Will 'The Bear' Set More Emmy Records?

The hit FX comedy/drama series The Bear dominated this year's Emmy awards with its beloved first season, but the show might do even better in next year's award season. That's thanks largely to a single episode that was overflowing with big-name guest stars and critic-pleasing over-the-top drama. The second-season spectacle is likely to set the stage for a record-breaking slew of nominations and the chance to make TV history. Read on for details.

Via Variety.

With the appetite of a hungry grizzly, “The Bear” could gobble up a few Emmy records for its sophomore season. Fresh off a smashing first season that set a new benchmark for comedy series wins with 10 trophies, FX’s awards-gobbling show shows no signs of letting up. Its second season, which aired in June 2023, is eyeing three more records to own: most acting nominations for a series in a single year, most nods for a comedy, and most nominated episode in history with its sixth installment, “Fishes.”

“Fishes” dishes out a heated Christmas dinner flashback of the Berzatto family, positioning itself as the series’ pièce de résistance thus far — imagine the “Succession/Connor’s Wedding” version of family dinners, only with more food spills. Directed by Christopher Storer, who also co-wrote the episode with Joanna Calo, “Fishes” seems the obvious pick for Emmy nods in both directing and writing categories.

Per Emmy rules, Storer, who also helmed seven episodes this season, must choose only one for his potential directing nomination (and really, how could he not choose “Fishes”?). Meanwhile, Calo will be torn between “Sundae,” which explores the fissures in Carmy and Sydney’s partnership, and “Pop,” showcasing a blossoming romance with Claire. Ramy Youssef’s “Honeydew,” which takes viewers on a culinary trip to Copenhagen with Marcus, is Youssef’s sole directorial bet but stands a strong chance of recognition (he also has his stand-up special in other categories).

In the writing stakes, Storer single-handedly crafted the season opener “Beef” and will be able to submit accordingly. Additionally, he teamed up with Calo on “Fishes” and “Omelette,” leaving them the (easy?) decision of choosing their strongest contender. With a squad of brilliant scribes, including Karen Joseph Adcock and Catherine Schetina for “Sundae” and several others across the season, “The Bear” could tie or eclipse the “30 Rock” record of the most writing nominations in a year with four in 2009, also shared with “The Wonder Years” in 1989.

Speaking of NBC’s “30 Rock,” its record-setting haul of 22 noms in 2009 is the pinnacle for comedies. But hold onto your chef’s hats — current Variety Emmy projections, which don’t yet include artisan categories, suggest “The Bear” might snatch up 23 nods, potentially creeping closer to the all-time series record of 32 held by “Game of Thrones.” Can it overcome both? The latter will be more difficult, but it could have a shot to tie or break another “GOT” record for the most noms for a single episode. It was in 2016 when the penultimate episode titled “Battle of the Bastards” won six of its seven Emmy nominations, tying the record with the pilot episode of “Boardwalk Empire.” Could “Fishes” surpass HBO’s all-time bloody episode?

Turning to the acting front, “Fishes” may be a goldmine for nominations, showcasing talents like John Mulaney, Sarah Paulson, Bob Odenkirk, Gillian Jacobs, Chris Witaske, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jon Bernthal. Regular cast members in the episode, such as Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Oliver Platt and Abby Elliott, are also in the mix, aiming for main acting recognition.

Get the rest of the story at Variety.