Although they share impressive casts, ABC’s series “Lost” and FX’s “The Bear” appear to have little in common at first glance. The former is an hour-long sci-fi adventure TV show that aired on network television from 2004 to 2010, while the latter, set for release in 2025, will be a half-hour comedy series available through streaming and FX Network. However, it’s possible that “Lost” (and its parent network ABC) may unwittingly be the reason “The Bear” receives criticism during upcoming awards ceremonies.
The Bear Often Takes Flak At The Emmys For Landing In The Comedy Category
… and it delivers a heavy dose of drama. Although The Bear, featuring Jeremy Allen White, can be humorously over-the-top at times and its characters may occasionally provide laughs, the FX series primarily leans towards dramatic tones. In truth, this show is so authentic in capturing the tense kitchen environment that some real-life chefs opt not to watch it at all.
Without a shadow of a doubt, “The Bear” is a skillfully crafted and captivating series that undeniably catches the eye of Awards committees. Nevertheless, when it comes to its comedic aspects, it’s noticeably less smooth compared to shows specifically designed for humor. A group of writers shared their insights on this contrast with Vulture, offering compelling arguments about “The Bear” potentially winning multiple Comedy Emmys, even breaking a record previously held by “30 Rock” for many years.
One author has admitted that there’s a common jest within the field that “The Bear” is not actually a comedic piece, and this fact is well-known among all involved.
Or simply:
It’s widely known in the industry that “The Bear” isn’t really a comedy, despite some jokes being made about it.
Many people find it amusing and often comment on the irony that The Bear, which isn’t typically considered a comedy, has been winning several humor awards.
Nevertheless, a second writer, unnamed like the first, shared their disappointment with the outlet, stating it feels somewhat painful to witness this brief, intensely dramatic series triumph over numerous comedies that are genuinely hilarious. A network TV writer expressed similar sentiments to the outlet when The Bear surpassed 30 Rock with 22 nominations, remarking that it was the final straw that pushed them over the edge.
After The Bear surpassed 30 Rocks’ record for humor, I suspect this may have been the final blow for comedy writers. With such esteem placed upon 30 Rock, it’s a show that consistently generated laughs. Therefore, encountering a production that doesn’t strive to be amusing at all can feel rather disrespectful, as it’s a testament to the dedication and effort put into crafting jokes in shows like 30 Rock.
Nevertheless, “The Bear” is still triumphing in the comedy category at the Emmys. To comprehend its success, let’s delve into the evolution of television over the past two decades or so.
How Lost (And Desperate Housewives) Led Us To Where We Are Today
For a while, there’s been a gap between Hollywood and comedy productions. Often, the Best Picture winners at the Oscars are dramas, even though they might have some humorous scenes. On the other hand, drama categories in the Emmys are considered the best of the best and usually announced last. This can be quite vexing for writers who craft brilliant jokes to see a series excelling in dramatic storytelling making an impact on the one major Emmy category that recognizes comedy writers: Outstanding Comedy Series.
The concept dates back to the belief that short programs lasting around 30 minutes are primarily comedies or sitcoms, while longer ones running for an hour are typically dramas. However, it’s common knowledge that this idea is more complex, but it seems that awards ceremonies started acknowledging this trend more recently, if not as recently as one might expect.
During a particular period, network ABC held a strong influence over the Emmys. In the 2000s, this network boasted two critically acclaimed flagship shows: “Lost”, which was an hour-long drama, and “Desperate Housewives”, a dramedy that ran for an hour as well. To gain an edge, ABC strategically positioned “Desperate Housewives” in the comedy category, thus freeing it from competition with its highly successful sibling show.
In 2005, both “Housewives” and another show were nominated, but “Housewives” didn’t take home the comedy prize, which went to the classic sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond.” However, “Lost” triumphed in the Outstanding Drama category, making ABC’s decision to air it seem particularly astute.
Appropriately enough, some claim that the concept of a dramedy, featuring comedic aspects, came to be classified as a comedy, was allegedly due to ABC’s ambition to sweep all the awards, according to a seasoned TV writer with years of experience in the field.
It seems the root issue arose when ABC became overly ambitious. Recognizing that Lost would likely take the prize for best drama, they decided to play a risky move by nominating Desperate Housewives instead in the comedy category.
It’s clear that this theory originates from a writer who was active during the 2004-2005 TV season, yet it resonates with me. Shows like The Bear, Barry, Atlanta, and The Flight Attendant are examples of shows that straddle the line between drama and comedy, often referred to as “drama-ish” or “comedy-dramas”. However, The Bear seems particularly ambiguous in terms of genre classification, and it’s garnering an impressive number of nominations, making it noteworthy.
This season, “The Bear” dominated several categories, but it was “Hacks” that snagged the Outstanding Comedy Award as mentioned earlier. With new episodes of “The Bear” Season 4 set to air later this month and Emmy nominations coming up in September, I’m excited to see if the pattern continues this year.
While hacks such as “The Bear” may sometimes feel awkward or embarrassing, they are packed with an abundance of humor. And let me tell you, the Berf shirt joke from “The Bear” is one I’ll always stand by!
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2025-06-11 15:38