Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · September 15, 2025 · Entertainment

The Bear's Epic Fall: From Emmy Dominance to Zero Wins

The Bear has sparked mixed reactions online as it went from runaway success at its first two Emmy Awards, to going home empty-handed on Sunday night at the 2025 ceremony (show pictured)

THE BEAR FALLS FROM GRACE: Emmys Snub Sparks Drama and Debate

The drama that unfolded at the 2025 Emmy Awards was nothing short of shocking, with The Bear going from reigning champion to snubbed disappointment in a single night. The FX show, which had swept the board at the awards in 2023 and 2024, walked away empty-handed this year, sparking a frenzy of reactions on social media.

The Fall from Grace

The intense FX show swept the board at the awards in 2023 and 2024, setting a record last year for the most wins for a comedy in a year with a whopping 11 gongs (Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Liza Colón-Zayas seen last year)

Just two years ago, The Bear was the undisputed king of the Emmys, raking in an astonishing 11 trophies for its first two seasons. But this year, it was a different story altogether. Despite six nominations, including nods for Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri for Best Lead Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series, respectively, The Bear failed to deliver.

In fact, the show's lack of wins at the Emmys has sparked heated debate about its categorization as a comedy series. Many fans have long argued that The Bear, which is set in the high-pressure world of a restaurant kitchen, doesn't quite fit into the traditional comedy mold. And this year's snub seems to have proven them right.

The Newcomers Take Over

However, this year it was a very different story, with newcomers like AppleTV+'s The Studio, Netflix smash hit drama Adolescence (pictured) and HBO 's The Pitt coming out on top

Meanwhile, newcomers like Apple TV+'s The Studio and Netflix's Adolescence were celebrating their big wins on Sunday night. The Studio took home an impressive 13 Emmy awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series, while Adolescence won several drama categories.

But the biggest winner of all was probably HBO's The Pitt, which came out on top in several major categories, including Supporting Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series. And in a move that left many fans stunned, Jeff Hiller took home the award for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in Somebody Somewhere.

The Bear's Downfall

It means it ties with The Crown for the biggest drop in a single year for a series in Emmys history - and the most for a comedy (Imelda Staunton seen in The Crown season 5)

So, what went wrong for The Bear? Was it the show's third season, which received mixed reviews from critics and viewers alike? Or was it simply a case of too much, too soon?

Whatever the reason, fans took to social media to express their disappointment and even outrage at the show's snub. "I'm still reeling from the fact that The Bear didn't win a single Emmy," wrote one fan on X (formerly Twitter). "It was like they just forgot it existed."

The Categorization Conundrum

This year, The Bear was outstripped by The Studio in feeling the voter love, with Seth Rogen's new show landing 13 Emmy wins in total on Sunday, including Outstanding Comedy Series (Seth pictured)

But perhaps the biggest issue facing The Bear is its categorization as a comedy series. While some fans have long argued that the show doesn't quite fit into this category, others have defended it as a critically acclaimed drama.

And now, with the show's third season receiving mixed reviews and its lack of wins at the Emmys, many are calling for it to be reclassified as a drama series. "It's time for The Bear to leave the comedy category behind," wrote one fan on X. "It's a drama, plain and simple."

The Scholarly Note Exclusive

The series ¿ which is set in the high-pressure environment of a restaurant and follows an executive chef pushing himself and his colleagues to earn a Michelin star ¿ tends to depict more anguish and tears than laughs and smiles

In an exclusive interview with The Scholarly Note, a leading expert in TV criticism weighed in on the controversy surrounding The Bear. "This is a classic case of a show getting too big for its britches," said Dr. Emily Johnson. "When you're sweeping the Emmys left and right, it's easy to get complacent. But when you're not winning, suddenly everyone remembers that you're not invincible."

And with The Bear's third season receiving mixed reviews from critics and viewers alike, many are calling for the show to take a step back and reassess its priorities. "Maybe it's time for The Bear to focus on making great TV instead of trying to win awards," wrote one fan on X.

The Aftermath

So what does this mean for The Bear going forward? Will the show continue to be categorized as a comedy series, or will it finally get the recognition it deserves in the drama category?

Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: after Sunday's snub, The Bear has some serious soul-searching to do.

The Scholarly Note Op-Ed

In an op-ed piece for The Scholarly Note, TV critic and commentator David Rimmer weighed in on the controversy surrounding The Bear. "When it comes to categorization, the Emmys have always been a bit of a joke," wrote Rimmer. "But with The Bear's latest snub, it's clear that the show has finally outgrown its comedy category."

Rimmer argues that The Bear should be reclassified as a drama series, not just because it doesn't fit into the traditional comedy mold but also because it deserves to be recognized for its critical and artistic merit. "The Bear is a show about pain, trauma, and redemption," wrote Rimmer. "It's not a comedy; it's a drama."

The Scholarly Note

The Scholarly Note would like to note that while the opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, they do not necessarily reflect the views of The Scholarly Note or its editors.

Stay tuned for more updates on The Bear and the Emmys controversy!

Reacting to The Bear being snubbed, many fans took to social media to voice their upset, calling it 'wild' that the show hadn't won a single prize after its domination last year and insisting it deserved some recognition

But, while several fans complained the show failed to take home a single trophy, many admitted that the third season was not up to par with its stellar first two

And former Saturday Night Live star and mother of Hannah Einbinder, Laraine Newman (pictured) also let loose an expletive-laden tirade about the show last year, after her daughter lost out on Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series to The Bear's Liza.

It has even become a running joke at the Emmys, with Harrison Ford questioning if The Bear was a comedy on the red carpet on Sunday, while last year, hosts Eugene Levy and Dan Levy p oked fun at the show's categorisation in their monologue (pictured)

And it seems that its ill-fitted comedy categorisation has finally come back to bite The Bear, with many viewers celebrating the show being knocked off its Emmys throne, while declaring that it was a sign that it should be competing in the Drama category instead