The Bear season 1 explained
The first season of the American comedy-drama television series The Bear premiered with all episodes on June 23, 2022, on FX on Hulu. Christopher Storer and Joanna Calo serve as showrunners for the season. Jeremy Allen White stars as Carmy Berzatto, an award-winning chef who returns to his hometown of Chicago to manage the chaotic kitchen at his deceased brother's sandwich shop. The supporting cast includes Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, and Abby Elliott.
In March 2021, FX ordered a pilot for The Bear to be written and directed by Storer, and the series was given a full season order in October 2021. Filming for the season began in February 2022 in Chicago, and wrapped in March of that year. The season consists of eight episodes.
The season received critical acclaim. It received ten Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series and acting wins for White, Moss-Bachrach, and Edebiri, making it the season of television with the most wins in a single year for a comedy series until the record was beaten by the series' second season. The season was the most-watched comedy series in FX's history.
Cast and characters
Main
Recurring
- Matty Matheson as Neil Fak
- Jon Bernthal as Michael "Mikey" Berzatto
- Joel McHale as David Fields
- Edwin Lee Gibson as Ebraheim
- Corey Hendrix as Gary "Sweeps" Woods
- Oliver Platt as Jimmy "Cicero" Kalinowski
- José Cervantes as Angel, a dishwasher at The Beef.
- Richard Esteras as Manny, a dishwasher at The Beef.
- Chris Witaske as Pete, Natalie's earnest and buoyant husband.
Guest
- Christopher Zucchero as "Chi-Chi"
- Carmen Christopher as Chester
- Gillian Jacobs as Tiffany "Tiff" Jerimovich (uncredited)
- Amy Morton as Nancy Chore
- Molly Ringwald as the meeting leader at the Al-Anon meetings that Carmy attends.
Episodes
Production
Development
FX ordered a pilot for The Bear in March 2021, to be written and directed by series creator and co-showrunner Christopher Storer.[1] In October 2021, FX greenlit the series for a full-season order, scheduled for a 2022 premiere date.[2] [3] The season was produced by FX Productions (FXP), with Hiro Murai, Nate Matteson, Joanna Calo and Josh Senior serving as executive producers. Matty Matheson, who portrays Neil Fak in a recurring role in the season, serves as a consulting producer.[4] The sandwich shop interior is copied from the Chicago restaurant Mr. Beef on Orleans Street, in River North. Storer was a frequent patron and a friend of the owner's son.[5]
Casting
On May 21, 2021, it was announced that Shameless star Jeremy Allen White would be starring in the pilot for The Bear in the leading role, alongside co-stars Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Abby Elliott and Matheson.[6] In October 2021, Liza Colón-Zayas was announced to be joining the main cast, with Matheson and Edwin Gibson starring in a recurring capacity.[7] The season features many guest stars, including Oliver Platt, Joel McHale and Jon Bernthal.[8]
Writing
Storer wrote four of the eight episodes, and co-showrunner Joanna Calo wrote two. The rest of the episodes were written by Sofya Levitsky-Weitz, Karen Joseph Adcock, Catherine Schetina and Rene Gube. The scripts for all the episodes in the season were submitted to the Writers Guild of America on May 6, 2022.[9]
Filming
Principal photography for the season began in February 2022, and wrapped on March 31, 2022, in Chicago. Storer directed five of the eight episodes, with the other three being directed by Calo.[10] The seventh episode of the season, "Review", features an 18 minute long take.[11]
Release
The season released on FX on Hulu in the United States on June 23, 2022, with all eight episodes.[12] Internationally, the season became available to stream in the Star hub on Disney+.[13]
Reception
Audience viewership
The first season of The Bear was the most watched program during the week of July 22, 2022,[14] [15] and the second-most-watched program across all platforms during the weeks of July 3, and July 13, and July 17, 2022.[16] [17] [18] According to FX, the first season was the most-watched comedy series in the network's history.[19] [20] [21]
Critical response
The first season received an approval rating of 100% with an average rating of 8.7/10, based on 80 critic reviews on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. The website's critics consensus reads, "Like an expertly confected sandwich, The Bear assembles a perfect melange of ingredients and stacks them for optimal satisfaction—and thankfully keeps the crust-iness for extra flavor."[22] Metacritic gave the season a weighted average score of 88 out of 100 based on 24 critic reviews.[23]
The American Film Institute named the first season one of the ten best television programs of the year.[24] The Guardian named the season number one of the best 100 TV shows of 2022, describing it as "the best workplace drama since Mad Men".[25] [26] The Bear appeared in the top ten on numerous publications' "Best of 2022" lists, including first for The A.V. Club, BBC, People, and TVLine, among others.[27]
Accolades
The season received critical acclaim, with multiple awards nominations and wins. The season won ten Primetime Emmy Awards for its 13 nominations, making it the season of television with the most wins in a single year for a comedy series, until the record was beaten by the series' second season.[28] The following is a list of awards the first season of The Bear has been nominated for or won.
