Spoiler alert! This story contains spoilers for all five seasons of The Bear, which can be streamed now with a Hulu subscription.

The Bear has served its final meal by way of an eight-episode fifth season that takes place almost entirely on one stressful, rainy day. I couldn’t help but binge through Season 5 as soon as it hit the 2026 TV schedule — especially after watching the standalone episode “Gary,” which is not required viewing but should be, because it’s great — and I was not ready for the emotions that hit me with all of the great callbacks to previous seasons.

The Bear Season 5 was hailed by critics as a return to form, forgoing tons of guest stars and drama outside of the restaurant to watch how the staff came together under seemingly impossible conditions for what might be one last night of service. As an eight-episode meal, I was fully satisfied, and it was the tasteful sprinkling of nods to its past that really put it over the top. Here were some of my favorites:

The ‘Original Berf’ Shirts Made A Big Comeback

The printing error that caused The Original Beef of Chicagoland T-shirts to actually read “Original Berf” may have been just another thing to go wrong for Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) back in Season 2. Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), however, knew all along that those were collector’s items, and they sure came in handy when a burst pipe sullied all of the chefs’ white coats in Season 5. As he said in his rousing pre-service speech:

I was so tickled to see those shirts on everyone for the rest of that night’s service.

Carmy Jokes About Getting Locked In The Freezer

A pivotal moment in Season 2 came when Carmy got locked in the walk-in freezer because he hadn’t gotten the handle fixed. He unwittingly ended things with Claire (Molly Gordon) and then got into a horrible shouting match with Richie. Thank goodness there was a locked door between them.

Season 5 showed just how far the “cousins” had come, as Carmy finds Richie in the freezer having a panic attack. He talks him through it, and as he turns to leave and give Richie some privacy, he pretends he can’t open the door, momentarily freaking Richie out even more. I was certainly fooled, and it leads to such a joyful moment between the two.

Sydney's Coca-Cola Short Ribs Saved The Day

The Coca-Cola-braised short ribs made their appearance in Season 1 as a dish that reminded Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) of her late mother. She worked with Carmy to perfect the balance on the dish, and it was lovely to see Season 5 open with her pulling out the ribs and Coke bottles to make the dish for the final family meal we’d see.

However, the ribs got an even bigger day in the sun when Carmy dropped the lamb dish that was supposed to go to the man they thought was responsible for deciding whether or not they’d get a Michelin star. Carm tells Sydney to serve the short ribs instead, saying they’re better than anything he’s ever made.

Sydney Finally Tells Carmy He Made The Beat Meal She’d Ever Eaten

Carmy’s praise of Sydney’s short ribs was really just returning the favor, because earlier in the service, he had prepared a serving of the lamb tonnato for her to try as a menu option. Without fanfare (but with very meaningful glances), they had this exchange:

• Sydney: Second-best bite I’ve had in a long time.
• Carmy: Yeah?
• Sydney: Yeah.
• Carmy: What was the first best?
• Sydney: I had this grapefruit scallop dish at Empire a few years ago.

We’d previously heard Sydney tell Marcus that’s how she ended up at The Original Beef, staging under Carmy, and we saw Carmy agonizing over that dish with Chef David Fields (Joel McHale) literally over his shoulder. However, this was the first time that it all clicked for Carmy.

Sugar’s Husband Craves Sydney’s Bolognese

If The Bear fans weren't convinced that Sydney earned her spot taking over for Carmy, Season 5 did everything it could to remind us how good she is. When the chef asks Sugar’s husband Pete (Chris Witaske) to help with the trash in exchange for her cooking him any meal he wants, Pete is quick to say, “Bolognese!”

It’s a super subtle reference, but think back to Season 3, when Sydney brought Sugar (Abby Elliott) and Pete a care package after Sugar had her baby. Amongst the items she brought them was bolognese, and clearly that left an impression on Pete!

You Can’t Keep A Carmy-Sydney Shipper Down

From the beginning there have been questions and very strong opinions about Carmy and Sydney and whether they would (or should) get together. There was so much tension between them that “Yes, chef!” became, like, the hottest thing ever. Ayo Edebiri consistently shut down that possibility, but how could Carmy’s mom Donna (Jamie Lee Curtis) possibly know that? In a Season 5 wink to fans, Donna asks Pete, “Are they dating?” and Pete stammers a bit before landing on:

Say what you will, but I think that hug during Sydney and Carmy’s big emotional moment in the series finale was more intimate than any kiss. For me, their chemistry as colleagues goes deeper than romance.

Richie Calls Marcus ‘Cousin’

One of the more confusing aspects of The Bear’s first few episodes in Season 1 was that Richie and Carmy referred to each other as “Cousin,” only to reveal they’re not actually related. Richie was best friends with Carmy’s brother Mikey, and when Mikey died, it really was like they both lost a brother. They continued to call each other “Cousin” in good times and bad as a term of endearment, and in the end, Richie passes the nickname on to Marcus (Lionel Boyce).

Sydney and Richie may have been the ones put in charge of the restaurant when Carmy chose to step away, but the final episodes gave a strong indication that Marcus was the one Carmy was passing the torch to. In addition to inheriting the familial nickname, Marcus was also the beneficiary of Carmy’s journals, where he sketched dishes and worked out new creative recipes. It was a beautiful ending for one of The Bear’s best characters.

There were plenty of other moments that stuck out, and I can safely say that all of the anxiety and shouting and fretting and talking over each other was well worth it to see how The Bear served its last meal by bringing back so many of the dishes we loved the first time around.

Spoilers ahead for the final season of The Bear.

Every streaming service has its own megahits, and for those with a Hulu subscription, The Bear is definitely on that level. Arguably one of the best Hulu shows of all time, the Emmy-winning dramedy recently aired its fifth and final season. Star Jeremy Allen White apparently took home a 400-pound table from the set, and there's an A+ video of the rest of the cast reacting to this news.

Fans are still recovering from The Bear's finale, which saw Jeremy Allen White's Carmy step away from the culinary arts after the titular restaurant was given a whopping two Michelin stars. White apparently took home a butcher's block table from the set, transporting it from Chicago to his home in Los Angeles. A video from People shows the rest of The Bear's cast reacting to this news; check it out below:

How funny is that? Clearly, the news of White's extra-large souvenir didn't get to the rest of the crew, as they looked pretty gobsmacked that the Emmy-winning actor took home such a giant part of the set. Just the logistics alone of shipping it has my head spinning.

As you can see in the video above, Jeremy Allen White's co-stars had big reactions to the fact that he took a butcher block table home with him. Marcus actor Lionel Boyce joked about some of the things he took from the acclaimed TV show's set, saying:

It's common for actors to swipe some stuff from sets, especially when a long-running show like The Bear ends. And while Boyce swiped some of his costumes, he jokes that he should have thought bigger like Jeremy Allen White. I guess hindsight is 20-20.

Of course, there are other Bear stars that also had memorable reactions to the news of White's table. Richie actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach joked about his inability to take something so big from the set, saying:

Points were made. Moss-Bachrach was referencing Liza Colón-Zayas, who famously played Tina throughout all five seasons of The Bear. New York apartments simply aren't big enough for them to take pieces of the set. Clearly, Jeremy Allen White is standing alone with the size of his souvenir from the show.

The Bear Season 5 is streaming in its entirety on Hulu as part of the 2026 TV schedule. The series is definitely going to be missed, but at least Jeremy Allen white can feel like he's back on the set with that butcher block table.

Spoilers ahead for The Bear's final season.

For years now, those with a Hulu subscription have been watching the Emmy-winning FX series The Bear. That acclaimed dramedy recently released its fifth and final season, and fans are still recovering from its emotional ending. I watched all of Season 5 in one day, and followed it up with the new Netflix romantic comedy Voicemails for Isabelle. And I was shocked at what a great chaser that movie was, and how connected these two very different projects ultimately were.

The Bear's final season was an emotionally satisfying conclusion, with the titular restaurant overcoming a shift from hell and getting two Michelin stars. Seeing Carmy leave the business and the rest of the characters coming to the other side of their grief was thrilling, and funny enough, Voicemails for Isabelle (streaming with a Netflix subscription) ended up tackling very similar subject matter... despite being a rom-com. Let's talk about that shocking synergy.

Voicemails for Isabelle Kept The Bear Alive With Similar Themes

Throughout The Bear's time on the air, audiences were shown Carmy's history in fine dining, including the abusive relationship he had with one of his former bosses (played by Joel McHale). This, combined with his anxiety issues and grief over his late brother Mikey, results in him lowkey hating his career as a chef.

After seeing the characters of The Bear get their happy ending, I ended up streaming Voicemails for Isabelle over on Netflix. And I couldn't believe just how much connective tissue these very different titles ultimately had.

Voicemails for Isabelle has folks getting emotional, mostly because of the way Zoey Deutch's protagonist Jill is shown in the throes of grief. Her sick sister and best friend passes away early on in the movie, which she spends sending her voicemails updating Isabelle about what's been going on in her life. Are you seeing the similarities yet?

Obviously, Carmy and Jill have something in common, as the tragedy of losing a sibling is something that only those who have gone through it understand. But funny enough, that's not the only similarity. Because Deutch's character in Voicemails for Isabelle is also in the culinary arts. Baking is her passion, although she's stuck as a prep cook and spends all of her workdays cutting up kumquats for her nightmare boss Chef Bastien (Nick Offerman).

I couldn't help but think about Carmy's time under his own horrible Chef on The Bear, and loved seeing the way both he and Jill were able to escape that toxic environment. For Jill, it was quitting and opening a food truck, and for Carmine, it was leaving the industry altogether. The connection between their grief and their culinary careers made these two titles feel extremely connected, and Voicemails for Isabelle was exactly what I needed to watch after devouring the FX show's final episodes.

The Bear is streaming in its entirety on Hulu now, while Voicemails for Isabelle is on Netflix as part of the 2026 movie release list. Now give me a crossover, you cowards!

Major spoilers for the final season of The Bear lie ahead, so proceed into this kitchen with caution, chefs.

The end is no longer near, it is here, as The Bear has reached the conclusion of its five-season run. While it’s sad that Christopher Storer’s Emmy-winning restaurant dramedy has come to a close, its final eight episodes leave viewers with a lot of cathartic moments to chew on (no pun intended). Among the sweeter scenes within the series finale is a particularly great moment between Carmy Berzatto and Sydney Adamu. Now, after having seen that, fans who’ve long loved these characters are in their feelings as am I.

A subplot within The Bear Season 5 involves Syd, Carmy and co. expecting a visit from an inspector, who could award them with a Michelin star (which would certify the quality of the establishment). The final episode, “The Original Beef of Chicagoland,” sees Carmy take a phone call from an unknown caller he’d frequently ignored throughout the season. Peter Clark is revealed to be the caller, and he not only reveals himself as the “Star Man” the team has been waiting for but that he actually visited the eatery months earlier.

Sydney later finds an emotional Carmy, who tells her about Clark and that he enjoyed the restaurant. Carmy then shocks Syd when he reveals that the restaurant has been awarded not one, but two stars. While the two initially play it cool, Sydney eventually leaves the kitchen and embraces Carmy with a passionate hug in the dining room. It’s a sweet sight, and fans aren’t holding in their emotions about it. Check out what some of them shared to X about what could be one of the best moments to grace the 2026 TV schedule:

• The Bear finally achieving Syd’s dream of becoming star holders. They didn’t get one but two stars and her hugging Carmy in thanks oh I’m so not okay. - @Archivesbym_
• The hug and then them pulling back and Carmy holding her face then them hugging again IM GOING CRAZY. - @mavellarke
• Dare i say this hug is somehow more intimate and romantic than a kiss. - @shivlestat
• SOMEBODY SEDATE ME this is happening woahh wow SYDCARMY NATION THEY HUGGED for a MINUTE!!! - @_delovetv
• The way he immediately drops the towel and runs straight to her is killing me. - @jawholic
• I can’t even put into words how much this scene means to me. They are so fucking proud of each other, and this hug was an accumulation of everything they have been through, separate and together. - @belqvedrue

At this point, I’m still on a high after seeing that hug between Carmy and Syd – who really have physical contact throughout the show – play out in real time. It’s a sweet moment and, as one of the social media users alludes to, it’s an earned public display of affection, considering what the two friends/co-workers have been through. The Bear has delivered some striking images and, for a show that can certainly make viewers feel anxious, it’s poetic that such a serene moment will now likely remain within the public’s consciousness.

