With the appetite of a hungry grizzly, “The Bear” could gobble up just a few Emmy records for its sophomore season. Fresh off a smashing first season that set a brand 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 yr, 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 because the series’ pièce de résistance so 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 plain pick for Emmy nods in each directing and writing categories.
Per Emmy rules, Storer, who also helmed seven episodes this season, must select just one for his potential directing nomination (and really, how could he not select “Fishes”?). Meanwhile, Calo can 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 powerful likelihood of recognition (he also has his stand-up special in other categories).
Read: All Primetime Emmy predictions in every category on Variety’s Awards Circuit.
“The Bear”
Within the writing stakes, Storer single-handedly crafted the season opener “Beef” and can find a way to submit accordingly. Moreover, he teamed up with Calo on “Fishes” and “Omelette,” leaving them the (easy?) decision of selecting their strongest contender. With a squad of sensible scribes, including Karen Joseph Adcock and Catherine Schetina for “Sundae” and several other others across the season, “The Bear” could tie or eclipse the “30 Rock” record of probably the most writing nominations in a yr with 4 in 2009, also shared with “The Wonder Years” in 1989.
Speaking of NBC’s “30 Rock,” its record-setting haul of twenty-two noms in 2009 is the top 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 each? The latter can be tougher, however it could have a shot to tie or break one other “GOT” record for probably 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” could also 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 forged members within the episode, similar to Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Oliver Platt and Abby Elliott, are also in the combo, aiming for foremost acting recognition.
Curtis, riding high two years after her Oscar win for “Every thing All over the place All at Once,” is the undisputed frontrunner within the guest comedy actress race, eyeing what may very well be her second profession Emmy nod that would bring her halfway to EGOT status (I can’t wait for a possible spoken word album).
Also within the Emmy race are recurring characters like Robert Townsend, who lights up the screen as Sydney’s supportive father, Emmanuel. After five many years in Hollywood, his sentimental turn across 4 episodes could earn him the primary Emmy nod of his profession, especially if TV Academy members are going all-in on “Bear.” Meanwhile, Emmy nominee Will Poulter (“The White Lotus”) also makes a powerful impression in “Honeydew” as Luca, a dessert chef mentoring Marcus, who could slip into the fray.
Liza Colón-Zayas in “The Bear”
FX
Reigning supporting actor champion Moss-Bachrach returns because the gruff yet endearing Richie, as seen within the incredibly focused “Forks.” He’ll be able to defend his title. He could herald his co-stars like Lionel Boyce, Matty Matheson and last yr’s guest comedy actor nominee Oliver Platt, who qualifies for a supporting bid this time. Meanwhile, Ayo Edebiri, last yr’s supporting comedy actress winner, has shifted to guide, leaving the sector open for her acting colleagues including Liza Colón-Zayas, Abby Elliott, and Molly Gordon, all worthy of nominations, who’re praying to not vote-split. Nevertheless, the fierce competition within the supporting comedy actress race, particularly with duplicate and repeat nominees similar to “Abbott Elementary” and “Hacks,” leaves any of them vulnerable. Furthermore, we expect seven nominees, based on submission tracking showing lower than 240 total submissions, adding one other hurdle.
If you add all those potential acting mentions, we appear to be barreling towards “Succession’s” back-to-back records set in 2022 and 2023, when it landed probably the most acting nominations with 14, surpassing the limited series “Roots.” Could this be an amazing lovefest for the very serious comedy?
On this culinary-themed TV world, it’s clear the stakes are as high because the flavors of the series are daring, and it’ll be dropping what’s sure to be one other delightful third season within the voting window. Whether “The Bear” will devour the competition on the Emmys doesn’t seem up for debate, but one query stays: Will the serving size of nominations be became an Emmy statue buffet?
Emmy submissions are due Tuesday, May 7, with the eligibility deadline for all series concluding their runs by May 31. Nominations-round voting runs from June 13 to June 24.
