The Bear season 1
| Company type | Television season |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Television |
| Founded | June 23, 2022 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Key people | Christopher Storer, Joanna Calo, Jeremy Allen White |
| Products | Television series episodes |
| Parent | FX on Hulu |
The debut season of the American comedy-drama The Bear was released in full on June 23, 2022, via FX on Hulu. The series is helmed by showrunners Christopher Storer and Joanna Calo, featuring Jeremy Allen White in the role of Carmy Berzatto, a celebrated chef who returns to Chicago to oversee the kitchen of his deceased brother’s sandwich shop. The ensemble cast also includes Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, and Abby Elliott.
In March 2021, FX commissioned a pilot episode, written and directed by Storer, with the full season approved by October 2021. Production occurred in Chicago between February and March 2022. This inaugural season consists of eight episodes.
The season received widespread critical praise and garnered ten Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series alongside acting accolades for White, Moss-Bachrach, and Edebiri. It set a record for the highest number of Emmy wins in a single year for a comedy series until its own second season surpassed this achievement. Additionally, it became FX’s highest-rated comedy show.
Main
- Jeremy Allen White as Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Richard "Richie" Jerimovich
- Ayo Edebiri as Sydney Adamu
- Lionel Boyce as Marcus Brooks
- Liza Colón-Zayas as Tina Marrero
- Abby Elliott as Natalie "Sugar" Berzatto
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, dishwasher at The Beef
- Richard Esteras as Manny, dishwasher at The Beef
- Chris Witaske as Pete, Natalie's 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 Al-Anon meeting leader attended by Carmy
Episodes
Development
In March 2021, FX commissioned a pilot episode for The Bear, crafted and directed by series creator and co-showrunner Christopher Storer. By October 2021, FX approved the show for a full season, targeting a 2022 debut. The season was produced under FX Productions (FXP), with executive producers Hiro Murai, Nate Matteson, Joanna Calo, and Josh Senior. Matty Matheson, who also plays Neil Fak in a recurring capacity, contributed as a consulting producer. The design of the sandwich shop set is modeled after Chicago’s Mr. Beef on Orleans Street, inspired by Storer’s personal connection as a regular customer and acquaintance of the owner’s son.
Casting
Jeremy Allen White, known for his role in Shameless, was announced on May 21, 2021, as the lead for the The Bear pilot. He was joined by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Abby Elliott, and Matty Matheson. In October 2021, Liza Colón-Zayas was added to the main cast, with Matheson and Edwin Lee Gibson appearing in recurring roles. The season also features guest appearances from Oliver Platt, Joel McHale, and Jon Bernthal.
Writing
Christopher Storer penned half of the eight episodes, while co-showrunner Joanna Calo wrote two episodes. Additional scripts were contributed by Sofya Levitsky-Weitz, Karen Joseph Adcock, Catherine Schetina, and Rene Gube. All screenplays were officially registered with the Writers Guild of America on May 6, 2022.
Filming
Certain scenes for the pilot were shot on location at Mr. Beef, complemented by a constructed set for kitchen sequences. Principal photography commenced in February 2022 and concluded on March 31, 2022, in Chicago. Storer directed five episodes out of eight; Calo helmed the remaining three. Notably, episode seven titled "Review" includes an extended continuous shot lasting 18 minutes.
Cinematographer Andrew Wehde reported that filming episodes two through eight took place over 27 days—two days fewer than initially scheduled—with roughly 18 days spent at Cinespace Chicago and the rest filmed at Mr. Beef and various city locations. While the pilot was originally shot in a widescreen format (2.39:1), pre-production tests led to adopting a 1.85:1 aspect ratio for a classic visual aesthetic throughout the series.
Release
The full season debuted on FX on Hulu in the United States on June 23, 2022, with all eight episodes released simultaneously. Internationally, it became available via the Star section on Disney+.
Audience viewership
During the week of July 22, 2022, The Bear’s first season ranked as the most-watched program overall and held second place across all platforms during the weeks of July 3, 13, and 17. FX reported that it set a record as the highest-viewed comedy series in the network’s history.
Critical response
The inaugural season received universal acclaim with a perfect 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 80 critical reviews and an average rating of 8.7/10. Critics lauded The Bear for its skillful fusion of elements resulting in exceptional viewer satisfaction. On Metacritic, it earned an aggregate score of 88 out of 100 from 24 critics.
The American Film Institute recognized the season as one of the ten best television programs of the year. The Guardian designated it as the top TV show of 2022, describing it as "the finest workplace drama since Mad Men." Additionally, it secured positions within numerous year-end top ten lists, including first place honors from The A.V. Club, BBC, People magazine, and TVLine.
Accolades
The season garnered widespread critical praise, securing ten Primetime Emmy Awards out of 13 nominations. This achievement established a new benchmark for the highest number of wins in a single year for a comedy series, a record later exceeded by its second season. Among the distinguished honors were Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actor awarded to Jeremy Allen White, and Outstanding Supporting Actress presented to Ayo Edebiri.
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | American Film Institute Awards | Top 10 Programs of the Year | The Bear | Template:Won |
| 2022 | Gotham Awards | Outstanding Performance in a New Series | Ayo Edebiri | Template:Nom |
| 2022 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Bingeworthy Show of 2022 | The Bear | Template:Nom |
| 2023 | AACTA International Awards | Best Drama Series | The Bear | Template:Nom |
| AACTA International Awards | Best Actor in a Series | Jeremy Allen White | Template:Nom | |
| American Film Institute Awards | Top 10 Television Programs | The Bear | Template:Won | |
| 3rd Astra TV Awards | Best Streaming Series, Comedy | The Bear | Template:Nom | |
| Best Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Jeremy Allen White | Template:Won | ||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Ebon Moss-Bachrach | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Ayo Edebiri | Template:Won | ||
| Best Directing in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Christopher Storer (for "Review") | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Writing in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Christopher Storer (for "System") | Template:Won |
Additional nominations and victories were achieved at the Black Reel Television Awards, British Academy Television Awards, Cinema Audio Society Awards, and Critics' Choice Awards. The series also received multiple distinctions at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Writing, both credited to Christopher Storer. Further commendations came from the Producers Guild of America, Satellite Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Jeremy Allen White notably earned Outstanding Lead Actor accolades at both the Emmys and Golden Globes. Meanwhile, Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss-Bachrach received prominent awards recognizing their supporting roles. The extensive industry recognition highlights the show’s significant commercial impact and critical acclaim within the fiercely competitive streaming landscape.