The Bear’s Status as a Comedy Gets Response from FX Boss After Emmy Nominations Announcement

The Bear's Status as a Comedy Gets Response from FX Boss After Emmy Nominations Announcement

As a dedicated gamer and avid television viewer with a soft spot for critically acclaimed shows, I can’t help but be intrigued by the ongoing debate surrounding the genre of FX’s “The Bear.” I’ve been following this series since its inception, and I’ve witnessed firsthand how it has captivated audiences with its unique blend of intense drama and subtle humor.


It’s undeniable that FX’s “The Bear” has received widespread critical praise and massive popularity. In fact, the second season of this show received exceptional recognition during its initial release. Today, with the announcement of the 76th Primetime Emmy Award nominations, “The Bear” made history by receiving an unprecedented 23 nominations, breaking the record previously held by “30 Rock” 15 years ago for the most nominations ever for a comedy series. The main topic of discussion isn’t whether this show is good or not; its almost unanimous acclaim suggests it’s top-notch television. However, there has been much debate over which genre this series truly belongs to.

Some people find “The Bear” on FX to be quite serious with only a few moments of laughter throughout each episode. Whether this justifies its classification as a comedy is up for debate, especially if it wins awards against other undeniably comedic shows in September. John Landgraf, the head of FX, has weighed in on the show’s genre label.

In an interview with Variety about FX’s 93 Emmy nominations, Landgraf was queried regarding the recognition of “The Bear” in the comedy realm. With three comedic Best Comedy Series nominees like “Reservation Dogs” and “What We Do in Shadows,” Landgraf attributed any debate over “The Bear’s” comedy classification to Emmy voters themselves.

“I have extensive experience with this topic, having been involved for decades, beginning in my adulthood. Yet, no television series, not even a comedy, has impressed me as much as ‘The Bear’ Season 2. In fact, it ranks among the best seasons of TV I’ve ever encountered. And there are portions of that season that are genuinely hilarious. Feel free to cast your votes for the answers.”

Whether The Bear Is a Comedy or Not Has Been a Big Bone of Contention

The Bear's Status as a Comedy Gets Response from FX Boss After Emmy Nominations AnnouncementThe Bear's Status as a Comedy Gets Response from FX Boss After Emmy Nominations AnnouncementThe Bear's Status as a Comedy Gets Response from FX Boss After Emmy Nominations Announcement

The query about which genre “The Bear” belongs to has been raised frequently since the program started winning comedy awards at various prestigious ceremonies. When posed this question once, executive producer Josh Senior explained that the show mirrors real life with its mix of humor and genuine moments. He stated, “I believe the series is authentic to life, and it can be amusing one moment and real the next.” Additionally, he mentioned that the show’s length is approximately half an hour, making it compatible with the comedy genre’s typical format.

In June, there were rumors that competing networks proposed to the Television Academy to classify “The Bear” as a comedy. However, due to the show’s heavy themes such as suicide and depression, many believed this wouldn’t gain much traction since similar debates have arisen for other shows previously. Based on Academy regulations, a comedy series is defined as having mostly comedic episodes, while a drama series consists primarily of dramatic episodes. Considering “The Bear’s” intense subject matter, it’s not surprising that some believe it aligns more with the latter category.

In 2014, Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black” was nominated for Best Comedy Series, but due to a rule modification, it was reclassified as a drama series in 2015. Long-running episodes must compete in the drama category unless they petition for a change. When asked if “The Bear” would switch to compete in the drama category during Season 3, Landgraf remained ambiguous, stating, “I’m not giving that question much thought right now. I’m just really pleased that their work in Season 2 received recognition.”

The Bear
is currently available to stream on Hulu.

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2024-07-18 03:31