"Breaking Bad's" Aaron Paul Looks Back on Losing Role from "The Class"

[JamesG]

Aaron Paul was "Depressed" after Losing Role on "The Class"
by Jessica Wang
May 22, 2025


On the latest episode of Hot Ones, Aaron Paul looked back on the time he auditioned for "The Class", a short-lived CBS comedy from "Friends" co-creator David Crane, during his early days in Hollywood.

When Paul failed to book a role on the buzzy show, he admittedly felt dejected about it.




"It was already picked up for two seasons," the actor recalled between bites of fiery chicken wings.

"It was going to be, they were saying, 'the next big Friends.' All my friends that were actors were trying out for it, and everybody really wanted it."



Paul tested for an unspecified role with the studio and network, "and then I didn't get it," he said. "But then they had me audition for another role, and I went to studio, and then I went to network with me and another person, and I didn't get it."

"I can't tell you how depressed I was for just way too long. And the show was good. It lasted about a season and a half. And you know, some people liked it, but it wasn't Friends."



Turns out there was a silver lining, because if Paul were to have done "The Class", "I wouldn't have been available to audition for Breaking Bad."

"You never know what's right around the corner, you know. So just keep pounding the pavement."

https://ew.com/aaron-paul-depressed-...class-11740141