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Petski . Denise . March 19, 2021 . FX Orders 'The Bear' Pilot From 'Ramy' Director Christopher Storer . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230629014947/https://deadline.com/2021/03/fx-orders-the-bear-pilot-ramy-director-christopher-storer-1234718087/ . June 29, 2023 . March 14, 2024 . Deadline Hollywood.
- Web site: Otterson . Joe . October 12, 2021 . FX Orders Restaurant Comedy Series 'The Bear' Starring 'Shameless' Alum Jeremy Allen White . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240315115934/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/fx-comedy-the-bear-jeremy-allen-white-1235087212/ . March 15, 2024 . March 14, 2024 . Variety.
- Web site: Cordero . Rosy . October 12, 2021 . FX Comedy Pilot 'The Bear' Gets Series Order; Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Abby Elliott, More Join Cast . September 19, 2024 . Deadline . en-US . April 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230419100356/https://deadline.com/2021/10/fx-comedy-pilot-the-bear-series-order-ebon-moss-bachrach-abby-elliott-cast-1234854667/ . live .
- Web site: White . Peter . May 21, 2021 . Jeremy Allen White To Star In FX Pilot 'The Bear' . September 19, 2024 . Deadline . en-US . September 27, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240927041954/https://deadline.com/2021/05/jeremy-allen-white-to-star-fx-pilot-the-bear-1234761907/ . live .
- Web site: Simon . Scott . July 23, 2022 . The Bear puts a spotlight on Chicago's Italian beef . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221114192327/https://www.npr.org/2022/07/16/1111868465/chicago-italian-beef-the-bear . November 14, 2022 . January 13, 2023 . NPR.
- Web site: White . Peter . May 21, 2021 . Jeremy Allen White To Star In FX Pilot 'The Bear' . September 19, 2024 . Deadline . en-US . September 27, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240927041954/https://deadline.com/2021/05/jeremy-allen-white-to-star-fx-pilot-the-bear-1234761907/ . live .
- Web site: Cordero . Rosy . October 12, 2021 . FX Comedy Pilot 'The Bear' Gets Series Order; Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Abby Elliott, More Join Cast . September 19, 2024 . Deadline . en-US . April 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230419100356/https://deadline.com/2021/10/fx-comedy-pilot-the-bear-series-order-ebon-moss-bachrach-abby-elliott-cast-1234854667/ . live .
- Web site: A Comprehensive Guide To Every Guest Star On 'The Bear' . Caroline . Cubbin . March 30, 2024 . September 19, 2024 . L'Officiel USA . en . September 27, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240927041843/https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/the-bear-every-celebrity-guest-star-jamie-lee-curtis-sarah-paulson-olivia-coleman . live .
- Web site: The Bear . September 4, 2024 . Writers Guild of America West . May 24, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240524192514/https://directories.wga.org/project/1225866/the-bear/ . live .
- Web site: February 14, 2022 . FX Comedy 'The Bear' Begins Filming in Chicago, Led By 'Shameless' Star Jeremy Allen White . September 17, 2024 . Screen Magazine . en-US . September 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917232516/https://screenmag.com/fx-the-bear-begins-filming-in-chicago-led-by-shameless-jeremy-allen-white/ . live .
- Web site: Hadadi . Roxana . July 29, 2022 . 'Holy Shit, Have They Not Cut Yet?' . September 19, 2024 . Vulture . en . May 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230525183058/https://www.vulture.com/article/how-the-bear-shot-episode-7-one-take.html . live .
