past that preconceived notion, an actor has to be damn good. That's not something movie stars have to worry about nearly as much.
There’s one Hal moment that always stood out for me. The one where he’s in the boy’s room. He’s sitting there having a real fatherly moment while he’s caressing supposedly Malcom’s head which was a monster mask. And Reese’s head which was a balloon with a smiley face drawn over it. (I’m smirking like an idiot as I type this) Anyway he leans in to kiss Reese goodnight but the balloon explodes in his face causing him to freak out. All the while this wakes up Dewey, as he looks over to see the monster mask looking dead back at him. Dewey starts screaming which causes this domino effect of comedic writing. Which in turn causes Hal to scream even louder and more frantic 😂😂😂
u choreographed that perfectly. but, forgot one small detail that, tbh, we come to love & wish we all could have in our lives. the fade to black + door slam transition!
The first time I watched that episode I thought I was gonna die from laughing so hard lmao
@heliopyre "if anyones stupid, they get ground up for food" "live, live, live DIE" "daaaddd youre embarrassing me in front of my men" loved that episode. appreciate your comment reminding me of it
MITM is one of the greatest shows of all time. It smashes every sitcom trope going. The cast is perfect, there's never a dull moment and it works on all levels for adults and kids.
@Penny at the Park married with children was more 80/90’s sitcom and an other type of humor. A lot of jokes won’t work today but MITM is timeless.
@Juju on that queef They lived in a typical suburban house in a typical suburban neighborhood and drove two typical suburban cars. This show is from the late '90s and 2000s. I can assure you that cars looked like that in '99. They also wore clothes that were considered middle class and stylish back then. Their schools were suburban as hell.
Nothing about them said lower-income except for Lois' job and their money management and poor upkeep of their decent home.
@Not Available yeah they arent tho look at there clothes and car,
@Juju on that queef It's not semantics. They're by definition solidly middle class.
@Not Available I’m not interested in arguing semantics homie
It's really bizarre yet amazing how Bryan is able to change his facial expression and look like a completely different person altogether, almost as if a different aura is felt.
@Mild Misanthrope yes that was awesome that show! Playing all those characters was such a big undertaking
He has mastered the art of shape shifting.
@Mild Misanthrope she’s really a great actor. Unfortunate the hate she gets cause she hulk
Malcolm in the middle is one of the best comedies ever created. Just pure hilarity from start to end.
?
Absolutely true.
This man cemented Walter White as the Greatest tv character of all time by giving us an amazing, spellbinding and a truly unforgettable performance. 4 Emmys for playing one Character Wow!!! Truly of one the greatest actors out there, Bravo Bryan 👏👏👏👏
Greatest is Tony Soprano
Tony Soprano
Imagining thinking Emmys matter
sadly u haven’t watched the sopranos
Second best, everyone knows Tony Soprano is the greatest character of all time
Probably one of the best examples of an actor with incredible range Hal and Walter are so totally different but extremely memorable characters
Or his family on BB abandoned him because cancer split them apart but the he got cured and found a new family in MITM 😂
Hal is the future traumatized version of WW after BB
I really like that Conan pointed out the comedic aspect of BrBa. I feel like people forget how absolutely hilarious certain moments were in that show!
@Eduardo García I completely disagree, the first 3 seasons had a lot of comedy, think Jesse, Hank, Saul, Skinny Pete and Badger.
"this is my private domicile and i will not be harassed ... Bitch"
-Jesse Pinkman
@Eduardo García It's labeled as a Dark Comedy/Drama the comedy is subtle and satirical that's why a lot of people don't pick up on it, there's actually comedy within every episode even the finale.
it's even labeled as a dark comedy, to be fair, it's satire and not everyone picks up on dark comedy it's supposed to be subtle and not slapstick
@Eduardo García what? It’s super comedic even without saul. Mainly in the earlier seasons
"Ahhhhh wire! "
COPPER!
Malcolm in the Middle is a masterpiece. The writing is genius! I watched it as a kid when it aired and loved it. But now rewatching it as an adult, there’s more layers to the humour and you understand the hidden jokes. I laugh even more watching it now. Genius acting, writing and directing. Credit to Bryan, absolute legend!
