Last night, the 82nd Golden Globes honored the best in film and TV. Coming in with five nominations FX on Hulu’s hit series, The Bear, was expected to once again roar. But the series instead snored like a Grizzly hibernating, walking away with only one win: Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy for star, Jeremy Allen White.
Missing from the winner’s list were co-stars and nominees, Ayo Edebiri, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Liza Colón-Zayas. The show, which was nominated more than any other TV series, was also snubbed for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy, losing to Max’s Hacks.
While White bested a talented group of nominees—Adam Brody, Ted Danson, Steve Martin, Jason Segel, and Martin Short—to take home the honor, he was absent from the event.
So, where was he? Turns out, White was tied up across the country filming the upcoming Bruce Springsteen biopic, Deliver Me From Nowhere. According to PEOPLE, the actor’s production schedule kept him in New York City instead of Los Angeles, where the Golden Globes took place.
About Last Night?
So, why did The Bear walk away with only one award? After dethroning Abbott Elementary as the awards circuit comedy darling two years ago, it seemed like the Chicago-based series could do no wrong.
On the heels of setting records for Comedy Category nominations and earning a whopping 11 wins at last year’s Emmys—not to mention sweeping nearly every other awards show—are voters now beginning to question whether The Bear is truly a comedy?
When the series first burst onto the scene, it seemed poised to fill a unique niche: a high-stakes kitchen story with flashes of irreverent comedy, led by the magnetic presence of Jeremy Allen White’s Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto.
But as the story unfolded and continues to reveal itself, it becomes strikingly clear that humor isn’t really the heart of this show. That beating heart is the raw humanity of each character, shaped by personal struggle, deep loss, and the unrelenting pressure of the culinary world. There’s no shortage of comedic moments—like a perfectly timed one-liner or a chaotic exchange in the kitchen—but the show feels far more like a drama than a romp.
Carmy’s journey is laden with the burdens of reviving his family’s struggling sandwich shop after the tragic suicide of his brother, Michael. It’s a weight that colors every decision he makes, from the kitchen’s layout to the staff he hires. That kind of psychological and emotional depth—especially when a storyline touches on mental health, grief, and ambition—doesn’t exactly conjure a laugh track.
A prime example of the show’s nuanced approach occurs in Season 3, Episode 6. Tina, desperate for work, stumbles into The Bear during a hectic lunch rush. Richie, in a rare moment of pure kindness, hands her a free coffee and an Italian beef.
In the middle of this chaotic, sizzling kitchen, we witness Tina quietly crying over her sandwich in the back room. Michael, teased into action by Richie, has a heartfelt conversation with her—a conversation filled with empathy and unexpected grace, ultimately leading to Tina’s hiring.
In a typical comedy, such a scenario might devolve into slapstick or playful banter. Instead, The Bear leans into the gravity of the moment. That’s not to say it’s humorless; it’s just that the laughter comes from a place of relief or camaraderie rather than a punchline. It’s an honest reflection of life’s bittersweetness, with comedic lightness cutting through the drama instead of defining it.
So…Where Does That Leave The Bear at Awards Shows?
This year’s single Globe win could hint at a shift in the public perception of The Bear. Instead of riding a wave of unanimous praise, the show may be hitting a point where viewers and critics alike acknowledge it’s not the effortless comedy some expected.
That doesn’t have to be a bad thing—if anything, it’s a testament to the series’ depth. Not every laugh-out-loud moment belongs to a strictly comedic genre, and The Bear is richer for being so hard to pin down.
Whether the bloom is truly off the rose for The Bear remains to be seen. One Golden Globe win is hardly a failure, and the show’s ability to capture the messy, authentic humanity of its characters suggests it still has plenty of stories to tell. Perhaps next season will bring more accolades—maybe in the right category this time—or perhaps the show will continue to carve out its own unique space, awards or not.
In the end, calling The Bear a comedy might be akin to labeling a peppery gumbo “mild.” Sure, there’s a dash of spice—of humor—sprinkled in here and there, but beneath the surface bubbles a far more complex concoction.
And if that’s what has kept viewers hooked, maybe the show’s exact category doesn’t matter. All that counts is the taste it leaves behind: a blend of intensity, empathy, and an occasional laugh, best served hot from a Chicago kitchen.
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