'The Bear' Dominates the Emmys

The hit comedy series The Bear was the clear winner at this week's Emmy award show, as it took home virtually all the major awards for which it was eligible. That itself was not a big surprise, but The BEar's dominance meant that many shows that were arguably deserving of wins, such as AMC's Better Call Saul, were shut out. Read on for details.

Via Variety.

The long-delayed Emmy Awards for the 2022-2023 TV season had to overcome the challenge of seeming like a complete afterthought — and for the most part it succeeded.

The ceremony for the 75th Emmys was designed as a tribute to the medium, and featured reunions from shows such as “All in the Family,” “The Sopranos,” “Martin” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” the last of which featured the beloved, departed cast members Katherine Heigl and Justin Chambers, alongside OG stars Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. Among the evening’s highlights were Jennifer Coolidge thanking “all the evil gays,” Niecy Nash-Betts thanking herself and “every Black and Brown woman who have gone unheard, yet overpoliced,” and a moving, hilarious appearance by nominee Christina Applegate as the show’s first presenter. And HBO’s “Succession” took its final victory lap after the Jesse Armstrong-created series ended in May of last year, including well-deserved wins for stars Sarah Snook and Kieran Culkin, who both switched to the lead acting categories for the show’s final season.

What the show didn’t have a great deal of was shocking surprises or upsets, but there were still some unexpected wins throughout the night. Here they are!

We’re picturing Jimmy McGill now, yelling “Zero for 53?!” Yes, Jimmy/Saul, you did not win a single Emmy. Not for Bob Odenkirk, who was nominated six times for drama lead actor for his iconic, fan-favorite character from “Breaking Bad,” around whom the AMC prequel was based. Not Rhea Seehorn for her exceptional, nuanced portrayal of Kim Wexler, Jimmy’s friend and partner, and then wife. Not for the show’s superlative writing, nor its directing, nor for any of the supporting cast (Jonathan Banks, Giancarlo Esposito). And not the show itself, which was nominated seven times since its 2015 premiere. What’s the opposite of Jimmy’s flip, chilling “S’all good, man!” — as spoken to a freaked out Kim at the end of Season 4 of “Better Call Saul”? This show being completely, utterly, you-cannot-ever-take-this-back-TV-Academy-members blanked.

For its first two seasons, “Ted Lasso” was an Emmy juggernaut, winning back-to-back awards for comedy series, lead actor (Jason Sudeikis) and supporting actor (Brett Goldstein), as well as single trophies for supporting actress (for Hannah Waddingham, in 2021) and director (for MJ Delaney, in 2022). Often, the Emmys pick a show they love and stick with it for several years (e.g. “Veep,” “Modern Family,” “30 Rock”). But the third — and, likely, final — season of “Ted Lasso” was far less well received by critics, audiences, and, it seems, Emmy voters, and it was totally shut out this year. (The show did at least take home two Creative Arts Emmys, for Sam Richardson for guest actor in a comedy, and for original music and lyrics.)

In place of “Ted Lasso,” FX’s restaurant dramedy “The Bear” not only won best comedy for its freshman season, it won practically everything else: actor (Jeremy Allen White), supporting actress (Ayo Edebiri) and actor (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), directing and writing (both to Christopher Storer). It’s all the more remarkable considering these awards are ostensibly for a season that first streamed on Hulu all the way back in June 2022. Given that “The Bear” just won the Golden Globe and Critics Choice awards for best comedy for its second season, its fair to say that Carmy and Co. will be on the menu again for the 2023-2024 Emmys in September.

Get the rest of the story at Variety.