“The Bear” has been the talk of the town for years now, with its great writing and phenomenal camera work. It’s nothing but destiny. However, all shows aspire not only to be cherished by fans but also to win big at award shows, as that provides major exposure.
Now, “The Bear” is experiencing an existential crisis, trying to find its place.
With the rise of streaming services, a new genre has emerged: dramedy, where comedy meets drama. Recently, the comedy category has been dominated by series like “Fleabag” or “Ted Lasso,” which seamlessly blend drama and comedy.
Comedy is a craft that is subjective, but certain universal notes make something funny or not. Since “The Bear” deals with deep psychological concepts, including suicide and coping mechanisms, it seems like a misfit in the comedy category.
Despite the high quality of such shows raising the bar every year, they often appear out of place in these categories, at least for now.
Consider the potential competitors in the Emmy category for Best Comedy: “Abbott Elementary” or “Only Murders in the Building.” They aren’t even fighting on the same level, let alone in the same category, which seems absurd.
The Emmy categorization for comedy and drama has become blurred. Initially, shows under 30 minutes were deemed comedies and longer ones dramas. In 2021, the rule changed, sparking debates about the nature of humor in modern award-winning shows.
There are reports that “The Bear” might shift to the Drama category, which isn’t the most viable option. FX’s “Shōgun” is already competing in that category and is likely to win. So, FX probably won’t want to pit its two best shows against each other. “The Bear” could march through the Comedy category and might even be victorious.
It’s time for the Emmys to address this issue. Dramedy has been a significant genre, especially on TV, for years. The Emmys need to embrace such shows. Art can’t always be categorized; all they can do is embrace the newness.