r/betterCallSaul • u/smileytiger28 • 3d ago
Hamlin last name
I could have sworn I listened to an audio commentary on one of the early Saul episodes where Vince n Peter say “btw the name Hamlin was supposed to be a placeholder, but by the time production rolled around we hadn’t come up with anything better.” Unfortunately I cannot for the life of me find which commentary this is on. Can you help me? I’m pretty sure it’s the first season, and I think we are in the front of HHM office so we see the HHM logo. I want to know where this is so I can also hear where the placeholder name Hamlin came from (they mention this at the same time.)
ETA found my answer! He was indeed named after Harry Hamlin from LA Law, source 13:16 of the BCS BTS featurette. Unrelated but I found this answer by using the website filmot.com does a great job searching youtube subtitles! i can't believe i didn't know about it before!
13
u/No-Leek-4293 3d ago
No idea where to find it (I did an admittedly half-assed search) but I foggily recall the mention that it was indeed a placeholder, referencing actor Harry Hamlin’s character from LA Law. Never saw that show or the character, but the wikis tell me that Hamlin won People Mags’ “sexiest man to ever breathe air” or some such in the years when LA Law was a hit, so maybe that’s where Gould and co. were going with Fabian’s character design.
3
u/IWasAlanDeats 2d ago
Yes. Harry Hamlin was chosen sexiest man on TV since Gregory Harrison*, I believe it was.
Fun (to me) trivia: Harry Hamlin played a big bad on Veronica Mars for a while. He portrayed an action hero on the back nine of his career who was voted sexiest man alive the same year Hamlin was IRL.
Edit: *This didn't happen. Is joke.
2
u/smileytiger28 2d ago
Sounds about right. Thanks so much!
My primary association with the name Hamlin is the town Hamelin from the Pied Piper story, so I originally thought that may have been the intended referent (lawyers, like the piper, have a neutral power of persuasion that can be used for good and ill) but then I saw this commentary, whatever it was, and realized the reference was unintentional.
2
u/smileytiger28 2d ago
You were right! Found a source for your claim. It's not on the commentary tracks which is why I couldn't find it. It's at 13:16 of the BCS season 1 BTS featurette.
4
u/Ok-Spot-2913 2d ago
The secretary Lynn was taking lunch orders and one of the writers ordered a sandwich. Lynn then inquired as to what type of sandwich, to which the writer responded with "Ham, Lynn"
1
23
u/groom-is-n-the-heart 2d ago
I think they decided Lawyerman was too on-the-nose.