- Web site: Pedersen . Erik . May 13, 2022 . FX Summer Premiere Dates: Reservation Dogs, What We Do In The Shadows, New Series The Old Man & The Bear, More . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220513190306/https://deadline.com/2022/05/fx-summer-premiere-dates-reservation-dogs-what-we-do-in-the-shadows-the-old-man-the-bear-1235023384/ . May 13, 2022 . June 24, 2022 . . en-US.
- Disney+ Sets Launch Date for the Critically-Acclaimed Original Series The Bear in the UK and Ireland . September 1, 2022 . . February 3, 2023 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230203132412/https://press.disney.co.uk/news/disney+-sets-launch-date-for-the-critically-acclaimed-original-series-the-bear-in-the-uk-and-ireland . February 3, 2023.
- Web site: July 23, 2022 . The most watched TV shows and movies this week include some truly terrifying titles . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221007043056/https://mashable.com/article/most-streamed-tv-shows-movies-what-to-watch-july-23 . October 7, 2022 . October 4, 2022 . Mashable.
- Web site: Gruenwedel . Erik . July 22, 2022 . Reelgood: Netflix Dominates Streaming Week, But Hulu's The Bear No. 1 Show . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221007214207/https://www.mediaplaynews.com/reelgood-netflix-dominates-streaming-week-but-hulus-the-bear-no-1-show/ . October 7, 2022 . October 4, 2022 . Media Play News.
- Web site: Gruenwedel . Erik . July 15, 2022 . Reelgood: Stranger Things, The Bear, Doctor Strange 2 Top Weekly Streaming . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221009002924/https://www.mediaplaynews.com/reelgood-stranger-things-the-bear-doctor-strange-2-top-weekly-streaming/ . October 9, 2022 . October 5, 2022 . Media Play News.
- Web site: Gruenwedel . Erik . July 5, 2022 . JustWatch: The Old Man, Everything Everywhere All at Once Top Weekly Streaming . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221031142320/https://www.mediaplaynews.com/justwatch-the-old-man-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-again-top-streaming-through-july-3/ . October 31, 2022 . October 31, 2022 . Media Play News.
- Web site: Gruenwedel . Erik . July 18, 2022 . JustWatch: Everything Everywhere All at Once Tops Jurassic World Dominion Streaming at Home . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221031142105/https://www.mediaplaynews.com/justwatch-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-tops-jurassic-world-dominion-streaming-at-home/ . October 31, 2022 . October 31, 2022 . Media Play News.
- 1600637627186544640 . tvmojoe . Apparently Hulu has been very good for FX . December 7, 2022 . December 10, 2022 . en .
- Zornosa . Laura . June 19, 2023 . Everything To Remember About The Bear Before Season 2 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230628175753/https://time.com/6288002/the-bear-season-2-refresher/ . June 28, 2023 . June 29, 2023 . . en.
- Web site: Echebiri . Makuochi . June 27, 2023 . 'The Bear' Season 2 Is FX's Most-Watched Debut Ever on Hulu . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230629034520/https://collider.com/the-bear-season-2-most-watched-fx-premiere/ . June 29, 2023 . June 29, 2023 . . en.
- the_bear. The Bear. tv. 1. June 27, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20221031131355/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_bear/s01. October 31, 2022. live.
- the-bear. The Bear. tv. 1. June 24, 2022. live. October 31, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221031131456/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-bear/season-1.
- Web site: Lewis . Hilary . December 9, 2022 . AFI Best Film, TV Shows of 2022 Include Avatar Sequel, Women Talking, The Bear and Mo . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221209182059/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/afi-best-movies-tv-shows-2022-1235278829/ . December 9, 2022 . December 10, 2022 . The Hollywood Reporter.
- Web site: Mangan . Lucy . December 21, 2022 . The 50 best TV shows of 2022: No 1 – The Bear . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230318012023/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/dec/21/the-50-best-tv-shows-of-2022-no-1-the-bear . March 18, 2023 . January 1, 2023 . The Guardian.
- Web site: Heritage . Stuart . December 25, 2022 . 'Best workplace drama since Mad Men: the sandwich-makers who shook the world . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230322173745/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/dec/25/the-bear-jeremy-allen-white-best-workplace-drama-since-mad-men . March 22, 2023 . January 1, 2023 . The Guardian.
