Breaking Bad - Interview with Jonathan Banks

It seems to be a recurring theme that everyone fell in love with the series from the moment they read their first script. Was that the same for you as well?
JB: I’ll tell you, they introduced me in the last show of the second season, and I go in and I do it, and once I actually saw it, I thought, “Wow, that’s really something. There’s really good stuff going on here.” And that was my impression. I was really knocked out by it. But before that, even, I came home and said to my wife, “I just worked with this kid, and I think he’s really, really good.” And, of course, that was Aaron [Paul]. And as it turns out, I was really, really, really right. But he’s just a pleasure to work with. I’m very close with him. We give each other endless shit. [Laughs.] And it just makes for a wonderful day.

When Mike was first introduced, a lot of people made comparisons to Harvey Keitel’s character in Pulp Fiction.
JB: And how can you help but do that? And, you know, it really bothered me, ’cause I thought, “Shit.” You hate comparisons, but they’re inevitable. I was thinking of… oh, what’s his name? Wonderful Swedish actor who did all the Bergman films. What the hell’s his name? Oh God, that shows you how old I am. [Laughs.] Come on, help me out here!

Source: Full interview @ A.V. Club