“The Bear” took home comedy awards at the 2024 Emmys – but is it even a comedy?

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Although it is one of the most Emmy-winning shows in history, The bear cannot escape a certain controversy. Since the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards in January, when the highly acclaimed FX restaurant series took the night by storm with 10 wins, the Internet has been buzzing about whether The bear is aptly categorized as a comedy series.

Compared to the other series, it is often nominated alongside others – including Hacking, Abbott Elementary SchoolAnd Only murders in the building—The bear often comes as the more subtle and serious Outliers. And at the 76th Primetime Emmys this week, the show continued to rack up awards, including Jeremy Allen White’s second win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s second for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and Liza Colón-Zayas’ historic win for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. If you asked us, we’d definitely call the series a “dramedy,” but we don’t think the Television Academy is ready to branch out in that direction just yet.

Ebon and her co-star Ayo Edebiri (who was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, a category she won last year) reflected on the “is it or isn’t it” question during an interview after arriving at the Emmys.

“I mean, I think I’m not actually saying anything (regarding the discourse),” Ayo said diversity on the red carpet. “I think those are conversations that other people should be having, and our conversation is happening in the work. … I think people are laughing! … I think it’s an important conversation, but I think (the show is funny and the work is good) and we celebrate a lot of really great shows, so I’m really not interested in a discourse that offends anyone, really.”

Ebon also chimed in, saying, “Comedy, drama – who cares, man?” Well, TV-obsessed fans on X (formerly known as Twitter) seem to care. Check out some of the more passionate reactions to the categorization drama below.

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