Current:Home > StocksWhy is 'The Bear' a comedy? FX show breaks record with Emmy nominations-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Why is 'The Bear' a comedy? FX show breaks record with Emmy nominations
View Date:2024-12-23 20:18:47
The stressful, frenetic life behind the scenes at a gourmet restaurant. So funny, right?
Congratulations to FX's "The Bear" for its many Emmy nominations this year in the comedy categories, including outstanding comedy series. It got so many nominations, in fact, it broke the record for most nominations by a comedy series in one year, with 23 nods. That's one more than the previous record holder: NBC's "30 Rock," which nabbed 22 nominations in 2009.
But while the producers of "The Bear" are probably popping the Champagne corks, many viewers of the infamously stress-inducing, tense series might be wondering about the whole "comedy" part of those nominations.
The series, about a family-owned Italian-beef sandwich joint in Chicago that is transformed into a fine dining establishment by chef Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White, nominated for lead actor), isn't often laugh-out-loud funny. I prefer to call it a "half-hour drama" or "dramedy." Sometimes the antics of "cousin" Richie (Ebon Moss-Bacharach, nominated for supporting actor) are so outlandish as to cause a chortle. But those laughs are somewhat incidental to the heavily dramatic plot, where the protagonist's brother died by suicide, inherited family trauma is a major plot point and the profanity is frequent and derogatory.
So why is it up against the likes of happy-go-lucky sitcoms like "Abbott Elementary"?
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
The short answer is, because it can! It's not the Television Academy that picks which categories TV shows compete in, but rather the networks and streamers behind them. So FX decided to submit "The Bear" as a comedy, and that's where it will stay. The reason is also pretty simple: Comedy categories are traditionally less competitive than drama, meaning all the Emmys the series won at the last Emmys are partially due to the shrewd decision by network honchos to go for the comedy gold. Plus, if it had competed in drama this year, it would have been up against FX's other heavyweight contender: "Shogun," which scored 25 nominations, the most for any series.
"The Bear" is far from the only dramatic TV series ever to compete as a comedy for a better shot at glory. There have been many cases of what awards-watchers like to call "category fraud." Dark shows like HBO's "Barry," Netflix's "Russian Doll," Amazon's "Fleabag" all have competed (and won) as comedies in recent years. But you might be hard-pressed to laugh at the finale of "Barry."
It's the age-old story of the Hollywood awards race. Whether it's actors competing in supporting categories instead of lead roles, dramas competing as comedies or returning series sneaking into the limited series category, there is always a little bit of campaign trickery and finagling. Whatever it takes to win, right?
Back when Season 1 premiered, before all the hype and nominations, White had his own thoughts about whether the series could be labeled a comedy.
"I guess if you had to, I would describe it as a dramedy," he told USA TODAY in 2022. "It's certainly funny at times. I don't think Carmy’s necessarily funny, but I think the situations that he finds himself in can be. I think it's interesting and funny to watch this young man who’s not a wonderful communicator trying to communicate what he wants and his feelings to a group of people who are also not excellent at hearing him. So I think there is comedy that comes out of that. I don't know if it's like knee-slapping funny. I think it can be at times. It's real, or we're trying to make it real, like real life. Sad things can be funny. Funny things can make you sad."
"The Bear" is definitely skilled at making you sad and being sad, that's for sure. There are some laughs. And considering how many Emmys "The Bear" won in the comedy categories for its first season, it's pretty safe to say it might be breaking more records as a "comedy" at this year's awards, and for years to come.
Contributing: Erin Jensen
veryGood! (2883)
Related
- Reds honor Pete Rose with a 14-hour visitation at Great American Ball Park
- How Tigers turned around season to secure first postseason berth since 2014
- Torrential rains flood North Carolina mountains and create risk of dam failure
- The 26 Most Shopped Celebrity Product Recommendations This Month: Kyle Richards, Kandi Burruss & More
- She's a trans actress and 'a warrior.' Now, this 'Emilia Pérez' star could make history.
- Cowboys find much-needed 'joy' in win over Giants after gut check of two losses
- Beware: 'card declined' message could be the sign of a scam
- Jimmy Carter at 100: A century of changes for a president, the US and the world since 1924
- Patricia Heaton criticizes media, 'extremists' she says 'fear-mongered' in 2024 election
- Kentucky sign language interpreter honored in program to give special weather radios to the deaf
Ranking
- Ford agrees to pay up to $165 million penalty to US government for moving too slowly on recalls
- Facing a possible strike at US ports, Biden administration urges operators to negotiate with unions
- Sharpton and Central Park Five members get out the vote in battleground Pennsylvania
- A TV reporter was doing a live hurricane report when he rescued a woman from a submerged car
- Arizona Supreme Court declines emergency request to extend ballot ‘curing’ deadline
- Will Ferrell recalls his biggest 'fear' making Netflix film with trans best friend
- Ready to race? The USA TODAY Hot Chocolate Run series is heading to 16 cities this fall
- Lizzo Makes First Public Appearance Since Sharing Weight Loss Transformation
Recommendation
-
Shawn Mendes Confesses He and Camila Cabello Are No Longer the Closest
-
The State Fair of Texas opens with a new gun ban after courts reject challenge
-
Reese Witherspoon's Son Tennessee Is Her Legally Blonde Twin in Sweet Birthday Tribute
-
Fossil Fuel Presence at Climate Week NYC Spotlights Dissonance in Clean Energy Transition
-
Judge hears case over Montana rule blocking trans residents from changing sex on birth certificate
-
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Alum Kim Richards Gets Into Confrontation With Sister Kyle Richards
-
Ed Pittman dies at 89 after serving in all three branches of Mississippi government
-
Allison Holker Shares How Her 3 Kids Met Her New Boyfriend Adam Edmunds