Television has witnessed a myriad of genres, from heart-wrenching dramas to mind-bending thrillers. But every now and then, a series comes along that is beyond classification and surpasses the limits of what we consider comedy. One such remarkable show is Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s The Bear, a highly regarded series that has tickled the emotions and funny bones of audiences worldwide.
With six wins, including Best Comedy Series, The Bear, which also stars Jeremy Allen White & Ayo Edebiri, dominated the comedy categories at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday night. Even though Hulu’s show contains plenty of humor, can it be considered a comedy? Despite popular belief, the online discussion surrounding this awards season indicates that, given its often dramatic and eerie tone, it should have been in the drama category. Moss-Bachrach, who portrayed Richard ‘Richie’ Jerimovich, would argue otherwise.
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Why is The Bear Considered a Comedy Show?
After winning in the comedy genre, The Bear has already garnered a lot of praise in its first two seasons. However, some people find this surprising. The show by Christopher Storer has received a lot of nominations for comedy awards, despite being nominated in other categories as well, like drama. Aside from the show itself, individual actors have also been nominated for comedy awards in recognition of their contributions to the production.
The humor in The Bear is mostly employed to heighten the drama, even though there are some moments included for comedic effect. The show’s themes align much more closely with dramatic productions than with comedies. Hard-hitting topics, including addiction, financial hardship, dysfunctional family structures, and grieving processes, are thoroughly explored in the show.
While true comedies can certainly tackle these subjects, The Bear employs the themes to produce laughs that are darker than those found in classic sitcoms or other comedy forms.
The Bear is not entirely out of place among the comedy award nominees because it has some lighter, funnier moments. For example, it is hilarious to hear Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Carmy’s (Jeremy Allen White) sardonic conversations. However, the program has a very grim undertone that would be appropriate in a production that is strictly dramatic as well.
Although The Bear is not the first show to use comedy extensively in what is essentially a drama, its unique nomination process has garnered it greater media attention than most.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach Explains How The Bear is a Comedy Series
After receiving his first-ever Emmy nomination this year for his performance as Richard ‘Richie’ Jeromovich in The Bear, Ebon Moss-Bachrach won the trophy on Monday for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series. The 46-year-old actor started his acceptance speech (via PEOPLE):
“Wow, okay. Thank you very much. This job is such a gift. It’s such a privilege to work with these wonderful actors. We have the best crew. We have this incredible Chicago crew.”
Notable for portraying David Lieberman in The Punisher, Moss-Bachrach also argued that
“These ideas about comedy and drama are a little bit outdated. We’re all just trying to reflect the mess of being human, which is deeply hilarious and we’re all suffering.”
The actor and his The Bear co-star, Ayo Edebiri gave a scene from Season 1 as an example of how it strikes a balance between comedy and drama when asked to list some of their favorite comedic moments from the show. The former pondered:
“Those are serious circumstances. That’s full drama. But I think when you play things for keeps and the circumstances are kind of wild about getting a C…nobody wants to take ownership of that C…it becomes pretty funny.”
With pride, thus, we can say that The Bear is a comedy series that challenges preconceptions and expands our ideas of what makes something funny. The program has managed to leave a lasting impression on viewers because of its ridiculous premise, satirical commentary, and the extraordinary talent of the stellar cast. It is an exciting journey chock full of surprises and laughter that will make you wonder what comedy really is.
The Bear is streaming on Hulu.