- Web site: Dietz . Jason . December 5, 2022 . Best of 2022: Television Critic Top Ten Lists . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221216161548/https://www.metacritic.com/feature/tv-critics-pick-10-best-tv-shows-of-2022 . December 16, 2022 . December 16, 2022 . Metacritic.
- Web site: The Bear . September 4, 2024 . Television Academy . en . August 29, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829065057/https://www.emmys.com/shows/bear . live .
- Web site: Lewis . Hilary . November 28, 2022 . Everything Everywhere All at Once Tops Gotham Awards; Full Winners List . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221129002441/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2022-gotham-awards-winners-full-list-1235270305/ . November 29, 2022 . November 28, 2022 . The Hollywood Reporter.
- Web site: Piña . Christy . December 6, 2022 . People's Choice Awards: Doctor Strange 2, Don't Worry Darling Take Top Prizes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221207080113/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2022-peoples-choice-awards-winners-list-1235276432/ . December 7, 2022 . December 7, 2022 . The Hollywood Reporter.
- Web site: Shackleton . Liz . December 15, 2022 . The Banshees Of Inisherin, Everything Everywhere All At Once Head Nominations For Australia's AACTA International Awards . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221215201232/https://deadline.com/2022/12/banshees-of-inisherin-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-aacta-international-awards-1235199908/ . December 15, 2022 . December 15, 2022 . Deadline Hollywood.
- Web site: Davis . Clayton . December 7, 2023 . AFI Awards: 'Barbie' and 'Spider-Verse' Among 10 Best Films, Top TV Shows Include 'Jury Duty' and 'Last of Us' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231219144041/https://variety.com/2023/film/awards/afi-awards-top-10-2023-barbie-spider-verse-maestro-oppenheimer-1235827582/ . December 19, 2023 . December 7, 2023 . Variety.
- Web site: Anderson . Erik . July 11, 2023 . 'The Boys', 'Yellowjackets', 'Abbott Elementary' lead 2023 HCA TV Awards nominations . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230711215202/https://awardswatch.com/the-boys-yellowjackets-abbott-elementary-lead-2023-hca-tv-awards-nominations/ . July 11, 2023 . July 11, 2023 . AwardsWatch.
- Web site: Schneider . Michael . January 8, 2024 . 'The Boys,' 'Succession' Land Most Honors at Astra TV Awards (FULL WINNERS LIST) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240109040812/https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-boys-succession-astra-tv-awards-winners-1235865738/ . January 9, 2024 . January 9, 2024 . Variety.
- Web site: Complex . Valerie . June 15, 2023 . Black Reel 7th Annual Television Awards Featuring Gender Neutral Categories Announces Nominations; 'The Best Man: Final Chapters' Leads With 18 Noms . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230615183425/https://deadline.com/2023/06/black-reel-television-awards-announces-nominations-the-best-man-final-chapters-leads-with-18-noms-1235418181/ . June 15, 2023 . June 15, 2023 . Deadline.
- Web site: Ritman . Alex . March 22, 2023 . BAFTA TV Awards: This is Going to Hurt, The Responder Lead Pack of Nominees . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230322230324/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/bafta-tv-awards-nominations-2023-1235357562/ . March 22, 2023 . March 22, 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter.
- Web site: Pedersen . Erik . January 10, 2023 . Cinema Audio Society Awards Nominations Set: Avatar: The Way Of Water, Top Gun: Maverick, Elvis & More . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230110183021/https://deadline.com/2023/01/cas-awards-nominations-2023-avatar-the-way-of-water-top-gun-maverick-elvis-1235215538/ . January 10, 2023 . January 10, 2023 . Deadline Hollywood.
- Web site: Nordyke . Kimberly . January 15, 2023 . Critics Choice Awards: Full List of Winners . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230116052049/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/critics-choice-awards-winners-list-full-2023-1235300137/ . January 16, 2023 . February 26, 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter.
- Web site: Pedersen . Erik . Hipes . Patrick . January 10, 2023 . DGA Awards Sets TV, Documentary And Commercials Nominations For 75th Anniversary Edition . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230110205920/https://deadline.com/2023/01/2023-dga-awards-nominations-tv-documentary-commercials-nominees-1235216270/ . January 10, 2023 . January 11, 2023 . Deadline Hollywood.
