“Better Call Saul” star Bob Odenkirk is lending his talents to a different type of production — an ad for Nithya Raman, who is running for Los Angeles mayor.
The Golden Globe winner known for “Breaking Bad” and the action-thriller “Nobody” narrated an ad in support of Raman’s candidacy, according to her campaign. Raman is running against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in a race she shook up earlier this year by joining at the eleventh hour. She and Bass are sparring over their records on homelessness and policing in a city that spans several hundred square miles.
The ad said Raman will work to keep streets safe, pothole-free and “fight to keep Hollywood in Hollywood.”
“LA shows the world what it means to be a star,” the ad said. “And every Angeleno
deserves the chance to reach for their own.”
Shortly after the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards began airing on Monday, Sept. 14 — the ad was to air before and after the award show on NBC — Bass acknowledged some of the many workers in Los Angeles involved in productions.
“Tonight, the Emmys are celebrating some of television’s biggest names. I’m also thinking about the thousands of names you may never hear,” she said on X. “The writers, editors, camera crews, costume designers, set builders, makeup artists, drivers, and countless other workers across Los Angeles whose talent brings every production to life.”
She added that Los Angeles will keep fighting to ensure these workers can build their careers and futures in the city.
Nonprofit FilmLA found in January that the total number of on-location shooting days in the Los Angeles area was down 16% in 2025 compared to the previous year. Yet 2024 was far from a success story, also suffering from a decline in on-location shooting days in the region compared to the previous year, as well as dealing with “the effects of runaway production, industry contraction and slower-than-hoped-for post-strike recovery,” according to FilmLA.
When’s the next LA mayor debate?
Bass and Raman are expected to take part in back-to-back conversations as part of the Jewish Los Angeles Mayoral Forum in West Los Angeles on Sept. 29, according to the Jewish Federation Los Angeles.
LA mayor race polls: What to know
More polls will likely be released as the November election gets closer. In August, the Los Angeles Times reported that a poll showing Bass leading Raman by nearly 12 percentage points was actually fake in an incident that stirred headlines about the race.
Bass finished in the primary with about 34% of the vote compared to Raman’s 29%.
When do ballots go out?
Ballots will start to be mailed out by Oct. 5.
When is the LA mayor election?
The Los Angeles mayor election will be held on Nov. 3.
Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at pbarraza@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Better Call Saul' Bob Odenkirk steps into LA mayor race through ad
