ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” writer Joya McCrory has subtly criticized FX’s “The Bear” after both shows received Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series.
“Proud of Abbott Elementary for all of its Emmy nominations this year, especially Outstanding Comedy series as we are definitely a program where the majority of the running time of at least 6 episodes are primarily comedic, as defined by the TV Academy,” McCrory wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
While McCrory did not directly mention “The Bear,” her comments coincided with a growing debate about whether “The Bear” qualifies as a comedy. The FX series, starring Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri, broke records by earning 23 comedy nominations, the most ever in a single year.
The 76th Emmy Awards rules state that a comedy series must have multiple episodes (at least six), where the majority of each episode’s running time is primarily comedic. This definition has sparked conversations online about “The Bear’s” classification.
Writer Jai Jamison also expressed his views on X, saying, “Look, I think The Bear is a very good show. I love Ayo in it. I love Robert Townsend in it (my King). And my goodness Liza Colón-Zayas deserves every flower. But it needs another category. It’s not a comedy. And calling it a comedy is eroding our perception of what a comedy is.”
In a 2022 interview with USA Today, Jeremy Allen White, the star of “The Bear,” described the show as a dramedy. “It’s certainly funny at times. I don’t think Carmy’s necessarily funny, but I think the situations that he finds himself in can be,” he explained, referring to his character. White added, “I think it’s interesting and funny to watch this young man who’s not a wonderful communicator trying to communicate what he wants and his feelings to a group of people who are also not excellent at hearing him. So I think there is comedy that comes out of that. I don’t know if it’s like knee-slapping funny. I think it can be at times. It’s real, or we’re trying to make it real, like real life. Sad things can be funny. Funny things can make you sad.”
As the Emmy Awards approach, the discussion about what truly defines a comedy continues, with shows like “Abbott Elementary” and “The Bear” at the center of the conversation.
