Every awards season, the debate overThe Bear’s genre is reinvigorated — but a classic season 1 episode proves that the series is, indeed, a comedy. The Emmys and the Golden Globes separate their award categories into comedies and dramas, andThe Bearis named a comedy. This system made sense in the olden days of television when networks split their programming between lighthearted half-hour sitcoms and grittier hour-long dramas. But that model has become antiquated in the streaming age. These days, TV shows don’t have set episode runtimes; streaming allows episodes to go on for as long as they need.
As television has evolved and shows have become more nuanced, the line between comedy and drama has been blurred.Successionis billed as a drama, but it’s a laugh-a-minute satire of the absurdity of the ruling class. Similarly,The Bearis billed as a comedy, but it’s a heart-wrenching, anxiety-inducing look at a toxic workplacefull of panic attacks and generational trauma. Whenever awards season comes around andThe Beargets nominated in the comedy categories, all the old talking points come out:The Bearisn’t a comedy; it’s category fraud. ButThe Bear’s funniest momentsprove it’s a comedy.
The Bear’s “Dogs” Is One Of The Show’s Most Hilarious Episodes
Carmy & Richie Unwittingly Drug A Birthday Party Full Of Kids
The Bearseason 1, episode 4, “Dogs,” is not only one of the show’s funniest episodes; it’s one of the funniest episodes of any show ever made. It starts out with a fun premise that brilliantlyhighlights Carmy and Richie’s hilariously mismatched odd-couple dynamic: they’re hired by Cicero to cater a children’s birthday party.Putting these two foul-mouthed frenemies around a group of impressionable kids is inherently funny, and a great recipe for situational comedy. From the moment Carmy and Richie attempt to fit the tube man inside the car, the episode is a laugh riot.
In Defense Of Hacks Beating The Bear For Best Comedy At The Emmys 2024
The fact that Hacks beat The Bear to Outstanding Comedy Series at the 2024 Emmys has caused a minor controversy, but Hacks deserved the award.
“Dogs” features some of the best bickering between Carmy and Richie; the debate over whether ketchup is an appropriate condiment for a hot dog escalates into a screaming match. The hilarity peaks when the homemade Ecto cooler is accidentally spiked with Richie’s Xanax and all the kids are unwittingly drugged and pass out (and Cicero is okay with it, because they’re finally quiet).The humor is dark, but it’s hysterical. “Dogs” could go toe-to-toe withthe best sitcom episodes out there— fromSeinfeld’s “The Contest” toThe I.T. Crowd’s “The Work Outing” — and it’ll produce a similar laugh quotient.
Even The Bear’s Most Stressful Episodes Are Full Of Funny Moments
Even “Fishes” Has More Than A Few Laughs
The reason whyThe Bear’s classification as a comedy is protested is that most of its episodes are deeply stressful. But even the show’s most stress-inducing episodes have plenty of laughs.“Dogs” itself is a rather melancholic episode at its core, but it’s still hilarious.The Bearaccurately captures a toxic environment, but its reflection of that toxicity is hysterically relatable. Anyone who grew up in a house where the primary form of communication was yelling can recognize that environment in the Berzatto household.
The Bearseason 4 is expected to premiere in June 2025.
Season 2, episode 6,“Fishes,” is infamous for being arguably the show’s most stressful episode. For most TV shows, a Christmas episode is a joyous occasion. But inThe Bear, it’s where allthe Berzatto family’s tension gets bottled up, ready to explode. Still, even “Fishes” has more than a few laughs. The fork-throwing back-and-forth between Jon Bernthal’s Mikey and Bob Odenkirk’s Uncle Lee isas ridiculous as it is nerve-racking. Donna crashing her car through the wall isboth a fraught emotional climax and a great slapstick gag.
The Bear Might Be A Drama, But It Is A Comedy Too
The Bear Has Strong Dramatic Elements, But It’s Impossible To Deny The Humor
The Bearisn’t a straightforward comedy in the way thatAbbott ElementaryandIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiaare straightforward comedies. It’s not purely focused on laughs like those shows, with non-stop one-liners, sight gags, and comical situations.The Beardefinitely has dramatic elements as it deals with the aftermath of Mikey’s suicide, conflicts within a deeply dysfunctional family, and the psychological toll of a high-stress working environment. But there’s also no denying that the series has a healthy dose of humor.
This is a show where a character got locked in a fridge. It’s a show where a character got stabbed in the butt. It’s a show where vintage videogame-loving cosplayers were held at gunpoint to get them under control.The Bearmight be a drama, as its fans claim, butthe awards voters aren’t wrong to call it a comedy.