What’s particularly notable about this scene is that for some time now, there’s been speculation regarding how Syd and Carmy’s relationship might develop. There have been those who’ve shipped them as a couple, while others believe it’d be a terrible idea to get them together. Syd actor Ayo Edebiri has also shot down romance assumptions, arguing that her character is not in love with Jeremy Allen White’s Carmy. Instead, she argues that the two have a kinship due to their shared passion for what they do.

I agree with Edebiri’s assessment, as the dynamic between Carm and Sydney has always read as platonic to me. Still, I’d argue that, thanks to that sweet hug scene, fans who fall on either side of the relationship debate should (hopefully) be satisfied. And, on a much broader note, that moment is just one of many reasons why this final season serves as a worthy send-off for the show. I’ll certainly miss the shots of tasty-looking foods, but it’s the characters and the firm bonds between them that I’ll miss the most.

Even though The Bear is done, fans can still revisit the show in its entirety using a Hulu subscription. And, if for some reason you’re reading this and have yet to watch the show at all, give it a try. You won’t regret it, chef.

This story contains NO SPOILERS for The Bear Season 5, which is available to stream now with a Hulu subscription.

The Bear has officially served up its final meal, dropping all eight of its Season 5 episodes on the 2026 TV schedule at once. At the end of Season 4, we saw Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) walk away from the restaurant, leaving it in the hands of Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Sugar (Abby Elliott). With no money, however, the future appears bleak, so is the comedy-drama able to provide an ending that will leave audiences full and satisfied? A look at the reviews and Rotten Tomatoes score is giving me early-season flashbacks.

How The Bear Season 5’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Compares To Past Seasons

Longtime fans of The Bear will be excited to know that the fifth and final season is rated a Certified Fresh 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, as of this writing. The Chicago-set series hasn’t seen numbers that high since its first two seasons, which received 100% and 99%, respectively.

I’d agree with the general consensus that The Bear was at its best in the beginning, when it quickly became one of FX and Hulu’s best original shows and started raking in all of those Emmy Awards. Seeing the stressful back-of-house operation may have been anxiety-inducing, but that energy was missed in the decidedly slower-paced third and fourth seasons.

The RT scores reflected that, too, with Season 3 earning 89% from critics, and Season 4 dropping to 84% (the audience scores were even less forgiving, rating them 54% and 68%, respectively).

If a 97% rating on Season 5 is an indication of a return to form in its final 8 episodes, sign me up! So what are the critics saying, anyway?

Reviews Say The Bear Season 5 Is A ‘Classic Recipe Done Very, Very Well’

The Bear Season 5 reviews came out before critics saw Episode 8, “The Original Beef of Chicagoland," but Clint Worthington of RogerEbert practically had his fill by the end of the penultimate episode, “Caramel” (and that’s not a bad thing). The critic notes how the focus had become too much on the guest stars, the needle drops, the Faks, etc. Season 5, however, feels as scaled back as the restaurant’s budget, en route to a satisfying finale. He writes:

Victoria Luxford of NME rates the final season 4 out of 5 stars, calling it a “bingeable buffet,” freed by the absence of an overarching storyline, which allows our food heroes’ stories room to breathe over the course of a single day. It’s “funny, gripping and jaggedly sentimental,” Luxford says, writing:

Benji Wilson of The Telegraph’s review of The Bear Season 5 gives it a perfect 5 out of 5 stars, writing that this season is “chaos incarnate,” sticking the landing by going back to what made us love the show in the first place. The critic writes:

These Rotten Tomatoes’ scores — especially combined with the critics’ feedback — have me flashing back to the chaotic intensity of The Bear’s peak seasons, and I can’t wait to jump into the final one. All eight episodes are available to stream now on Hulu.

If you haven’t checked out The Bear’s bonus episode “Gary,” an hour-long flashback starring Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who also co-wrote the episode, I implore you to do that before diving into Season 5. It’s not necessary in order to follow Season 5’s plot, but it is incredible and should not be skipped.

Then, you can dive into these last episodes that feel like they'll give a perfect goodbye to this beloved show.

It’s the end of an era for The Bear, and in the lead-up to Season 5’s premiere on the 2026 TV schedule, I’ve been wondering how exactly it is going to come to a close. Well, now Jeremy Allen White has spoken out about the finale of the show he’s won many awards for. I’m not gonna lie, his comments worry me.

In the lead-up to The Bear’s Season 5 premiere, Jeremy Allen White was asked how he reacted to the series finale’s script. He made it clear that it wasn’t easy to read or film, while also explaining his feelings about where Carmy’s story winds up. Elaborating on these ideas with People, he said:

Now, this comment worries me for two reasons.

First, knowing that it was “hard” for Jeremy Allen White to read and shoot this could mean a few different things. Obviously, endings are never easy, so it makes sense that this was challenging. However, his comments also make me wonder if I’ll like how The Bear ends.

Secondly, and from a story perspective, I’m simply concerned for Carmy. At the end of The Bear’s fourth season, he made a choice to take his name off the restaurant's partnership agreement. Ever since I watched him do that, I’ve been on the fence about whether his decision was a good or bad one. White’s latest comments have me slipping into bad territory, mostly because it really seems like his character is going to step away.

I don’t want that to happen in the final season of The Bear. While I do understand why he’d make that choice, I want Carmy to be very involved in this dream that started as his. So, yeah, I’m anxious that his story is going to end with a tragic acceptance that this dream didn’t work for him.

However, don’t get it twisted. I’m still very excited to stream Season 5 of The Bear with my Hulu subscription on June 25. I need to see how this story concludes, and I desperately want to know where Carmy and co end up after this wild journey they’ve all been on. Plus, the final part of the Shameless actor’s statement about the finale made me excited, as he said:

Well, that certainly eases my nerves. I’m happy that White is proud of the show and how it ends. I also love what we’ve seen so far from Season 5. In the trailer, we learn that the restaurant faces a flood, and the team is dealing with a ton of challenges as they work to simply keep the doors open. That gives us the drama and stakes I’ve always loved in The Bear. Meanwhile, we also get to see the team in the Original Berf shirts, which seems to imply that they’re going to have to go back to basics to succeed, and that excites me.

So, overall, yes, I’m worried about what’s going to happen in Season 5 of The Bear. However, it’s because I care so much about this show. Thankfully, while Jeremy Allen White’s comment concerned me, his clear adoration and passion for this final chapter make me feel a lot better.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine, one that constantly releases new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The next upcoming Marvel movie hitting theaters is Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will pair Tom Holland's hero with both The Hulk and Jon Bernthal's Punisher. The latter actor recently spoke about what it would take to get him to return as Frank Castle yet again, and after his recent work on One Last Kill and The Bear, I think Kevin Feige and company should relent.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order, as well as the TV shows, were thrilled when Bernthal returned as Frank Castle in Daredevil: Born Again. He's since appeared in the special Punisher: One Last Kill, and was featured in the Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer. During an interview with Esquire the 49 year-old actor spoke about continuing as his signature MCU character, saying:

Sign me up. While an actor asking for control of their own future in the MCU might sound like a big ask, Jon Bernthal's resume speaks for himself. Because in addition to his decade playing Punisher in the MCU (starting with Daredevil Season 2), he's also gotten behind the camera. He co-wrote the script for One Last Kill, which was received well by critics upon its release on Disney+ this month. The Walking Dead star has a deep understanding of his signature character, and has writing experience that should allow him to create compelling new stories.

Jon Bernthal also flex both his acting and writing talents on The Bear's bonus episode Gary (which is streaming with a Hulu subscription). That episode served a prequel to the main series, and was written by Bernthal and his co-star Ebon Moss-Bachrach. It was an emotionally powerful episode of television, and once again proves the actor's ability to write for characters that he's passionate about. So why not let him be a creative force behind his next appearance as Frank Castle in the MCU?

Of course, it's possible that Bernthal is also hoping to direct whatever comes next for his beloved Marvel character. Whether or not that's a game changer for Kevin Feige and company remains to be seen, but he's got the star-power and resume that I think has earned him some creative control over Punisher. Hopefully the studio agrees.

The Punisher: One Last Kill is streaming on Disney+ now, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day will hit theaters on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. Plus Gary is streaming now. Clearly Jon Bernthal has been keeping busy as of late.

Every streaming service has a few hit shows, and The Bear is definitely on that list for those with a Hulu subscription. The Emmy-winning drama is one of the best shows to watch on Hulu, and folks are emotionally preparing for its upcoming fifth and final season. Fans were shocked when a surprise episode was released, called Gary, and I think it's essential viewing ahead of Season 5's debut this summer.

Gary is a prequel to The Bear, set years before Season 1's action. Written by Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, the hour-long episode is a deep dive into the relationship between Richie and Mikey ahead of the latter's death. And anyone who watches the series should take the time to stream this emotional bonus episode.

Gary Offers Major Emotional Ties To The Bear

Gary takes place years before The Bear, where Bernthal's Mikey is still very much alive. The two "cousins" are tasked with driving to Gary, Indiana, and delivering a package for Uncle Jimmy. The road trip's stakes are higher due to Richie's wife, Tiff's pregnancy, and her superstition that she'll give birth at 5:15 PM just like her mother did with her.

Throughout the episode, we get a snapshot of just how close these Richie and Mikey were, as well as the latter character's deteriorating mental health. The pair of buddies laugh, sing, play basketball, and get drunk and high while waiting for Jimmy's contact to show up and take the mysterious package. And it provides some much-needed context for both of the characters.

While it was originally a joy to see how much Mikey and Richie have fun and truly love each other, there's also a darkness that boils over by the time the episode is over. Mikey humiliates his best friend in a bar full of strangers and tells him he's a coward who will abandon his unborn child. It's an emotionally devastating moment that shows just how toxic and mentally unwell Bernthal's character was.

It's also shown that Richie failed to make it home in time for his daughter's birth, which is presumably a big reason why Tiff ultimately left him. His heartbreak over the split is still palpable in The Bear's current timeline, although he proved his late friend wrong and is a great father to Eva. Mikey also opens up about his trauma related to Jamie Lee Curtis' Donna, especially since Gary is set after the flashback episode "Fishes."

Then there's Gary's ending, which might end up factoring into The Bear when it returns for its fifth and final season. In the episode's final moments, we're transported back into the present, shortly before Richie ends up being T-boned by another vehicle. Will he end up seriously injured and therefore unable to work at the restaurant? Only time will tell, but I assume this was included for a specific narrative reason.

Gary is streaming now on Hulu as part of the 2026 TV schedule. The Bear will return for Season 5 on June 25th, so there's a month and change to catch up and prepare for whatever the acclaimed series will throw at us for its final batch of episodes.

According to Jamie Lee Curtis, The Bear will end with Season 5. That news went around about a month ago as she posted about wrapping up production on The Bear’s fifth installment. Now, she’s been asked about it again. However, as we prepare for this show to end, I think we should also pay attention to the Oscar-winner’s thoughts about being No. 1 on a call sheet and her place on the FX series' call sheet.

Jamie Lee Curtis Said The Bear Will End With Season 5

Back in February, Jamie Lee Curtis took to Instagram to post a photo with her on-screen daughter, Abby Elliott. In her caption, she wrote that The Bear cast “FINISHED STRONG!” and went on to explain that she got to “finish it out with my baby Berzatto bear.” Then, a few weeks later, during an interview with Access Hollywood, she was asked about the FX series potentially ending. In response, she said:

So, per Jamie Lee Curtis, The Bear will end after its fifth season. If the show follows the release structure it's had since its premiere, it could mean that we’ll get the final episodes during the summer on the 2026 TV schedule. However, while we wait for confirmation on all of that, let’s take a look at another sentimental thing the Everything Everywhere All At Once star said about her time on this beloved series.

She Also Reflected On Being No. 1 On Call Sheets, But Being No. 19 For The Bear

The Bear potentially coming to an end wasn’t the only thing Jamie Lee Curtis has recently gotten sentimental about on Instagram. Around the same time she posted about wrapping up production, she also uploaded an image of the call sheet. She’s No. 19 on it; however, she’s had her fair share of No. 1’s throughout her career. Sharing her thoughts on this topic, the actress wrote:

Jamie Lee Curtis made her debut on The Bear as Donna, Carmy, Sugar and Michael’s mom, in Season 2. In total, she’s appeared in six episodes so far, and like Jon Bernthal, who plays Michael, she is a very vital guest star on the FX series. Clearly, she loves having this role, too. It does not matter to her that she’s not No. 1 on the call sheet (I’d guess Jeremy Allen White is); she’s simply overjoyed to be part of this cast and this project.

