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How Better Call Saul's Michael McKean Was Nominated for an Oscar... for a Song 

How Better Call Saul's Michael McKean Was Nominated for an Oscar... for a Song 
Image credit: AMC

Michael McKean has a secret talent that landed him an Oscar nomination.

Hey there, folks! Today, we're going to chat about a man of many talents, Michael McKean. You might know him as Chuck McGill from the hit series Better Call Saul, but did you know he was also nominated for an Oscar... for a song? Yes, you heard it right! Let's dive in.

Better Call Saul is a kind of TV show that simply can’t leave you untouched, especially with its characters. There is hardly a single character who didn’t evoke any emotion. Of course, that is primarily the merit of the writers, but it would be nothing without a talented cast.

Michael McKean, the man who brought Chuck McGill, managed to make us if not hate him, at least dislike his characters. That is a simple proof that the actor did their job. But you may be surprised to find out that Michael McKean is not just a talented actor but also a gifted musician and songwriter.

Remember the characters Lenny and Squiggy from the series Laverne & Shirley? Well, McKean composed music for them. But that’s not even the best part.

In 2003, McKean co-starred in a film called A Mighty Wind, a hilarious mockumentary about folk music. Alongside him were fellow comedians like Eugene Levy and his Spinal Tap co-member Harry Shearer.

For this film, McKean penned a song titled A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow. This wasn't just any song, though. It was so good that it earned McKean an Academy Award nomination. Not only that, but he also won a Grammy for the movie's titular song.

McKean's musical talent doesn't stop at songwriting. He's also the only person in history to be on Saturday Night Live in three different roles — as a host, musical guest, and cast member. Talk about being multi-talented.

How Better Call Saul's Michael McKean Was Nominated for an Oscar... for a Song - image 1

Circling back to Better Call Saul, McKean's portrayal of Chuck McGill was so compelling that it's hard to imagine him playing any other character.

Interestingly, he was initially approached for a different role in Breaking Bad, the series from which Better Call Saul spun off. However, due to scheduling conflicts, he had to turn it down.