Bryan is always hilarious. Someone you wouldn't mind being stuck in an elevator with.
Bryan can be someone who you don’t mind being stuck in an elevator with, and he can also be the last last last last person who you don’t want to be stuck in the elevator with..
Or a Safe Room at Ed’s
Unless you saw a lily of the valley in the lobby missing some petals..
Bryan Cranston is my favorite actor. He is incredibly talented and riveting.
@Orlando Trustfull You should leave your cave.
Same
@Orlando Trustfull and if you think playing a character like Walter White wouldn’t be difficult, then I need to know what flavor crayons you ate this morning
@Orlando Trustfull is that why you’re here listening to an actor talk about his craft?
Let's be honest, it's not difficult. Most actors are quite boring, and all they talk about is the "craft"
Crazy that breaking bad finished ten years ago but it still feels like it’s talked about just as much now as it was back then.
@French Toast no lol that'd make us all so old!
x-files also talked to this day, the sopranos also. Thats why this series is all time great with breaking bad. Ah, memories
Breaking Bad is a timeless series, no doubt. And it's always top 3 all time with TV-critics. But I believe the main reason it's still being talked about is because Better Call Saul is a favorite with the TV critics these days. But for the rest of the world, instead of BCS actually hooking people on it's own, it just makes people go back to Breaking Bad.
@French Toast Bro Same 😂
Only 10 years? It feels like 20 because it’s nonstop being talked about
His performance as Hal, and his real life care for Frankie, is what makes me respect Bryan so much. Man, you're a true inspiration.
“Heavens gonna suck.” - Hal
Funniest line in the whole show. Destroys me every time. The best thing about Hal was how much he loves his wife. It was just so refreshing.
I loved Hal and Tim Whatley long before BB.
The elevator synopsis I heard of BB was “the dad from Malcolm in the middle plays a chemistry teacher that discovers he has cancer and starts cooking meth to leave money behind.”
One aspect of WW I found on rewatching is he was always difficult to work with and a very insecure narcissist. It’s why he taught a high school chemistry. He can’t deal with equals.
@IdiotOnTheInterwebs There ya go
@Mr. King I think you mean “initialism”. Acronyms spell a word. Super heroes also have alliterative names.
You sure like initialisms, huh?
And the character Tim he played on "King of Queens" was great. The "Swim Neighbors" episode is one of my favorites of the show.
Those aren’t matza balls😏😏
Bryan’s physical comedy in Malcolm in the middle is unmatched ! Goated
Jim Carrey vibes when running away after stealing the bag at the store!
100% going into breaking bad he was always Hal from Malcolm in the middle and just turned into Walter White/Heisenberg is just amazing just hands down best acting in television since The sopranos.
Watch the alternate MTM ending to BB 🤣
I don't watch anywhere near the unfathomable levels of multiple forms of entertainment that I once did, but this conversation is one I have been waiting to hear. No disappointment. Enjoyable conversation. Kudos, people.
Have you found the truth of eternal life in Jesus yet?
Conan and Bryan are like one of the most scientifically comedic mind around whose minds just views worlds so differrently
It's not just playing both roles. It's nailing them to perfection
Not only is this guy one of the best and most versatile actors of our generation (from being hilarious comically, to bringing one of the best lead dramatic performances we have seen on television) but he also seems from all I have heard like an all around great person. Protect this man
I absolutely loved the clip they made where Bryan wakes up as Hal in Malcom in the Middle & talks about having a dream where he was Walter White.
As soon as I heard Bryan Cranston was going to star in Breaking Bad, I was so excited for that show. It delivered beyond my wildest expectations. Starting Walter out in his tighty whities I always assumed was a nod to Hal.
Bryan’s performance as Walter white is one of the best performances on television we will ever see in our lifetimes.
Why
Hal is the great sitcom dad of all time and he wouldn’t be the same played by anyone else except Bryan.
He & Frank Costanza are my two favourite TV dad's.
Say my name
Great interview. His ability to go from Hal to Walter White is the most legendary thing since Michael Keaton going from Beetlejuice to Batman.
Love seeing Conan like this, just as funny as on late night, but more introspective and truly thoughtful.
Sona laughing at Bryan busting Conan’s chops is the the happiest laugh I’ve ever heard.
I know, right! I rewatched her laughing 5 times in a row and it made me crack up each time myself. 😂
He truly is one of the greatest and most versatile actors of all time.
One of my favorite Hal moments was when he was adding extra sugar and maple syrup to everything Lois ate during her pregnancy. Then adding Dewey into the mix where he was telepathically communicating with the unborn baby
Me and my partner (both 22) started watching Malcom for the first time about a month ago we watch it every night and I haven't seen a show where there isn't a single weak link when it comes to comedy every character is a joy to watch but Hal often steals the show and its amazing.
Cranston is the best. One of my favorite things ever is Anthony Hopkins' fan-boy letter of appreciation for his sustained brilliance as Walter White.
I loved Malcolm in the Middle when I was a kid. Watched it again as an adult and loved it even more. Bryan nailed that role.
Since we know they have cameras set up in the studio, it would be so cool for Conan and team to upload the full video podcast on KZclip! I love listening to the podcast on Apple podcast, however seeing the guests and hosts is always a fun treat!
These full of life performances in Malcolm in the middle have been brilliant to see. So much energy, just inspiring. And quite a brave approach for an actor, considering the risk of getting reduced to that special character. Making typical human flaws lovable is a quality thats far beyond laughing at someone. When you see something that exaggerated and still come to the point where you think, "yeah, there´s a little Hal in each of us", cause you gotta like this character, its not only superfunny, its delivering on many layers and provides an unspoken friendly comment on human nature and the ways you might look at it. Giving that complexity to it, combined with a very unique kind of acting and sweating out he had fun to do it in every minute, makes it outstanding for me and a joy to watch.
Beautifully said insight!
That guy in Malcom vs the same guy in Breaking Bad and a couple other roles convinced me that he is one of the greatest actors of all time.
Hal is unquestionably in my top 5 characters of all time, such an amazing job by Bryan
What I love about watching Bryan Cranston work in an interview is that he shows off his truly world class comedic ability. I don’t know if the world will ever truly grasp the true reach of Bryan’s skills. What a pleasure it has been to exist during the same period of time.
This man is one of the greats. Hal was such as amazing character but to then do breaking bad, it’s just on another level! I’ve seen breaking bad 3 times now and like Conan said, you watch is again and still surprised what happens, even though you know what happens.
What a terrific actor, definitely cemented himself as one of the best actors to ever do it.
Bryan Cranston and James Gandolfini (may he rest in peace) are my all-time-favorites - few could deliver performances like these too!
Conan is always so genuinely amused and happy when he's with Bryan
Well, now I have to rewatch Breaking Bad in its entirety for the 10th time.
I really need to finish it, I think I'm only 2 seasons in, I started it so long ago too 😵
Have you watched Better Call Saul yet?
Just did this. Onto Malcom now
I've re-watched it four times now and it really doesn't get old. Best show ever
I wish I could go back and watch not knowing a thing
This is the best conversation ever!! Thank you both! Great chemistry! U should BOTH do a show together!
It is amazing to think about when Breaking Bad came out, I was apprehensive to watch because it seemed too weird for Hal to be cooking meth. Looking back, playing Hal made Walter White's transformation even crazier to the audience. It is interesting how casting from one show can shape your opinion of a character in another. He really is this generation's Jack Lemmon. They have a lot of the same authenticity that matches the skill. 100% legend
Hal was always my favorite in Malcolm in the Middle, and its what made me watch Breaking Bad, because I hadn't seen him in anything since Malcolm, and I just was blown away with just how well he did as Walter White, he has the range to rival even Robin Williams, which is saying a lot, I cannot think of greater examples of individuals with such a range
Can I thank Conan for saying to Bryan Cranston what we all want to say...thank you. Thank you for all the great performances. Compliments well deserved.
No-one will ever be able to convince me that his best moment as Hal is the cold open where Dewey asks him to get rid of the spider in the bathroom. I cry laughing everytime I watch it.
I rewatched all of Malcolm in the Middle last year, and let me tell you - still so damn funny. I still recommend this show to everyone as one of the best series that television ever produced, right alongside Breaking Bad, and that the differences between Hal and Walt are testament to Cranston's skill and range as an actor.
Malcolm in the Middle is timeless, I went back and watched a few episodes and it still holds up so well!
Remind me again what Sona adds to the conversation other than laughing? This was a great episode - she really shined as a third wheel.
I was smiling throughout all of this. All his compliments he gave about Hal were so damn accurate. I'd die laughing at him and Jim Carey as a kid. I always thought Hal was so underrated when I was younger... I guess he wasn't - he carried the show.
You couldn’t replace any cast member of breaking bad with any other actor on the planet…it’s a masterpiece.
I maintain that Conan is the best interviewer of our time. So clever, so funny, so quick, so curious...but always willing to let the interviewee shine as bright (or as dim) as they can. He can carry anyone, but truly interesting folks really cut-through when Conan is involved.
Bryan Cranston is one of the greatest actors of all time. He is brilliant in everything he does!
Hal Wilkerson is hands down one of the best sitcom characters of all time, up there with the Fraiser Cranes and Jerry Seinfelds of the world in my opinion
One of my favourite scenes from malcom will always be when Hal burst into the lads room and offers them 5 bucks to take the heat for something he did. He drags one of them like a rag doll out of the room!!
I still think 'Hal' made the first season of breaking bad even better because we all started out seeing him as kinda that character which made the transformation even more stunning.
Bryan is great in everything he does but I think his performance as Vince in “Sneaky Pete” was phenomenal. The “Break it you buy it” speech he gives is sooo good.
Memorizing lines and being to act with a huge room of people with a lot of pressure to do it right is SO HARD. The breaking bad cast is so talented everything feels so real. All there characters feel so “lived in”
Part of why breaking bad was so amazing to me were the inner expectations connected to this amazing actor after years of seeing the comedic family dad in his face. Of course it's not the same character. But for me this background made breaking bad more monumental, the change of Walter White deeper and more serious or tragic somehow.
Everyone lost their mind when they saw Brian in Breaking Bad, but I was like uhhhhhhh, did you not see his absolutely ground breaking role of Hal? It's 11 out of 10. Flawless. Such an underrated role.
7:38 I think, the reason why the first episode of BB got me instantly hooked was exactly because it foreshadowed this extreme character arc. It was obvious from the start and made me super curious and excited about how Bryan Cranston would pull that transformation off. Going basicly from Hal to Scarface withtin a few seasons. Best thing ever!
I met Bryan when he and a business partner were opening an indie movie theater in Palm Desert. He absolutely exudes warmth and charm that isn’t the least condescending or fake. I am so glad he’s found the success he deserves.
U can tell Conan is a writer with how he never forgets to give them credit and not just give it all to the actor
His work as Hal is the best acting he's done
his enthusiasm was always so respectable. any role he does he brings so much life and energy to.
One of my favorite Hal moments is when he goes for a job interview and they do a bunch of tests on him. But he's unsure of the job and goes back the next day to decline and the whole building is gone.
Fantastic and super insightful, laidback interview. It’s what Conan does best when it comes to his job, though he is multi talented and great all around, interviewing is definitely his forte. And it helps tremendously too, of course, that Bryan Cranston is an excellent speaker and quite knowledgeable person who is dedicated 100% to his craft and just has a great way of conveying his thoughts and emotions, especially in these types of public scenarios in front of a camera… 👌🏼
I love what Bryan said about a part coming back to you when someone asks you about it or if you end up returning to it. There's a great show on Disney+ called Prop Culture that looks at props of movies from yesteryear, and one episode includes Christopher Lloyd getting to see his costume from Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and he ends up putting it on again and he's right back in to the character, even though it was nearly 40 years ago he was right back in, it's incredible. Highly recommend watching that show, especially if you grew up on 80s and 90s movies.
I just loved Malcom in the Middle as a Child and it still cracks me up at moments. It is a pleasure to watch.
Me too. Him talking about it is nostalgic.
Hal’s speed walking episode is still one of the funniest TV episodes of the 2000s. Malcolm In The Middle was my favorite show for a long time, I miss the 2000s and the way the world was then.
It's insane that most people didn't realize how good an actor Cranston was until he was well past 40.
Conan was right, there's a lot of Hal in Walter White, especially in the early seasons. There are some legit "slap stick" moments in Breaking Bad.
And that's what makes Walter's transformation all the more terrifying
I recently rewatched BB for about the 5th time and it still blows me away how much happens in such short a series, that kind of character development on only 5 seasons is phenomenal.
Indeed.
The show is about chemistry, after all. The science of change.
Every character goes through a traumatic change in themselves and their character throughout the series.
Malcolm in the Middle remains the funniest show I've ever seen, even now that I'm an adult. The entire cast is unmatched.
Malcolm in the Middle was so underrated. I’m watching it on Hulu rn and it’s hilarious.
I was a huge fan of Malcolm in the Middle and the only reason I started watching Breaking Bad from the pilot was because of Bryan. Luckily taking that chance gave me the opportunity to watch one of the greatest shows of all time from literal beginning to end
The past 8 years, Breaking Bad is unparalleled as the greatest show of all time. Bryan is the most capable actors of all time as well. Loved Conan's observation that he runs away badly xD That's such a Conan-type observation - I looove this Podcast
I just rewatched the whole series last fall. The show was even better as an adult than it was as a child
So well said by Conan, his performance in Malcom in the middle is outstanding. Like a realistic Homer.
Conan has nailed it! I loved and love malcolm in the middle as a kid! Hal's character was so great to watch... the physical comedy was first class. I always wondered why I remembered his character so clearly... and it was because of how funny and great his performance was... I see it more now that I'm older!
Who wouldn't want to see Bryan and Conan start in a Buddy Movie together? Their timing and improv is MASTERFUL!
This is just delightful. A lovely conversation and a happy, insightful moment in time between two masters of their craft.
Bryan Cranston is a national treasure. Protect Bryan Cranston at all costs
Loved waking up and watching Malcom in the Middle! Favorite childhood show.
This was such an enjoyable listen. Bryan is entertaining and witty and the dynamic with everyone in the room was excellent. Thank you for this enjoyable watch.
Bryan showed just how great his comedic timing was way back in the 90s being a regular guest as Tim, the dentist on Seinfeld!
Something I always loved about Breaking Bad, but I've never been completely sure was intentional, was that Walter always seemed like he was putting on a facade, because he knew that was the only way he could survive in this business. I always felt like there were flecks of "I don't belong in this lifestyle" peeking through the cracks of every performance he gave in that show as Heisenberg. I dunno if I'm imagining it, or if Bryan is just that damn good.
He’s is phenomenal in breaking bad and other serious roles BUT while there are other actors that could probably play those roles very well but I don’t think anyone could pull Hal off. It is just pure comical magic and I will always marvel at Bryan Cranstons genius as Hal.
I could listen to Bryan talk about his roles all day
Hal and Bryan Cranston's performance in malcolm is what had me sold on Breaking Bad from it's premier episode.
Malcom In The Middle is where I was first introduced to Bryan Cranston and WOW! I just love him sooooo much!! I watched the show as a kid when it first came out and then watched it again as an adult and it is HILARIOUS!! I love this man so much!!!! 😂 pure gold!!!
Also, huge huge fan of Breaking Bad! ❤
Hal is one of the greatest TV characters in history.
Utterly adore this man, he makes acting and being a decent person seem so effortless, and yet he works like hell at it. Great interview 👏
I watched the show the first time and loved it. Truly great television. For some reason, I decided to watch from the start again. This time, I too am going through cancer treatment. How Walter faces the diagnosis and makes his decisions was absolutely compelling viewing for me. It was amazing how close he was to how I was confronted. I am not choosing to cook meth, but I really understand the process through which Walter works. It is like an entirely new show.
Hope all goes well for you with the treatment! Wishing you the best :)
Malcolm In The Middle is the last genuinely great original sitcom, imo. Hilariously innovative. I discovered it in my adult years, so I came in recogonizing the shows many levels of satire and character arcs.
this was a great interview, every body let the other one talk, it's calm it's refreshing