Now, it’s time to look forward to these last episodes. Season 4 of The Bear ended with Carmy telling Sydney that he was planning to leave the restaurant, and (at least to me) it was very unclear if he was making the right decision. So, we’ll have those waters to wade through when the series returns alongside the Berzatto family drama that’s always ongoing.

No matter what, it’ll be worth streaming with a Hulu subscription. However, the mix of knowing how much Jamie Lee Curtis loves working on this program and that this could be The Bear’s final season makes me want to see what happens next even more.

Along with starring in movies like Everything Everywhere All at Once, Haunted Mansion and Freakier Friday, the last several years have seen her recurring on The Bear as Donna Berzatto, the mother of Jeremy Allen White’s Carmy and Abby Elliot’s Natalie. Last July, a month after the fourth season premiered to Hulu subscription holders, The Bear was renewed for Season 5. However, Curtis may have just let slip on social media that this will be the show’s last season.

Perhaps I’m reading too much into this, but there’s a sense of finality in the post Curtis shared on Instagram of herself with warmly embracing Elliot, whose handle on the platform is @lilcutieforever, on the set of The Bear. Here’s what she wrote as the caption:

With words like “finish” and “completing,” I’m sure some, if not many of you reading this are joining me in wondering if she’s saying that The Bear will end with Season 5. A post like this seems like it’s too weighty if the powers-that-be at FX on Hulu have already decided to renew the show for a sixth season, even if that’s not public knowledge yet. Jamie Lee Curtis makes it sound like the Berzatto family saga will come to an end sometime on the 2026 TV schedule.

To be fair, five seasons is a healthy run for a streaming-exclusive TV show these days, so it’s not like The Bear was taken too soon. Far from it, as the Christopher Storer-created series has earned numerous awards and accolades since it premiered in 2022, including Jamie Lee Curtis winning the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance in the Season 2 episode “Fishes.” It’s fair to say The Bear won’t be easily forgotten, especially considering how much it’s boosted Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s profiles, among others.

There is another possibility regarding the meaning of Jamie Lee Curtis post: what if The Bear isn’t ending, but her time on the show is? Perhaps Season 5 will see Donna Berzatto passing away, devastating Carmy, Natalie, Richie (who’s basically her surrogate son) and Uncle Jimmy. I’m less inclined to think this is what will happen, especially since The Bear Season 4’s ending seemed to lay the groundwork for the beginning of the end, but I won’t entirely rule out this story twist just yet either.

Maybe we’ll learn about The Bear’s fate post-Season 5, or maybe it will be announced a few weeks after the Hulu premiere. Whatever the future holds in store for the show, I look forward to seeing more of Jamie Lee Curtis on it.

After Rob Reiner tragically died at the age of 78 earlier this month, I, like many people familiar with the man, started thinking back on his work as an actor, writer and director. However, rather than my mind going to one of his career classics, like All in the Family, This is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride or When Harry Met Sally…, I instead keep going back to his guest appearances on The Bear earlier this year. In fact, upon rewatching his scenes in the Hulu subscription-exclusive series, I realized that Reiner’s character is more important to Season 4 than I originally thought.

Rob Reiner appeared in three The Bear episodes as Albert Schnur, a business consultant who’s provided his expertise to “everything from Fortune 500 companies to strip-mall laundromats.” Edwin Lee Gibson’s Ebra seeks him out to be a mentor in his efforts to “create opportunity” for The Bear restaurant’s sandwich window. Impressed with the numbers Ebra provided, Albert pinpoints that the best way forward is “expansion through replication,” i.e., opening two more beef sandwich-specific locations in Chicago’s north and south suburbs, respectively, along with a commissary kitchen somewhere in the middle. He also pitches himself as a consigliere to arrange this expansion, comparing himself to Robert Duvall’s Tom Hagen in The Godfather.

At first, it’s unclear if Albert Schnur sincerely wants to help Ebra or if he’s trying to swindle him, but upon meeting the other workers from the Beef window and chatting with Computer outside of the restaurant, it seems pretty evident it’s the former. It’s a shame we won’t see more of this character, especially since his advice may be what dictate’s The Bear's future. Throughout the show’s fourth season, there’s a clock counting down the 60 days Carmy and the others have to save the restaurant. That clock zeroes out in the final seconds of the Season 4 finale.

Since The Bear is returning for Season 5, it’s safe to assume that the restaurant won’t automatically close. Still, with the exception of Marcus being named in Food & Wine’s class of Best New Chefs, not much has really changed. So unless this next season chronicles the restaurant slowly being shuttered as we follow along with Carmy retiring to figure out who he is outside of being a chef, where do we go from here?

Albert Schnur’s idea likely holds the key. Computer was intrigued by Albert’s pitch of opening up more sandwich locations, and this is a man driven by numbers above all else. If he’s willing to extend The Beef’s restaurant in time to reach profitability and convince Cicero that investing more money into this expansion is the right call, this could be just the thing to keep the lights on at the restaurant.

Hopefully this plot thread is allowed to properly wrap up whenever The Bear Season 5 arrives on Hulu, rather than just abandoned since Rob Reiner is no longer with us. If selling more sandwiches around Chicago is what allows the restaurant to finally flourish, then Albert Schnur will be the one to put this all together and could be rewarded for his contribution, even if we don’t see that happen onscreen.

I have watched more than 130 new releases this year, and there have been some outrageously intense, unsettling, and downright terrifying experiences along the way. In that respect, however, nothing has come close to touching Lurker, the 2025 movie written and directed by Alex Russell, a writer from acclaimed TV series The Bear, Beef, and Dave (the Li'l Dicky show, not the 1993 Kevin Kline classic). Going in, I had a feeling this would be a tension-ridden, anxiety-inducing psychological thriller, but it was something far more unnerving.

Let me tell you, this movie starring Théodore Pellerin as a socially awkward retail worker who infiltrates the inner circle of a rising pop star played by Archie Madekwe starts at like a seven and then slowly turns the dial. I won’t give anything away, but this is one of the most uncomfortable movie experiences I’ve had since watching a certain Jake Gyllenaal movie from a decade ago...

Lurker’s Story About Obsession And Control Kept Me On Edge

From start to finish, I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how this was going to play out. Just when I thought I knew where the story was headed, Alex Russell, in his directorial debut, would flip the script and throw me for a loop. Lurker follows Matthew Morning (Pellerin) as he slowly and methodically yet awkwardly becomes closer and closer to Oliver (Madekwe), a pop star on the precipice of global stardom.

What starts as a budding friendship and collaboration between two artists devolves into a story about obsession, control, and someone who isn’t afraid to cross any line to get what they want. Though it never reaches the levels of something like Misery, the relationship between artist and admirer goes to some extremely dark places and crosses the point of no return on more than one occasion.

Matthew’s Descent Into Madness Is Wild

Fueled by obsession, jealousy, a lust for power, and a need to have total control over everything around him, Matthew’s descent into madness is something wild. Théodore Pellerin, whom I was only slightly familiar with before pressing play, does an incredible and frightening job of portraying a tortured loner with a twisted and pervasive understanding of friendship.

On one hand, I didn’t like where Matthew was going, especially as he tried to isolate and control Oliver from his friends, management, and everyone else. However, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to see where this was going while watching.

Seriously, I Haven’t Felt Like This Since Watching Nightcrawler

Not only is Lurker the most intense experience I’ve had all year, but it also made me feel away I have felt since watching Nightcrawler back in 2014. Matthew and Jake Gyllenhaal’s Lou Bloom have so much in common, from their coyote-like demeanors to nocturnal activities to the way they infiltrate, control, and ruin everyone around them. Hell, both movies take place in Los Angeles and use the city landscape to create a dark tone and sense of dread throughout.

All of that said, I kept thinking about the opportunistic stringer in Nightcrawler while watching Lurker, so much so that I found myself wondering what would happen if those two menacing forces crossed paths.

You can watch Lurker with a Mubi subscription, and there are so many good movies over there to further justify it. Just know that this movie makes Friendship, which I thought was the most uncomfortable experience of the year before this, seem like a straight-up comedy.

Stream Lurker on Mubi.

Jeremy Allen White's career has skyrocketed in recent years, debuting his Emmy-winning lead role on The Bear in 2022, not too long after wrapping his run as part of the Shameless ensemble. The first season of the TV dramedy was followed by the tear-jerking The Iron Claw in 2023, and most recently, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere in 2025. With Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu on the way as well as The Bear Season 5 in the 2026 TV schedule, he has a pretty full slate. According to White, however, he's much less acclaimed as an actor by his two young daughters.

White, who is extremely popular in Chicago after four seasons and counting of The Bear, spoke with Vanity Fair about why he wanted to team up with Jon Favreau for The Mandalorian and Grogu, and it certainly wasn't because Rotta the Hutt (seen in the trailer) is the most glamorous character in the galaxy far, far away. He told the outlet:

Jeremy Allen White's two daughters are currently 7 and 4 years old, so it's probably for the best that they're not binge-watching The Bear like fans have with a Hulu subscription. It's pretty cute to imagine his youngsters seeing Carmy's dream sequence with a bear and then thinking that the whole show is about scary bears. In fairness to them, though, wouldn't you sooner think that a show called The Bear is about large animals than about stressed chefs in the Windy City?

Voicing Rotta the Hutt for The Mandalorian and Grogu seems like a more family friendly gig than what has happened over the years of the FX on Hulu show, which can be so dramatic that some would argue it doesn't deserve its awards in the comedy categories. Even White's attempt to bring the girls to the set of The Bear fell through, leading to another cute story about what his kids think he does for a living when they had to instead go for hot dogs. He said:

If you weren't saying "Aww!" at the first story, could you resist at the tale of Jeremy Allen White's youngest daughter believing that he's the hot dog version of the Easter Bunny when he's on the road? For as closely as the actor is associated with Chicago after four full seasons of The Bear so far, it would be reasonable for anybody to think that he might be an expert on hot dog toppings.

Looking ahead at what Jeremy Allen White has in the works, his youngest daughter may come to think that he's hard at work handing out a LOT of hot dogs. After generating buzz on the big screen with Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere and now that The Mandalorian and Grogu is less than a year away among upcoming Star Wars movies, he's likely to cause a stir in 2026 as part of the cast of The Social Reckoning. Plus, of course, more of The Bear is expected next year.

For now, you can always check out (or re-check out) the four seasons of The Bear so far streaming on Hulu.

I feel like, at this point, Jeremy Allen White is a household name thanks to The Bear and the release of projects like Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere on the 2025 movie schedule. However, he’s actually been working and well-known for a long time now, especially if you go to Chicago. That was proven when the Shameless actor found himself in a situation in the Windy City where his bodyguard was trying to protect him from a gaggle of girls.

In Jeremy Allen White’s words, he’s “extra famous” in Chicago thanks to his work on The Bear and Shameless. So, he has to take some extra precautions when he’s there. That means working with a security guard named Moody, as he described on The Graham Norton Show:

Now, considering White says he gets recognized frequently and he has smooth methods for avoiding people realizing he’s him, it makes sense that he’d have security, especially in Chicago. However, in this story, our guy Moody took things a bit too far.

Continuing this tale about The Bear cast being near a group of young female fans, the actor said:

Listen, I’m all for caution. Also, Jeremy Allen White is an Emmy winner, a very respected actor, and a heartthrob, so he has enthusiastic fans. And, as he said, he’s “extra famous” in Chicago because he has starred in two major shows that are filmed there. Therefore, when his security clocked this group, he did what he thought was necessary to protect The Iron Claw star. However, it turned out not to be necessary.

The gaggle of girls was not a threat, according to White, and being lifted out of the situation was not needed. The Bear star told Moody that too, explaining:

It’s a wild thing to pick any adult up by their hips to move them, but trying to imagine this happening to award-winning actor Jeremy Allen White is wilder.

Now, when he returns to film Season 5 of The Bear, I’d be curious to see what kind of protective measures are in place. Every year, as new seasons become available to those with a Hulu subscription, the cast gets more famous, and I can’t help but wonder how it changes their experiences while filming, specifically in Chicago.

Clearly, they have security who are committed to keeping them safe. However, hopefully, they learned a lesson here and know there is probably no need to literally lift Jeremy Allen White out of an area when there is no imminent danger.