- Web site: Coates . Tyler . June 26, 2023 . 'Succession,' 'Abbott Elementary,' 'The Other Two' Among Dorian TV Award Winners . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230627004828/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2023-dorian-tv-award-full-winners-list-1235524126/ . June 27, 2023 . June 29, 2023 . . en-US.
- Web site: Petski . Denise . June 26, 2023 . 'Succession', 'Abbott Elementary' Top 2023 Dorian TV Awards Winners List . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230626215427/https://deadline.com/2023/06/succession-abbott-elementary-dorian-tv-awards-winners-full-list-1235424860/ . June 26, 2023 . June 29, 2023 . . en-US.
- Web site: Nordyke . Kimberly . January 10, 2023 . Golden Globes: Full List of Winners . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230111023550/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/golden-globes-2023-winners-list-1235294541/ . January 11, 2023 . January 9, 2024 . The Hollywood Reporter.
- Web site: Giardina . Carolyn . January 9, 2023 . Everything Everywhere All At Once Leads Sound Editors' Golden Reel Nominations . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230109170102/https://variety.com/2023/artisans/awards/mpse-golden-reel-awards-nominations-2023-1235481720/ . January 9, 2023 . January 9, 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter.
- Web site: Lewis . Hilary . Coates . Tyler . December 13, 2022 . Film Independent Spirit Award TV Nominations: Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Severance, Station Eleven Lead . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221222045152/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/independent-spirit-awards-2023-tv-nominations-list-nominees-1235281061/ . December 22, 2022 . December 13, 2022 . The Hollywood Reporter.
- Web site: Nordyke . Kimberly . January 15, 2024 . Emmy Awards: Winners List . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240115232813/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2023-emmy-award-winners-list-1235788451/ . January 15, 2024 . January 16, 2024 . The Hollywood Reporter.
- Web site: Tangcay . Jazz . January 7, 2024 . 2023 Creative Arts Emmy Awards: 'Welcome to Wrexham' Dominates, RuPaul Makes History, Carol Burnett Gets Emotional . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240115235432/https://variety.com/2024/artisans/news/2023-creative-arts-emmy-awards-winners-list-reality-unscripted-documentary-1235863738/ . January 15, 2024 . January 16, 2024 . Variety.
- Web site: Davis . Clayton . January 12, 2023 . PGA Awards Nominations: The Whale and Four Blockbuster Sequels Recognized, Films Directed by Women Shut Out . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230112190039/https://variety.com/2023/awards/awards/pga-awards-nominations-2023-the-whale-avatar-2-top-gun-1235487459/ . January 12, 2023 . January 12, 2023 . Variety.
- Web site: December 8, 2022 . IPA Reveals Nominations for the 27th Satellite™ Awards . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221208134154/https://www.pressacademy.com/news/ipa-reveals-nominations-for-the-27th-satellite-awards/ . December 8, 2022 . December 8, 2022 . International Press Academy.
- Web site: June 14, 2023 . Set Decorators Society of America Announces Nominations for 2022 Television Awards . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230622022303/https://www.btlnews.com/awards/sdsa-2022-television-awards-nominations/ . June 22, 2023 . June 21, 2023 . Below the Line.
- Web site: Hipes . Patrick . January 11, 2023 . SAG Awards Nominations . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230111144539/https://deadline.com/2023/01/2023-sag-awards-nominations-list-film-tv-nominees-screen-actors-guild-1235216790/ . January 11, 2023 . January 11, 2023 . Deadline Hollywood.
- Web site: Shafer . Ellise . February 26, 2023 . SAG Awards 2023 Winners List . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230227002226/https://variety.com/2023/awards/news/sag-awards-2023-winners-list-1235535131/ . February 27, 2023 . February 26, 2023 . Variety.
- Web site: August 7, 2023 . TCA Awards: Succession and The Bear Lead Winners; Natasha Lyonne and Rhea Seehorn Snag Major Trophies . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230807213155/https://tvline.com/awards/tca-awards-2023-winners-list-succession-the-bear-1235023779/ . August 7, 2023 . August 8, 2023 . TVLine.
- Web site: Coates . Tyler . January 11, 2023 . WGA Awards 2023: Abbott Elementary, Andor, The Bear and Severance Among New Series Nominees . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230112015115/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/writers-guild-awards-2023-tv-new-media-news-nominations-1235296922/ . January 12, 2023 . January 11, 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter.