‘Hacks’ cast member’s mother and ex-SNL star criticizes ‘The Bear,’ claims it’s not a comedy
Laraine Newman has strong opinions about “The Bear” and its place in the comedy category at the Emmys.
“Thinking about ‘The Bear’ being nominated in the comedy category gives me anxiety,” expressed the original “Saturday Night Live” cast member on X, coinciding with the day of the Emmy Awards.
The popular FX show earned an impressive 23 nominations, but it was the series “Hacks” on Max, featuring Newman’s daughter Hannah Einbinder, that took home the top comedy award.
Einbinder didn’t secure the win for best supporting actress in a comedy series, as that accolade went to “The Bear’s” Liza Colón-Zayas.
Newman isn’t alone in questioning why “The Bear” is categorized as a comedy at such a prestigious event.
Many on social media have raised the same concerns, and even Eugene Levy, who co-hosted the show this year with his father Joseph, made a playful remark about it during the ceremony.
Eugene humorously highlighted, “‘The Bear’ received 23 Emmy nominations tonight, setting a record for the most nominations for a comedy. I genuinely love the show, and while some might expect jokes about whether ‘The Bear’ is truly a comedy, in the spirit of ‘The Bear,’ we won’t make any jokes.”
So, what makes “The Bear” fall into the comedy genre? YSL News’s TV critic, Kelly Lawler, previously explored this topic:
Why is ‘The Bear’ classified as a comedy by the Emmys?
This series, revolving around an Italian beef sandwich shop in Chicago transformed into a fine dining experience by chef Carmy Berzatto (portrayed by Emmy winner Jeremy Allen White), isn’t primarily focused on humor.
Its dramatic storyline includes themes like the suicide of the protagonist’s brother and inherited family issues, along with frequent profanity.
“The Bear” isn’t the only serious series to be lumped into the comedy category for a greater chance at Emmy recognition; many instances of what viewers refer to as “category fraud” have occurred.
This is a common scenario in the world of Hollywood awards.
From actors opting for supporting roles instead of lead, dramas entering the comedy category, to returning series competing in the limited series field, there’s always a bit of strategic maneuvering during awards season.
When Season 1 of “The Bear” was released, prior to its acclaim and numerous nominations, White shared his views on the show’s classification as a comedy.
In a conversation with YSL News in 2022, he shared, “If I had to categorize it, I’d say it’s a dramedy. There are definitely funny moments. While I don’t think Carmy is particularly humorous himself, the circumstances surrounding him can be amusing. It’s fascinating and humorous to see this young man, not the best at expressing himself, trying to articulate his thoughts and feelings to a group that struggles to understand him as well. This dynamic creates some comedic situations. It’s not necessarily laugh-out-loud funny all the time, but there are moments where it can be. We’re aiming for a sense of realism, akin to real life. There are situations that are sad yet funny, and vice versa.”
Contributors: Kelly Lawler, Erin Jensen, and Patrick Ryan