Bob Odenkirk described the sitcom, started off as a writer for SNL, then jumped to more sketch comedies and movies as both an actor and a writer. For a long time, it seemed like he would be a comedian for his whole career, appearing in small roles in comedies like Arrested Development, How I Met Your Mother, and The Cable Guy. Then he was cast in Breaking Bad in 2009, and everything changed.

Now, Odenkirk is one of the most bankable stars working, with his own show, Better Call Saul; an action franchise, Nobody; and plenty of dramas to keep him busy, like The People's Joker​​​​​. It's a career that's worth examining, and he's a creative who has a lot of experience under his belt. To go from sketch comedy to Emmy-winning fare is no small feat. If Bob Odenkirk says that everyone should watch something, we should all probably watch it. As would be expected of someone with a comedy background, Odenkirk's suggestion is a sitcom.

One Of Bob Odenkirk's Biggest Inspirations Is The Royle Family

Odenkirk Has Watched The Series Multiple Times

Bob Odenkirk has said that The Royle Family is his favorite sitcom of all time, and for the British sitcom series. Odenkirk wrote,

"TV provides comfort — and usually in an artificial, forced way. People are happy to take any kind of comfort they can, and I don't blame them. But 'The Royle Family' is more challenging. There's real feeling here. This is a beautiful piece of art — as complex as a film like 'Ordinary People' or 'The Graduate.'"

He went on to say about the Royle family at the center, "It’s an examination of a family dynamic that is horribly broken and awful and yet protective and, somehow, loving." That's quite the description for a sitcom family, but Odenkirk shares just how that realistic family dynamic helped his own family overcome, or at least weather, some challenging moments. He said,

"When my son was 12, my family had some challenges we were dealing with... so I decided to show him 'The Royle Family.' Watching this show, for a 12-year-old kid who grew up in L.A., was hilarious and comforting. It showed a family making subtle allowances for the ways in which they've been hurt — and they push back, but they never break apart... It's a confounding and, simultaneously, a beautiful thing... Since we first watched the series, I've watched it two more times, and we started it again a few weeks ago."

It's a show that clearly means a lot to him, and that was critical to his happiness and security at a difficult time in his own family's life.

The Royle Family Only Ran For 25 Episodes, But It Was Enough To Make History

The Series Is Considered One Of The Best British Sitcoms

You may not have heard of The Royle Family, particularly if you're not a British reader, because the show only ran for three seasons from 1998 to 2000, though there were five specials released between 2006 and 2012, totaling 25 episodes. The series stars the working-class Royle family of Manchester. Led by father, Jim (Ricky Tomlinson); mother, Barbara (Sue Johnston); daughter, Denise (Caroline Aherne); son, Antony (Ralf Little); and Denise's finacé, David (Craig Cash), the Royles dealt with the everyday struggles of life.

As Bob Odenkirk describes it, the personal lives of the Royles are sometimes fraught with tension, but they never let worries or old wounds control their actions. The series was nominated for and won several BAFTA awards and has long been considered one of the greatest British television programs ever, and Tomlinson's portrayal of the cynical, cantankerous, hot-headed Jim Royle is one of the best in sitcom history, particularly in the oeuvre of sitcom fathers. It's smart, real, hilarious, and surprisingly loving.

Every Sitcom Fan Should Watch The Royle Family

The Royle Family Is A Realistic Look At A Dysfunctional Family

The Royle Family is a sitcom that everyone should watch at one point or another, and maybe watch again, as Bob Odenkirk has. For one, it's only 25 episodes, most of which, barring the special, run for less than half an hour. You can knock out the whole series in two weeks if you put your mind to it. More important than the ease of getting through it all is the ease of actually watching it. The Royle Family is comforting in its discomfort. The characters aren't constantly solving their problems by the end of each episode, they simply come to with them.

That's how life often works, and it's moving and relatable to see that reality placed on screen. The specials that were released between 2006 and 2012 also give satisfying closure to the series, so viewers don't have to worry about investing in something they know will never be completed. The Royle Family is charming, hilarious, honest, and filled with incredible performances. It's no wonder that Bob Odenkirk speaks so highly of the show.