The streaming wars have been in full effect for years, and each service has its own megahits. Those with a Hulu subscription know that The Bear is one of the best Hulu shows to watch, and features actress Abby Elliot as Natalie aka Sugar. She's also stars in the new book to screen adaptation All Her Fault, which is streaming over on Peacock. And Elliot told CinemaBlend about a wild connection between the two Chicago-set shows.

All Her Fault was just released in its entirety for those with a Peacock subscription, led by Emmy and Tony-winning actress Sarah Snook. As you can see in the video above, I got to talk with the cast of the new series ahead of its release, where Elliot told me about the way The Bear was represented when shooting All Her Fault. In her words:

How wild is that? Despite being on the other side of the world, Abby Elliot was able to see her Chicago commute in the midst of filming scenes for All Her Fault. This shows the level of detail that went into filming the new Peacock series, as only native or regular Chicagoans would clock if the traffic shown in car scenes wasn't correct. It seemed to absolutely tickle the Bear star as she was working on another TV series set in the same city.

While folks figure out how to stream All Her Fault, I loved getting some behind the scenes tidbits about how the show came together from the cast. I asked Abby Elliot how it feels to be filming another show set in Chicago, and asked how locals have responded. She said:

It sounds like going out to dinner in Chicago is a VIP experience for her, thanks to the wild Emmy-winning success of The Bear. I have to wonder if Elliot has been offered that famous The Bear omelette from Chicago fans from the restaurant industry. Because I've been thinking about that dish in particular since it was made for Sugar back in Season 2.

While All Her Fault is also set in Chicago, it's a mystery series with some very high stakes. The first episode sees a married couple Marissa and Peter (played Sarah Snook and Jake Lacy respectively) realize that their child Milo is missing, with the truth of the story methodically unraveled throughout its eight-episode season. Abby Elliot plays Lia Irvine, the sister of Peter. And while on paper this family has it more together than Berzattos, things get more twisted as the new series goes on.

All Her Fault is streaming in full over on Peacock as part of the 2025 TV schedule. The show is already campaigning for Awards Season consideration, and I personally enjoyed binge watching my screeners. Abby Elliot's performance was particularly strong, so I've got to give her her flowers.

While I firmly believe When Harry Met Sally is one of the best rom-coms ever made, I don’t agree with Harry’s integral claim that men and women can’t just be friends. Sometimes, when I watch something where a man and a woman are friends, that’s all I want them to be, and that’s the case with Sydney and Carmy on The Bear. Ayo Edebiri agrees with that, too. However, many fans do not, and she recently gave a perfectly logical explanation about why she won’t change her stance.

For years, Ayo Edebiri has been explaining why Sydney and Carmy won’t be together. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, she addressed the topic again. She was asked how she views fans’ desire for her character and Jeremy Allen White’s chef to be more than friends, and in response, she said:

Since day one, I’ve thought these two didn’t belong together. With every passing season (which you can stream with a Hulu subscription), that belief becomes even more solidified for me.

Spoilers for Season 4 of The Bear are ahead!

Season 4 of The Bear, and that ending involving Sydney, Carmy and his choice to leave the restaurant, really put out any sort of ember that may have existed in terms of the possibility that they’d ever be something more than co-workers. The finale left them at a crossroads, and Sydney seemed betrayed by her professional partner's choice. Moving forward, I have a feeling that them even just being friends might be hard.

However, I guess others still think a romance could happen, and the Bottoms actress did say that the way people interpret the show, naturally, will be different. She explained:

While she noted that her interpretation could differ from viewers’, she also made her stance abundantly clear. She explained that the notion of them being romantically involved is “crazy,” and if anything happened, nothing good could come of it, saying:

I totally agree, there’s no way a romance would end well for Syd and Carmy. They both have a lot to figure out personally and professionally – especially after the events of the episodes that aired on the 2025 TV schedule. And they need to do that without adding a complex and, frankly, unnecessary element into the mix.

Let’s let Carmy be with Claire, and let Sydney live life how she wants, whether that’s with a partner or not. They both deserve to be happy, and they are not in a position to do that for each other romantically.

In Season 5, hopefully, they’ll work things out as business partners and friends so they’re on solid, healthy ground by the time Carmy either leaves The Bear or doesn’t. And that’s all. According to Ayo Edebiri, it won’t go past that point, and it’s for good reason, too.

Ben Stiller was asked about how long it would take to release Severance Season 2 over and over and over again. Now, it’s out, and because we had to wait three years between Seasons 1 and 2, he’s already getting questions about when Severance’s third season will come out. So, in response to the wait, the show’s director and executive producer got candid about how long it takes to make this show by making a comparison to The Bear that I've actually been thinking about for years.

Since Severance has a bunch of 2025 Emmy nominations for a season that took years to make, Ben Stiller was asked by Vanity Fair if this kind of acknowledgement felt like “affirmation of it being worth the wait.” Just by watching Season 2, I knew it was worth it; however, these nods certainly help. Nevertheless, the wait still seems to bother the director, as he explained:

This is how The Bear comes into this equation. So, let me present some facts for you. Season 1 of Severance premiered on February 18, 2022, and The Bear Season 1 dropped on June 23, 2022. Then, on the 2025 TV schedule, Severance premiered Season 2 on January 17, and a few months later, on June 25, The Bear dropped its fourth season.

That means in the time it took Severance to make Season 2, The Bear released Seasons 2 and 3 and was well on its way to dropping Season 4. That’s kind of wild, and it’s something Ben Stiller has thought about, as he said:

These days, it’s commonplace to wait well over a year for a new season of a series. However, there are a few that consistently drop every year, including The Bear, which can be streamed with a Hulu subscription. I don’t know about you, but I adore having an old reliable that I know will come out around the same time every year.

However, I also get why it takes shows a very long time. A project like Severance is complex in both plot and setting, so it takes longer to make it and release it to those with an Apple TV+ subscription, plus its episodes are twice as long as the aforementioned series. Meanwhile, The Bear, for the most part, takes place in the restaurant and has 30-minute episodes.

All that said, though, Stiller didn’t back away from how hard the wait for seasons can be on both the creatives and fans. He noted how the pressure builds the longer we go between seasons, saying:

It is certainly a conundrum, and comparing Severance to a show that’s released three seasons in the time it took to release one is quite a fact. However, I don’t think it’s one this Apple TV+ series should fret over.

As Season 2 proved, the wait was worth it, and the painstaking detail put into the series is one of the reasons it's so remarkable. It also proves that the time it takes to make a show doesn’t necessarily tell you anything about its quality.

The Bear and Severance are each excellent, and we’re getting more of both. Art takes time, and that time varies from project to project, so my advice is to just enjoy it as it comes, so these folks don’t have to stress about the amount of time they’re taking to make it. However, I do have to say, I am appreciative of the fact that Ben Stiller addressed the point about his show and the FX restaurant series that I’ve been thinking about for years now.

The Bear Season 5 filming is underway in Chicago, and it is expected to be released later this year, with most signs pointing to the show hitting the 2026 TV schedule this summer.

The idea of The Bear Season 5 was up in the air for a bit after the ending of Season 4. But thankfully, it wasn’t long after the show’s fourth-season premiere that it was announced that Season 5 would happen, and now there is good reason to suspect that this will be the final season for the show.

What is Season 5 going to be about? When can we expect to see it? Will it be the last season? Here is what we know so far about The Bear Season 5.

What Is The Bear Season 5 Premiere Date?

We don't have an exact date, but it looks like the show will premiere in June 2026. A few things lead us to that speculation. First, we know that filming has been underway for a few weeks now, after kicking off in early February 2026, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Second, every other season of The Bear has dropped in June like clockwork.

It's rare for (what we think of as) streaming shows to be so predictable, almost like a network show, but there is no reason to think The Bear won't stay on the same schedule it's been on since it debuted in June 2022. Granted, The Bear is also on FX (since FX has a deal with Hulu where their shows premiere on the platform). Even so, having it released on a regular schedule is an absolute win.

We can also say that it looks like this just might be the final season for the show. In February, Jamie Lee Curtis, who plays Donna, announced on her Instagram that the show "finished strong."

In March, multiple outlets, including The Hollywood Reporter, reported that this would, indeed, be the final season for the hit show after Curtis told Entertainment Tonight that "it is the end of the show." It should be pointed out that, thus far, FX and Hulu have not officially commented on it.

The Bear Season 5 Cast

For a while, the cast of The Bear was a bit up in the air. Due to the nature of The Bear Season 4 finale, it was speculated that Jeremy Allen White, who portrays Carmy, would not return in a series regular role. That has been settled, and White is returning to the role that he has won multiple Emmys for playing.

There are plenty of other members of The Bear cast who are also returning, including:

• Ayo Edebiri as Sydney Adamu
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Richie Jerimovich
• Lionel Boyce as Marcus Brooks
• Liza Colon-Zayas as Tina Marrero
• Abby Elliot as Natalie Berzatto
• Matty Matheson as Neil Fak
• Edwin Lee Gibson as Ebraheim
• Molly Gordon as Claire Dunlap

This is just the main cast, but many other characters could appear in Season 5. Will Poulter’s recurring guest role as Luca became a bigger part of Season 4. Jaime Lee Curtis’ character, Donna, who continues to make us cry every season, also had a significant amount of screen time in the fourth season is obviously returning.

It's a fair bet that we'll see a lot of the series semi-regulars and guest stars return, like Gillian Jacobs (Tiff), Sarah Ramos (Jess), and others. The show has had a cavalcade of big stars rotate in and out, and with it likely being the final season, the sky's the limit on who could return.

What Could The Bear Season 5 Be About?

Alright, so here’s where things get interesting, because there isn't much out there for what Season 5 could be about. After the ending of Season 4, it's really hard to predict where the story is headed, but we'll do our best.

What Happened At The End Of Season 4?

As a refresher, the finale of The Bear Season 4 was crazy in so many ways. Carmy, Syd, and Richie had the conversation of a lifetime. What was it, you might ask? Well, Carmy is thinking of leaving not only the restaurant but the industry altogether.

He signed away his portion of The Bear to Syd, and is essentially considering leaving everything behind – a choice that we still don’t know is the right one or not. Neither Syd nor Richie is the biggest fan of his decision, and right now, it’s only those two, as well as Natalie (who came in at the last second), that know what he plans to do.

It would be a big shock to everyone. Lionel Boyce even talked about it in an interview with Collider in June 2025, saying that he’s not even sure how Marcus would react to the news, considering it was Carmy who inspired him to become the baker he is:

This would be even bigger news for Marcus, because he was just named one of the Best New Chefs in Food & Wine magazine. That’s wild.

Would Could Possibly Happen Next?

There’s a lot that could happen next. We wouldn't be surprised if Carmy ends up staying away from the kitchen, but where does that leave everyone else?

With Marcus named as a new chef, his new career is on the line. Sydney has been wavering about leaving The Bear, but with Carmy putting her in this new position, she might not have a choice, and will have to stay. The restaurant isn’t necessarily sinking anymore, but most of the investors agree that they still feel it needs to close. There are a lot of what-ifs up in the air right now.

There’s also the fact that we could explore a lot more backstories as well. In an interview with Vulture in July 2025, Edwin Lee Gibson said that he would love to explore Ebraheim’s backstory and what makes him, well, him:

We did see a lot more of Ebraheim in Season 4, so it wouldn’t be that shocking if he is featured way more in Season 5.

What are you excited for with The Bear Season 5? All I know is that I’m already dying for all the new food we’re going to see—time to learn all the latest recipes.

It’s once again time to look back at everything we’ve watched so far on the 2025 TV schedule and beyond in order to celebrate and honor the very best that broadcast, cable and streaming platforms have to offer. Or, you know, whatever shows everyone in the TV Academy voted for, even if they don’t square up exactly with audience expectations. That’s right, the 2025 Emmy Awards nominations were announced for the upcoming awards ceremony.

What We Do In the Shadows’ Harvey Guillén and Running Point’s Brenda Song announced this year’s major nominations, but we also rounded up all of the supporting and guest-star noms that were left out of the live video, followed by a smattering of caffeine-fueled reactions and commentary pointing out the biggest snubs and other fun facts.

77th Emmy Awards Quick Facts

• Network: CBS
• Air Date: Sunday, September 14
• Air Time: 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT
• Host: Comedian Nate Bargatze

Welcome, TV Lovers And Award Show Fanatics!

The Emmy nominations are almost always a hurried and harried affair, so let's make sure we have all our much-needed items nearby to help us make it through the morning.

Coffee? Check.
More coffee? Check.
The rest of the coffee? Check.

Well, that was quicker than expected. So let's take a look at the first of two categories already announced this morning.

Outstanding Reality Competition Program

• The Amazing Race
• RuPaul’s Drag Race
• Survivor
• Top Chef
• The Traitors

MY PREDICTION: The Traitors

Outstanding Talk Series

• The Daily Show
• Jimmy Kimmel Live!
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

MY PREDICTION: The Daily Show, which has won the past two years of the "post-John Oliver winning every year" era

It's Go Time

Big props to Chairman Cris Abrego for kicking things off. He gets my nomination for whatever this would be nominated for.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie

• Colin Farrell, “The Penguin”
• Stephen Graham, “Adolescence”
• Jake Gyllenhaal, "Presumed Innocent"
• Brian Tyree Henry, “Dope Thief”
• Cooper Koch, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”

MY PREDICTION: Stephen Graham

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie

• Cate Blanchett, “Disclaimer”
• Meaghann Fahy “Sirens”
• Rashida Jones, “Black Mirror”
• Cristin Milioti, “The Penguin”
• Michelle Williams, “Dying for Sex”

MY PREDICTION: Michelle Williams

Outstanding Limited Series

• Adolescence
• Black Mirror
• Dying for Sex
• Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
• The Penguin

MY PREDICTION: Adolescence

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy

• Uzo Aduba, “The Residence”
• Kristen Bell, “Nobody Wants This”
• Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”
• Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”
• Jean Smart, “Hacks”

Nobody celebrates an Emmy nomination quite like Kristen Bell, whose hubby Dax Shepard captured her mostly nude reaction to the news.

MY PREDICTION: Jean Smart

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy

• Adam Brody, “Nobody Wants This”
• Seth Rogen, “The Studio”
• Jason Segel, “Shrinking”
• Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”
• Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”

MY PREDICTION: Seth Rogen

Outstanding Comedy Series

• Abbott Elementary
• The Bear
• Hacks
• Nobody Wants This
• Only Murders in the Building
• Shrinking
• The Studio
• What We Do in the Shadows

MY PREDICTION: The Studio

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama

• Kathy Bates, “Matlock”
• Sharon Horgan, “Bad Sisters”
• Britt Lower, “Severance”
• Bella Ramsey, “The Last of Us”
• Keri Russell, “The Diplomat”

MY PREDICTION: Britt Lower

But for all that I'd love to see the Severance co-star take home the gold, I'm quite enamored by Kathy Bates' humbled reaction to her nomination, and who doesn't love Kathy Bates?

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama

• Sterling K. Brown, “Paradise”
• Gary Oldman, “Slow Horses”
• Pedro Pascal, “The Last of Us”
• Adam Scott, “Severance”
• Noah Wyle, “The Pitt”

MY PREDICTION: Sterling K. Brown

Outstanding Drama Series

• Andor
• The Diplomat
• The Last of Us
• Paradise
• The Pitt
• Severance
• Slow Horses
• The White Lotus

MY PREDICTION: Severance

Additional Limited Series & TV Movie Nominations

I'm not sure if it's just me, or if everyone else also always believes that the prior year's Emmy nominations were spread out and timed better. With zero supporting performer categories being addressed in the live announcement, I'm going to run through those as well for the major categories.

Outstanding TV Movie

• Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
• The Gorge
• Mountainhead (MY PREDICTION)
• Nonnas
• Rebel Ridge

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie

• Erin Doherty, “Adolescence”
• Ruth Negga “Presumed Innocent”
• Deirdre O’Connell, “The Penguin” (MY PREDICTION)
• Chloë Sevigny, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”
• Jenny Slate, “Dying for Sex”
• Christine Tremarco, “Adolescence”

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie

• Javier Bardem, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" (MY PREDICTION)
• Bill Camp “Presumed Innocent”
• Owen Cooper, “Adolescence”
• Rob Delaney, “Dying for Sex”
• Peter Sarsgaard, “Presumed Innocent”
• Ashley Walters, “Adolescence”

Additional Comedy Series Nominations

Same deal here for the Comedy noms.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy

• Liza Colón-Zayas, “The Bear”
• Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks” (MY PREDICTION)
• Kathryn Hahn, “The Studio”
• Janelle James, “Abbott Elementary”
• Catherine O’Hara, “The Studio”
• Sheryl Lee Ralph, “Abbott Elementary”
• Jessica Williams, “Shrinking”

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy

• Ike Barinholtz, “The Studio” (MY PREDICTION)
• Colman Domingo “The Four Seasons”
• Harrison Ford, “Shrinking”
• Jeff Hiller, “Somebody Somewhere”
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”
• Michael Urie, “Shrinking”
• Bowen Yang, “Saturday Night Live”

Shrinking stars Harrison Ford, Michael Urie and Jessica Williams shared celebratory texts after their respective nominations were announced, making me want to hang out with that squad even more than I already did.

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series

• Olivia Colman, “The Bear”
• Jamie Lee Curtis, "The Bear"
• Cynthia Erivo, "Poker Face"
• Robby Hoffman, “Hacks”
• Zoë Kravitz, "The Studio"
• Julianne Nicholson, "Hacks" (MY PREDICTION)

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

• Jon Bernthal, "The Bear”
• Bryan Cranston, "The Studio" (MY PREDICTION)
• Dave Franco, “The Studio”
• Ron Howard, "The Studio"
• Anthony Mackie, “The Studio”
• Martin Scorsese, "The Studio"

Additional Drama Series Nominations

Stop me if you've heard this one....we're looking at the unmentioned Drama categories.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama

• Patricia Arquette, “Severance”
• Carrie Coon, “The White Lotus”
• Julianne Nicholson, “Paradise”
• Parker Posey, “The White Lotus” (MY PREDICTION)
• Natasha Rothwell, “The White Lotus”
• Aimee Lou Wood, “The White Lotus”

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama

• Zach Cherry, “Severance”
• Walton Goggins, “The White Lotus”
• Jason Isaacs, “The White Lotus”
• James Marsden, “Paradise”
• Sam Rockwell, “The White Lotus”
• Tramell Tillman, “Severance” (MY PREDICTION)
• John Turturro, “Severance”

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama

• Jane Alexander, "Severance"
• Gwendoline Christie, "Severance" (MY PREDICTION)
• Kaitlin Dever, "The Last Of Us"
• Cherry Jones, "The Handmaid's Tale"
• Catherine O'Hara, "The Last Of Us"
• Merritt Wever, "Severance"

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama

• Giancarlo Esposito, “The Boys”
• Scott Glenn, “The White Lotus”
• Shawn Hatosy, “The Pitt”
• Joe Pantoliano, “The Last Of Us” (MY PREDICTION)
• Forest Whitaker, “Andor”
• Jeffrey Wright, “The Last Of Us“

Praise Kier For All These Severance Nominations!

Holy ORTBO, people! One of the biggest winners of the day is already Severance, even months before the actual awards get handed out. If anyone was worried about the Apple TV+ drama not making much of an impact after a three-year absence, the whopping 27 Emmy nominations is proof that this show is a critical darling of the highest order.

Season 2 earned NINE acting nominations — Jane Alexander, Patricia Arquette, Zach Cherry, Gwendoline Christie, Britt Lower, Adam Scott, Tramell Tillman, John Turturro, and Merritt Wever — and the other 18 nods were across a variety of different categories. From various Picture Editing nods to a pair of Outstanding Direction noms to ones for stunts, music composition, visual effects and more.

Oh yeah, and Outstanding Drama Series, the biggest award of the night. I'm a huge Severance obsessive, so if the show wins all 27 awards, I would come away happy. (And also confused, since several of the nominated talents are competing against each other in the same category, and thus would make it impossible for all 27 to win, but nothing is impossible at Lumon.)

2025 Emmys By (Some Of) The Numbers

As it normally goes, a bulk of the Emmy nominations went to a relatively limited number of shows. But it wasn't just the same three shows this year, even though past behemoths like Hacks and The Bear are still showing up in a big way. Let's look at some of the more interesting stats to be culled from this year's noms.

• Shows With The Most Nominations
  • Severance - 27
  • The Penguin - 24
  • The Studio - 23
  • The White Lotus - 23
  • The Last Of Us - 16
  • Hacks - 14
  • Andor - 14
  • Adolescence - 13
  • The Bear - 13
  • The Pitt - 13
• Networks / Streaming Platforms With The Most Nominations
  • HBO / HBO Max - 142
  • Netflix - 120
  • Apple TV+ - 79
  • ABC - 37
  • FX on Hulu - 35
  • NBC - 29
  • Disney+ - 28
  • CBS - 26
  • Hulu - 23
  • Peacock - 19

While so many accolades go to shows that have been on the air for years, I'm always intrigued by which completely new series end up getting nominated across the categories, since it means those shows went above and beyond to capture everyone's attention spans. This year is no exception, either. Check out some of the biggest wins amongst freshman TV shows, not counting limited series.

• Most Nominations For New Shows
  • The Studio - 23
  • The Pitt - 13
  • The Residence - 4
  • Mid-Century Modern - 4
  • Nobody Wants This. - 3
  • The Diplomat. - 3
  • Agatha All Along - 3
  • The Four Seasons - 1
  • Matlock - 1
  • Pop Culture Jeopardy! - 1
  • The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives - 1
  • Bad Thoughts - 1

A Few Quick Takes From CinemaBlend's Riley Utley

When asked to talk about some of her most positive takeaways from the Emmy nominations, she first gave credit to the voters for letting surprises into Drama's Supporting Actor category:

Another big plus in Riley's book? The love showered onto the acclaimed limited series Dying for Sex. Here's what she had to say:

Expect to hear a bit more from Riley when it comes to snubs.

POLL: Let Us Know What Show You Think Should Win Outstanding Drama Series

Since I've already shared my impulsive predictions for what actors and series will win when the Emmys air in September, let me get YOUR thoughts on what should win for Outstanding Drama series.

POLL: Let Us Know What Show You Think Should Win Outstanding Comedy Series

Second verse, same as the first. Or in this case: Second poll, same as...the first...roll. Ugh. Everyone forget what was just said, and answer the poll below!

The 6 Most Glaring Drama TV Snubs From The 2025 Emmy Nominations

Even with all the Severance nominations at play, I could still spend the next 10-15 minutes yapping about all the parts of the show that didn't get attention for. But none of that would readily count as a snub, so let's take a look at some of the examples that actually count.

In no discernible order:

1. Barely any love for the long-anticipated final season of The Handmaid's Tale or its star/producer Elisabeth Moss. The only nominee for the previous Oustanding Drama winner is Cherry Jones for her guest spot.
2. For all the nominations that The White Lotus did earn, this is the kind of show that's an embarrassment of acting riches where everyone is relegated to Supporting categories. But it's worth pointing out that Michelle Monaghan and Patrick Schwarzenegger were two of the core stars who did not get recognized by the TV Academy.
3. The Pitt's cast readily deserved more acting honors than the three that were announced. Noah Wyle, Katherine LaNasa, and Shawn Hatosy were certainly deserving, but what about other standouts like Fiona Dourif or Tracy Ifeachor or Taylor Dearden? The list goes on.
4. Allison Janney should probably get an automatic Emmy nom anytime she stars in anything, and her work on The Diplomat did not prove to be an exception to that assumption.
5. Somewhat rare is the Outstanding Drama or Comedy series that doesn't earn nominations for any of its lead and supporting actors, while Star Wars Emmy noms are even rarer. But for all that Andor racked up a ton of below-the-line appreciation, the only two performers nominated are Alan Tudyk for Voiceover and Forest Whitaker for Guest Actor.
6. I guess I didn't really expect Yellowjackets to have a ton of sway with Season 3 nominees, but it still feels like a big middle finger to the horror genre.

The 6 Most Glaring Comedy TV Snubs From The 2025 Emmy Nominations

Now let's thumb our nose at the TV Academy voters whose actions led to the following comedy-centric snubs.

1. I get that It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is like Emmy kryptonite and may have a lasting effect on its stars, but I don't understand how Kaitlin Olson missed out on a full trio of nominations. She definitely deserved it for heading up ABC's High Potential, she definitely deserved it for her emotional return to Hacks' fourth season, and she probably deserved it for guest-starring as Sweet Dee in Abbott Elementary's big crossover episode. Get your shit together, dawg.
2. After getting nominated in 2022, 2023 and 2024, Tyler James Williams missed out on his first Emmy nomination since Abbott Elementary began. To me, that’s shocking. One, because he’s remarkable as Gregory, and arguably gave one of his best performances in Season 4, as his relationship with Janine flourished. However, this also highlights a long-standing snub too, as Chris Perfetti was left out once again of the Supporting actor category. So, all around, it’s shocking and disappointing that the actors of Abbott didn’t get nominated. (Written by Riley Utley)
3. Let’s talk about a long-time Emmys oversight: The Righteous Gemstones. Across its four seasons, it has received ten nominations, but none for the major categories, which is a shame. The fourth and final season was remarkable, and while I’m thrilled it picked up six nominations, it should have gotten more. I wish Danny McBride, Bradley Cooper and the cast got nods for their performances. And it 100% should have been a frontrunner for Outstanding Comedy. However, it’s sadly never been a contender. (Written by Riley Utley)

4. I am very pleased that What We Do In The Shadows earned a nomination for Oustanding Comedy for its absolutely superb sixth and final season, but I'll never understand how this cast doesn't get more awards love. If you have Harvey Guillén hosting the nomination announcements, it sure would be nice if he was also listed among them. R.I.P. Guillermo's Emmy dreams.
5. Yes, I'll keep the horror bent going here by endlessly griping that Agatha All Along was completely shut out of any acting categories, while Kathryn Hahn did earn a nomination for her work on The Studio. Certainly well-deserved, but I know somebody put some kind of hex on this shit. Was it Wanda? So jealous.
6. How is Natasha Lyonne not an automatic lock for this category? She's this generation's vape-pluming Jessica Fletcher, and she deserves awards.

CinemaBlend's Laura Hurley Is Hyped For Matlock, Shocked By Pedro Pascal

Before dipping into another list of big snubs, let's turn back to the positive side for some good vibes from CinemaBlend's own Laura Hurley.

Once upon a time, Emmy nominations were full of network TV shows getting awards love, but that changed with the advent of premium cable and streaming dramas. I’m delighted to see that after Kathy Bates took the top prize for Best Actress as the 2025 Critics Choice Awards for her work in CBS’ Matlock, she has officially been nominated for Best Actress in a Drama at the 2025 Emmys. Not only is she the only star representing network TV in a Drama category, but she has made history as the oldest nominee for Best Actress at the age of 77. I’m rooting for network TV to get some love this year, and Kathy Bates has certainly delivered the kinds of performances as Matty Matlock to deserve an Emmy.

The Last of Us finally returned for Season 2 after two years of hiatus, but fans wouldn’t get another full batch of episodes with Pedro Pascal opposite Bella Ramsey. His character, Joel Miller, was killed off in just the second episode, and Pascal would ultimately only be credited with three of the season’s seven episodes. Don’t get me wrong – I cried when Joel was killed off despite thinking I’d pull through without any tears, but I was still surprised to see Pascal nominated for Best Actor in a Drama Series. I’m not predicting that he’ll win up against stiff leading man competition, but I did a double take when I saw him nominated as a lead.

The 3 Most Glaring Limited/Unscripted TV Snubs From The 2025 Emmy Nominations

Now let's cap off our closer look at Emmy snubs with Limited Series and Unscripted categories.

1. I'm not sure what anyone is meant to glean from this, but the fact that both Late Night with Seth Myers and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Kimmel were left out of the Talk Show category's THREE nominations cannot mean great things.
2. Am I wrong for thinking LEGO Masters is still one of the most feel-good reality TV shows out there? Plus, Will Arnett is as great a host as it gets, and he'll be the first, second, and third to agree.
3. Anytime a mainstay nominee like The Voice goes without a nod, it's a shock. And one that leaves the door open for other shows to swoop in.

So don't forget to tune into CBS on Sunday, September 14, to catch the full 2025 Emmy Awards telecast, starting at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Spoilers ahead for The Bear Season 4.

Every streaming service has a few acclaimed megahits, and for those with a Hulu subscription The Bear is definitely on that list. The FX original series is an Emmy-winning success, and recently released the entirety of Season 4 on the streamer. Once again I was a big puddle of tears watching the latest set of episodes, but this time I was crying for joy instead of sadness. Let's break it all down.

Like so many others, I binge-watched The Bear Season 4 as quickly as I could. I expected to be emotionally moved again, but the remarkable way was how the series pivoted. Rather than being anxiety-inducing as I watched beautifully flawed characters come to blows, it felt like the fourth season was one about joy and forgiveness. And as such, seasons-long dramas reached resolutions that truly sparked joy.

The Season 4 finale of The Bear subverted my expectations masterfully, as did a number of other episodes. When Carmy decides to leave the industry, I thought it was going to be a full-on blowout with Richie. And while their conversation started that way, they reached a new understanding about each other... including the big revelation about Jeremy Allen White's character showing up to Mikey's funeral. This reunion was wildly moving, as was Carmy ensuring that his "cousin" was a partner in the titular restaurant.

Everyone from The Bear's cast brings their A-game, especially the stellar ensemble of guest actors. But Jamie Lee Curtis is on another level entirely as flawed Berzatto matriarch Donna. While she's only appeared a handful of times in the four seasons, Curtis created a fully formed, fascinating, and tragic figure. While we saw her most manic side in the iconic episode "Fishes", things have evolved. After feeling too guilty to attend The Bear's opening, she was able to reconnect with Sugar when helping her give birth last season. And in Season 4 her quest for penance, and JLC's truly heartbreaking performance, soars to new heights.

This season Donna was emotionally present, contrite, and begging for a relationship with her son. Carmy and Donna's reunion offers catharsis not only for longtime fans, but especially for those with an intimate understanding of addiction and mental health issues. Donna worked hard on herself and her sobriety, and finally gave Carmen the acknowledgement he so desperately needed. Cue the happy tears.

In almost every instance this season, The Bear weaved when I thought it would dip. Sydney decided not to leave, the restaurant seemed to find its footing, and the various relationships of the show were strengthened. I mean, the Berzattos were even able to survive a wedding without killing each other!

The Bear is streaming in its entirety on Hulu, with Season 4 part of the 2025 TV schedule. Unfortunately, we're left to wait until next season to see if the restaurant manages to survive without its safety net.

Spoilers for Season 4 of The Bear are ahead! If you are not caught up, you can stream the series with a Hulu subscription.

Before the new season of The Bear premiered on the 2025 TV schedule, I was thinking a lot about the episode “Ice Chips.” In that memorable Season 3 installment, we saw Abby Elliott’s Sugar and her mom, Donna (Jamie Lee Curtis), reconcile, and they began to repair their relationship. So, going into Season 4, I wanted the same thing for Carmy. Now, after watching that happen on screen, I’m reflecting back on Elliott’s dream for the Berzattos.

Now, before I watched all of The Bear’s fourth season, I had the chance to interview Abby Elliott. We talked a lot about her big episode from last season, the aforementioned “Ice Chips,” and how it changed Sugar’s life and relationship with her mom. I also asked if she could ever see that kind of healing in the cards for Carmy and their mother. In response, The Bear cast member said:

I couldn’t agree with her more, I want Sugar, Donna and Carmy to find stability too! They all deserve it, and they all clearly care so much for each other. So, I’m with Elliott, I want them to work through their struggles together and come out the other end as a stronger and healthier family.

However, that’s tough. It’s a blunt fact that the relationship between the Berzattos is tense, loud and passionate. While they love big, they also are terrible communicators, and because of that, they can have a hard time expressing their feelings in a healthy way. However, they’re all working really hard to be better.

That’s ultimately what led to Carmy and Donna’s reconciliation this season. In Episode 9, Jeremy Allen White’s character finally had a full and healthy conversation with his mother after they ran into each other at the wedding in Episode 7.

It was beautiful too. Jeremy Allen White’s character cooked for his mom, she read her apology to him, and it felt like they took a massive leap in their healing journey. Now, with Season 5 of The Bear on the way, hopefully we can see Carmy, Donna and Sugar together as a stable and happy family.

However, after Carmy chose to leave the restaurant in the Season 4 finale, I can’t help but wonder if that will put a new strain on his relationships. While he plans to stick around until the restaurant is stable, I can’t help but wonder how everyone will feel about this choice long-term. Will there be resentment? Will they all accept it? Will they help the chef find his purpose and spark again?

The answer is unclear. However, no matter what happens, I hope the Berzattos are able to find “stability” and support each other through whatever life throws their way.

FX's The Bear has officially returned for Season 4 in the 2025 TV schedule, continuing the pattern of releasing one season per year. The full season is available now for anybody with a Hulu subscription, and enough time has passed for a binge-watch. That said, I'm not going to drop spoilers here, because we're not here for the latest trials and tribulations of Jeremy Allen White's Carmy. We're here because sitcom vets and St. Denis Medical co-stars Wendi McLendon-Covey and David Alan Grier weighed in on the hottest question each awards season: is The Bear really a comedy?

The series really started its trend of cleaning up at awards show at the 2023 Emmys, when The Bear swept the categories of Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy (Jeremy Allen White), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy (Ayo Edebiri), Outstanding Directing for a Comedy (Christopher Storer), and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy (Christopher Storer).

Considering that even diehard fans of The Bear may freely admit to coming away from episodes feeling sad and stressed due to what Carmy and Co. go through, is it any wonder that controversy stirs up every time the very dramatic series beats out traditional sitcoms in comedy categories? Well, the topic came up between Wendi McLendon-Covey and David Alan Grier when I spoke to them as a duo during the press junket for NBC's lovely St. Denis Medical mockumentary.

After reacting to their freshman sitcom scoring two Critics Choice Awards nominations after just four episodes had aired, I noted that it was great to see a network TV show getting some awards love instead of a sweep of streaming and/or cable nominations. They responded by bringing up The Bear themselves:

• David Alan Grier: "It's a big marketplace. I mean, there's so much great TV. I spend a lot of time going, 'What's a comedy, what's a drama?' [To Wendi] Like White Lotus is a comedy, you were telling me, right? And then say, Saturday Night Live is like a drama."
• Wendi McLendon-Covey: [laughs] "Yeah, if we're running this as, you know, 'Oh, 30 minutes are all considered comedies.' I don't know. I've never cried harder than I have when watching The Bear. Are we still calling that a comedy?"
• David Alan Grier: "I gotta look it up. I do have to look it up sometimes. What is it described as?"

The two actors were laughing throughout and didn't show any animosity towards The Bear for its success, but it says something that these two questioned its comedy status. Wendi McLendon-Covey was fresh off of more than 200 episodes of ABC's The Goldbergs when she joined NBC's St. Denis Medical, which came after more than a hundred episodes of Reno 911 as a very different kind of mockumentary.

As for David Alan Grier, he's been all over TV comedy throughout his career, including Dad Stop Embarrassing Me! on Netflix with Jamie Foxx, The Cool Kids, The Carmichael Show, and – of course – more than a hundred episodes of In Living Color. These two know their way around cracking jokes that hit on network television!

McLendon-Covey got a bit more serious to share her thoughts on network TV making a bit of a comeback, in light of St. Denis Medical scoring those two Critics Choice nominations for Best Comedy Series and David Alan Grier as Best Actor in a Comedy Series. She said:

While St. Denis Medical ultimately didn't win a CCA, the comedy that proved the mockumentary format is still popular will be back for a second season. The Season 1 finale packed an emotional punch for Alex in particular, but there's no reason to believe that the full cast won't be back for Season 2 on NBC.

So, if you want to check out a show that is 100% unambiguously a comedy, you can find Wendi McLendon-Covey and David Alan Grier's St. Denis Medical streaming with a Peacock subscription now. As for The Bear... well, whether it should be classified as a comedy or not, you can find all four seasons so far streaming on Hulu.

Working at Saturday Night Live has its major pros. However, it's no secret that it's also really hard, and the pressure to perform is real. So, while I was chatting with SNL alum Abby Elliott, she got real about her time on the sketch comedy show and the challenges she faced.

Ahead of Season 4 of The Bear premiering on the 2025 TV schedule, I had the chance to interview Abby Elliott, who plays Sugar. While most folks likely know her for this role now, she’s also very well known for her four-season run on Saturday Night Live. So, when I asked her about a personal experience that compared to the pressure the characters face this season on the FX hit, she threw it back to her time on the NBC show and got real about why it was so hard, saying:

This all makes a ton of sense, too. SNL is notoriously hard to work on. There’s no shortage of stories about it. In fact, Chloe Fineman’s advice for new SNL cast members included her saying you feel like you’re “thrown into the fire.”

Every week, cast members and writers have to write sketches that will get on the air, but not everything makes it. So, the pressure is on to make sure their work gets onto the show, so they can get their names out there and keep producing content for SNL. It's a relentless and fast cycle, and I can see why she talked about this time when I asked her about a life experience that compares to The Bear characters facing a hard deadline to save their restaurant in Season 4.

To that point, Elliott, who is one of the youngest SNL cast members, as she joined the show at 21, told me that the pressure on top of the relationships she had to build in a competitive environment was difficult:

Saturday Night Live takes a toll, that’s no secret, and Abby Elliott’s point proves that.

However, it’s also an environment comedians thrive in, and it serves as a valuable foundation for them to build their careers. That was certainly the case with Elliott. She was on the show for four seasons between 2008 and 2012, and after 81 episodes, she left and has had a fantastic career.

Now, she’s one of the stars on The Bear, and she’s killing it as Sugar in that high-pressure environment as well. To see her in that show, you can watch The Bear with a Hulu subscription. If you want to go back and see her on Saturday Night Live, you can stream old seasons with a Peacock subscription.

Spoilers for The Bear’s Season 4 finale are ahead! You can stream the show in its entirety with a Hulu subscription.

The second I finished binge-watching Season 4 of The Bear after it dropped on the 2025 TV schedule, I was left with a lot to think about. The clock ran out of time, and it’s unclear how the restaurant will stay open. However, the biggest bombshell to me came when Jeremy Allen White’s Carmy told Ayo Edebiri’s Sydney that he’d taken his name off the partnership agreement and planned to leave.

Now, on the one hand, it’s clear Carmy needs to find his spark, and maybe the best way to do that is to put restaurants behind him. However, he also has a tendency to run away when he probably shouldn't. And after seeing him debate this all with Sydney in the finale, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about what the right choice is.

On The One Hand, Carmy Needs To Deal With His Baggage And Find His Spark

While watching Season 4 of The Bear, I kept thinking about Carmy’s declaration to Mikey in the opening flashback regarding his dream of making a peaceful and joyful restaurant. Clearly, he hasn't done that, and this season, while on a quest to heal, he started to question if his work was worth it.

Seeing him find some semblance of a spark again outside the restaurant as he cooked for his mom and rekindled his relationship with Claire brought me immense joy. It also showed that Carmy was moving toward grappling with his demons and healing.

So, when he took his name off the agreement, I got where he was coming from. He wanted to take himself out to find himself, and he was aware of the trouble he’d inflicted on The Bear. He was attempting to remove the “hurdles” for everyone he loves, as well as himself.

However, He Also Can’t Run Away From His Problems

Now, after learning Sydney’s true feelings about her future in Episode 4 of The Bear’s fourth season, and seeing her go back and forth about leaving or staying, I get why she was distraught by Carmy’s choice. He’s the reason they’re all in this beautiful mess; the restaurant was his idea. Losing him would mean losing a key player in this business as well as a member of their family.

Sydney also sees this as another example of him self-sabotaging and sprinting away from his problems, as she yelled through tears:

Jeremy Allen White’s character has a track record of running away from things, and that’s not the right answer. Therefore, maybe he should stick around The Bear and find a way to love this all again.

For days now, I’ve been going back and forth about who is right here. On the one hand, Carmy has a point; if he’s lost his passion, he should go find it. He's got baggage he needs to work through, and taking a moment to reflect and heal could be great for him and everyone in his life. However, on the other hand, he’s the man behind The Bear, and most importantly, his family works there. If he leaves, he’d be running away...again.

Now, when the season ended, it was decided that the agreement would have Sydney, Richie and Nat’s names on it, and Carmy would stay until the restaurant was on solid ground. So, if the show gets a Season 5, I’d imagine Jeremy Allen White would still be in The Bear cast, and there’d be more discussion about whether Carmy should continue cooking or not.

I know I need them to keep this conversation going, because I don’t think there’s one perfect answer. This is a complex mess, and I see everyone’s points. So, hopefully, the debate can continue…

Spoilers for Episode 4 of The Bear’s fourth season are ahead! You can stream the new season in its entirety with a Hulu subscription.

Ahead of The Bear’s Season 4 premiere on the 2025 TV schedule, it was revealed that Ayo Edebiri and Lionel Boyce, who play Sydney and Marcus, respectively, had written an episode. That episode is titled “Worms,” and it’s all about Sydney. So, while speaking with Boyce, I asked him about penning the script for it, and he told me why singular bottle episodes like this allow us to see one of FX and Hulu’s best shows with “fresh eyes.”

In “Worms,” we get a glimpse of Sydney’s life outside The Bear. She goes to get her hair braided in the episode by her cousin Chantel, who is played by Danielle Deadwyler, and throughout its runtime, she debates whether she wants to leave Carmy and co. to work with Adam or stay at The Bear. It’s an eye-opening episode, where we really get a candid and new glimpse into Sydney’s life, and that was the whole goal, as Boyce told me:

Bottle episodes have become a staple part of The Bear. In Season 2, we got to see Richie reach new heights in “Forks,” and Marcus went to Copenhagen in “Honeydew.” In Season 3, we got a glimpse into Tina’s personal life in “Napkins,” and we spent an episode in the hospital with Sugar as she gave birth in “Ice Chips.” With each episode, we were able to develop a new and deeper understanding of each character, and this season, we 100% got that with “Worms” too.

What makes “Worms” even better is that it came directly from the woman who plays Sydney and Lionel Boyce, who is both a co-star and a really good friend of Edebiri.

To Boyce’s point, their story gave us some insight into Sydney’s family, introducing us to Chantel and her teenage daughter, TJ. We get to see Sydney interact with both of them, and when she’s left alone with TJ, we get to learn about a softer, more vulnerable side of the chef as she works through which restaurant to work at via a sleepover comparison.

For the first time, we finally got to see Sydney say everything she was thinking about this career decision and the true deep struggle she’s been having with it. As Boyce said, going back, this knowledge makes me view her actions a bit differently, and it 100% informed my understanding of Sydney’s choices in the back half of Season 4 as she chose to continue working at The Bear.

When I asked the Marcus actor about working on this episode with the Sydney actress, he noted that it was “a really cool experience,” and it helped him realize how much he knows about this show and these characters. So, getting to work on the show in a totally new way was fantastic, as he explained:

He also told me that working with Ayo Edebiri meant a lot too, because they’ve become such good friends and she’s someone he would like to “collaborate with for the rest of [his] career.”

In the end, these two members of The Bear cast wrote a miraculous episode of television. And like Boyce said, it does allow us all to see both Sydney and the show as a whole with “fresh eyes.” So, to go back and see if that’s true for you, you can stream the series in full with a Hulu subscription.

The Bear is back for Season 4 on the 2025 TV schedule, and that means we get to watch all the kitchen chaos while also staring at so much delicious food. So, in preparation for that, I asked some of the cast about getting to eat the food on set. Along with explaining how they really do get to taste everything that’s made on The Bear, they revealed their all-time favorite dishes, too.

Abby Elliott Explained That They Get To Eat Everything On The Bear

In the lead-up to the Season 4 premiere of one of Hulu’s best shows, I interviewed Abby Elliott, who plays Sugar. During our chat, I asked her about all the delicious food we see on the series, and she told me that they get to eat a lot of the dishes seen on screen:

If I were in that Chicago kitchen, you better believe I’d be eating everything too. Just watching The Bear with a Hulu subscription makes my mouth water. So, if I were actually there, I’d need to try everything, and after hearing the cast’s favorite dishes, that statement became even more passionate.

Abby Elliott, Lionel Boyce And Liza Colón-Zayas Told Me Their Favorite Dishes They’ve Eaten On Set

So, after learning that Elliott will try everything Courtney Storer makes, she divulged her favorite dish. Noting that she’s a “sucker for caviar,” she said:

Along with that, the SNL alum told me that Sydney’s iconic Boursin omelet went “unappreciated” by her at the time because she was pregnant and had an aversion to eggs. However, she’s since tried it again, and she told me “it’s unbelievable,” which I 1,000% believe.

Those two examples alone show off the range of dishes made for The Bear, and I’m about to prove that range again. While talking to Lionel Boyce, who plays beloved pastry chef Marcus on the show, I asked him about his favorite dish, too. In response, he told me about a king crab dish and a dessert focaccia that I need to taste ASAP:

However, my favorite answer from The Bear cast came from Liza Colón-Zayas, who plays Tina on the show. She threw it back to the OG dish when I asked her about the best food she’s eaten on the show, explaining:

I can’t help but daydream about eating one of those beef sandwiches whenever I watch the FX series, and I’d pay big money to actually try them. They look delectable!

Overall, I truly just want to try everything that’s concocted in The Bear’s kitchen, and I’m so happy that the cast gets to truly savor and enjoy it. It all looks marvelous, and maybe someday we’ll get to feast on these delicacies like these actors have over the last four seasons.

There’s a lot to love about FX’s The Bear, which is about to debut its fourth season amid the 2024 TV schedule. One of the best elements of the restaurant-centric show is the scrumptious-looking food that’s frequently showcased. Based on social media reactions following Season 2’s release, mouths were watering after “Omelette,” an episode that sees a character making the titular delicacy. Cast member Abby Elliott’s character enjoyed the meal, but, as the actress herself explained to CinemaBlend, she had a different experience,

During “Omelette,” Abby Elliott’s Natalie (or Sugar) – who’s pregnant – gets wrapped up in a busy work day at the eponymous restaurant. Following a conversation with Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri), Sugar reveals that she hasn’t eaten anything, after which Syd offers to make her something. That’s when the skilled chef uses eggs, Boursin cheese, chives and sour cream & onion chips. As great as the omelet looked, Elliott told CinemaBlend’s own Riley Utley the understandable reason why the food went “unappreciated” by her at the time:

So it turns out it was Abby Elliott’s actual pregnancy that impacted her ability to enjoy the food. Of course, it’s far from unheard of for someone who’s pregnant to not find certain foods all that appealing. It’s just ironic that, in Elliott’s case, she was prevented from enjoying what I have no problem saying is the most pristine omelette I’ve ever seen. Still, I’m glad the SNL alum was able to prepare the dish at a later time and enjoy it. Those who want to see it for themselves can check out the clip below:

It never ceases to amaze me just how great the food on The Bear looks episode by episode. One of my favorite showcases of fine cuisine on the show is Season 2’s “Sundae,” which sees Syd visiting different restaurants across Chicago and trying different dishes. What I’m also consistently impressed by is the work of much of the cast, who play chefs and do work with culinary producers in order to cook the food. Considering what the series has delivered thus far, I’m hoping to see even more good-looking meals amid the upcoming episodes.

Speaking of The Bear Season 4, the trailers suggest that Syd, Carmy, Richie and co. are about to face one of the biggest challenges of their careers. They’re going to have to make the restaurant profitable within a fixed period of time, or it’ll be shut down for good. Expectations are no doubt high for the new installments of the Emmy-winning show, which some fans believe stumbled a bit in its third season. Any of those thoughts aside, I’m pumped for what’s to come (and hoping that Sweeps gets his due).

Of course, I’m also excited to see what lies ahead for Abby Elliott’s Sugar this year. I’d imagine that as the restaurant’s business manager, she’s going to be under quite a bit of strain, and let’s not forget the fact that she and husband Pete now have a baby at home. Hopefully, Natalie doesn’t get too overwhelmed and takes a minute or two to kick back and enjoy an exceptional meal or two. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to grab some eggs, potato chips and more to make one of those omelets for myself.

All episodes of The Bear Season 4 will be streamable, starting on June 25 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT so, if you want to check it out, grab a Hulu subscription.

The Bear Season 4 is nearly upon us, which means fans of the hit FX show will be able to check in with Carmy Berzatto, Sydney Adamu, Richie Jerimovich and the rest of the gang at the titular restaurant. One of the reasons the show has been such a fan favorite – and is currently a marquee title on the 2025 TV schedule – is its vast assortment of great characters. The downside to the presence of such a great ensemble, though, is that not everyone gets a major arc, and I’m really hoping that changes for one character.

One Of The Bear’s Veteran Characters Has Yet To Receive His Time In The Sun

Gary Woods (a.k.a. Sweeps) has been on The Bear since the first season debuted in 2022. Played by Corey Hendrix, the character is established as a runner at the show’s eponymous eatery. What viewers also learn amid Season 1 is that Sweeps’ nickname is derived from the baseball career he had. When he was younger, he played for the Chicago Cubs’ farm team, at which point he was homeless. He did find some success, however, as he notably “swept St. Louis three times and had a no-hitter.”

Season 3 reveals a major detail about Sweeps’ stint in the minor leagues. His career came to a screeching halt due to steroid use, as Gary apparently didn’t realize he’d been given a banned substance. At the same time, Sweeps ultimately moves up as the restaurant is transformed into a refined establishment and is named a sommelier.

When given some screen time, Hendrix effectively portrays his character, and I’d say he’s one of the most under-appreciated members of The Bear’s cast. Sweeps – and by extension Hendrix – just hasn’t been given enough and that’s a shame given that main characters (like Tina and Marcus) and even recurring characters (like Teddy and “Uncle” Jimmy) get so much to work with. The show’s writers have put some intriguing pieces in place for Sweeps’ characterization, and I have ideas for how they could use them.

How Could The Bear Better Utilize Sweeps During Season 4 (And Possibly Beyond)?

On a basic level, I’d just love to see Sweeps have a bit more agency at the restaurant. Much of the series features various characters trying to bring different approaches to the table in order to help the business run smoothly. Many of those ideas are shaped by the staffers’ personal experiences (i.e. Carmy’s culinary training and Richie’s time at Ever). Given his past, I’d love to see Sweeps translate his experience as an athlete into a method or ideal that his colleagues can use.

An even better scenario would be for an entire episode devoted to Gary to be produced. That would fall in line with episodes like “Forks” and “Napkins”, which center on specific characters (and have been critically acclaimed). Whether it be an installment set in the past or the present, I’d be game, though I admit that the chances of that happening for Sweeps are slim. Still, given that Season 4’s official trailer showed a brief glimpse of Sweeps in a batting cage, maybe his time in the sun will come. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Of course, there’s much more to consider as the new season swiftly approaches. The Bear is now officially on a timetable, and the staff must make it profitable in order to avoid being shut down. Series creator Christopher Storer and his team are going to need to step it up, especially after a number of fans found aspects of Season 3 (including its finale) to be disappointing. Let’s hope that like the characters on the show, the creative team rises to the occasion – and gives Sweeps more to do in the process.

The Bear Season 4 will be released in its entirety on June 25, so be sure you have a Hulu subscription so that you’ll be able to check it out. Prepare yourself by at least streaming the third season, which is a stressful binge.

Jeremy Allen White is, without question, one of the hottest actors in Hollywood right now. From headlining a Bruce Springsteen biopic to joining the Star Wars franchise, he's finding quite a bit of success. Amid all of that, though, he remains particularly recognizable for his role on FX's The Bear. It's hard to imagine he could appear in public somewhere like Chicago (which is where the show takes place and is filmed) without getting swarmed by fans. As a viral video shows, though, he knows how to artfully dodge fan encounters.

It's definitely not uncommon for fans to come across actors out in the wild, and said stars handle those interactions in a myriad of ways. When it comes to Jeremy Allen White, he previously discussed the frustration of being trailed by paparazzi and fans, but it appears he has developed a way to handle it. Check out this video and how he responded to someone in a restaurant who might've suspected they just crossed paths with an A-list actor:

That may be the best acting I've seen since I last used my Hulu subscription to watch Jeremy Allen White do his thing. Ideally, this may be the best-case scenario for the actor, as he acknowledged the statement made by the restaurant patron and was able to make a quick exit before the conversation proceeded any further.

Some people may be tempted to call White out for gaslighting the person, assuming he was just someone who looked like the celebrity, rather than being the actual celebrity. At the same time, though, imagine being someone who can't just do something like enjoy a normal meal out on the town without feeling obligated to be kind and take photos with strangers you don't even know. For me, that would be frustrating to deal with constantly, and I don't think we as non-celebrities appreciate it enough when stars do go out of their way to remain kind to people who approach them in public.

There's a firm chance Jeremy Allen White isn't the first celebrity to employ this tactic. I think one of the biggest advantages actors have when they appear in public is that most people aren't expecting to run into them during their day-to-day lives. I'm not sure if the person talking to White actually knew who he was or not, or he couldn't be sure and asked a leading question to confirm. In any case, White took the question and ran with it and, even if the guy knew it was the Bear actor, it's clear that the star himself wasn't trying to stick around.

As the new season of The Bear nears, White is keeping busy. His Bruce Springsteen biopic is set for the schedule of upcoming 2025 movies and, as for his role in The Mandalorian and Grogu, that movie is set to hit theaters in 2026. Jeremy Allen White's star is certainly rising, which is arguably why he receives so much attention. And, should he continue to get stopped in public, I'd like to think he'll use that little trick whenever he can.

The Bear Season 4 is set to drop on Hulu on Wednesday, June 25th. I still need to catch up on this series, and am hoping that with network TV shows slowing down over the summer, I'll get a chance to and see what all the hype is about.

Sometimes, you get to a point where you need a new show to binge – and thankfully, there are plenty of great dramas out there that are readily available. Whether it’s some of the best shows to binge on Netflix or some of the best HBO shows out there, there are so many dramas that you can dive right into. Here are some of the best that I would recommend.

Yellowstone (2018 – 2024)

Running for five seasons, Yellowstone is one of those neo-Western dramas that just exploded when it first came out. The series follows the lives of those who live on a large cattle ranch – the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch – as well as the Broken Rock Indian reservation and the land developers who want to take it all away. I can literally think of no other drama to dive headfirst into other than this one.

Narcos (2015 – 2017)

Narcos, a Netflix series with three seasons, follows the story of Pablo Escobar, a real-life drug lord, and how he became the legend we all know him as. Season 3 follows the aftermath of his defeat. As someone who loves a good crime drama, I think this show is one of the best to sink your teeth into.

Game Of Thrones (2011 – 2019)

There is no better cast out there than the Game of Thrones cast, and you will think the same thing once you watch this series. The legendary HBO show is based on the A Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R.R. Martin. It follows the story of several influential individuals who all look for one thing – to rule Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms, as well as the lives that are taken in the process. With eight seasons, it’s an easy binge.

Outlander (2014 – Present)

Based on the novels of the same name, Outlander takes romance and history and makes it into the steamiest drama that you’re going to love. The series follows the story of a World War II military nurse who is sent back in time to the 1700s and falls in love with a Highland warrior. Yes, this is a legit series, and it takes so many twists and turns that you’ll love every second of it.

The Wire (2002 – 2008)

The Wire is considered one of the best HBO shows of all time, and for good reason. The crime drama is set in Baltimore, Maryland, and each season discusses a new part of the city and how it’s related to the legal system there, from education to drugs. While it’s shocking that the series never won Best Drama at the Emmys, it’s still an incredible show, one that deserves so much praise.

Stranger Things (2016 – Present)

While plenty see Stranger Things as sci-fi (for good reasons), it is, at its core, a fun drama that features some really cool mysteries. The series begins in the 1980s with Will Byers going missing and his mother and friends trying to find him in a town full of secrets. The series itself is one of Netflix’s biggest hits, so it’s certainly worth the time to watch.

The Bear (2022 – Present)

I legitimately don’t care what people say. This show is way more drama than comedy, and I stand by that. The Bear follows the story of a young chef who travels back to Chicago in order to save his brother’s restaurant after he passes and tries to turn it into a fine-dining restaurant. The series has an incredible The Bear cast and is constantly nominated for so many awards. It’s so good.

Ozark (2017 – 2022)

Over four seasons, Ozark follows a married couple as they move to the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri to launder money for the Mexican drug cartel. However, as they arrive, they run into trouble that turns their lives upside down. The series was a huge hit on Netflix and earned plenty of praise during its run.

Silo (2023 – Present)

One of the best Apple TV+ shows will have you on the edge of your seat. Silo, which is based on the trilogy of novels Wool, Shift, and Dust, follows the story of a community that somehow lives in a vast underground silo that has 144 levels and the conflicts that arrive in this dystopian world.

Lost (2004 – 2010)

When we think of dramas, Lost certainly tops the list. The series, which aired for six seasons, follows the lives of plane passengers who survive a crash on a distant island. However, they start to realize that this place is not a typical island and that there are deadly forces at work. While the Lost finale is highly discussed as one of the worst out there, the rest of the series is great to watch.

House Of The Dragon (2022 – Present)

If you love Game of Thrones, chances are you’ll enjoy House of the Dragon as well. The series, based on the novel Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin, focuses on the story of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen and how she fights for the throne in the legendary Dance of Dragons when her half-brother takes it. It’s undoubtedly one of the best fantasy shows right now.

Peaky Blinders (2013 – 2022)

Starring Cillian Murphy as the iconic Tommy Shelby, Peaky Blinders is a period crime drama that follows the lives of the Peaky Blinders crime gang and their rise to power in Birmingham after World War I.

Bridgerton (2020 – Present)

If you’re looking for a romantic drama to dive into, then Bridgerton is the one for you. With three seasons (so far), the series follows the lives of the Bridgerton children back in the 1800s in England, with each season focusing on a new romance filled with scandalous drama and steamy moments.

Squid Game (2021 – Present)

Squid Game is hands down the biggest Netflix show of all time, and for good reason. This drama, hailing from South Korea, tells the story of a group of competitors who all play children’s games in order to win a large amount of money – but the competition takes a deadly twist when people are literally eliminated from life when they lose the games.

The Walking Dead (2011 – 2022)

The Walking Dead was, at one point, one of the biggest shows on television, and as someone who has watched all eleven seasons of The Walking Dead, I still think it’s a great series to dive into. Based on the comics of the same name, the show mainly follows Rick Grimes, a former cop, who leads his group of survivors as zombies – known as “walkers” – take over the world.

Yellowjackets (2021 – Present)

Yellowjackets is hands down one of the best Showtime shows, and I will always recommend it to anyone who wants to dive right into it. The series follows two timelines—one in which a high school soccer team must survive in the Canadian wilderness when their plane crashes over the mountains and do whatever it takes to make it out alive, and the other decades later, where the survivors are still dealing with the consequences of their actions.

The Last Of Us (2023 – Present)

If you want to talk about the best video game adaptations out there, I can think of nothing better than The Last of Us. Based on the video game franchise of the same name, The Last of Us follows Joel Miller, a survivor of a zombie outbreak, who is tasked with getting a teenager across the United States because she might be the cure for the rest of the world.

The Queen’s Gambit (2020)

I only put one miniseries on this list, but trust me when I say The Queen’s Gambit is the best miniseries to dive into. The series, based on the novel of the same name, follows the story of a young woman named Beth Harmon in the 1950s and 60s as she rises to fame as a chess player but also deals with substance abuse. The series was a huge hit and was a career-changing role for star Anya Taylor-Joy.

Barry (2018 – 2023)

I could go on about Barry for years. The series follows the life of a former U.S. Marine who takes on a new job as a hitman, but when he goes to California for a job, he finds himself drawn to the life of an actor and questioning his role in his life. The Barry cast is so talented, and all four seasons are so intense you’ll want to binge it for hours.

Alice In Borderland (2020 – Present)

Japan has always had some amazing dramas to dive into, and one that I love is Alice in Borderland. The series, based on the manga of the same name, follows the lives of two young people who work together to survive dangerous games in Tokyo. If they don’t succeed, they are killed by lasers shot from the sky. Yes, this is an intense drama, but it’s worth every second watching.

Breaking Bad (2008 – 2013)

I have to put Breaking Bad on this list. The famous AMC series follows the life of a high school science teacher who turns to a life of crime in order to provide for his family after his sudden cancer diagnosis. Considered one of the best dramas of all time, Breaking Bad is worth every second watching – and of course, the Breaking Bad cast is incredible as well.

Better Call Saul (2015 – 2022)

If you’ve seen Breaking Bad, then Better Call Saul is the subsequent drama that you should dive into. The series, which is a spinoff of Breaking Bad, follows the beginning years of the iconic lawyer, Saul Goodman, who originally began as Jimmy McGill. But throughout six seasons, we see him fall into a life of crime.

This Is Us (2016 – 2022)

This Is Us is one of those dramas that only comes once in a lifetime because, I swear, there is something that we can all connect to with this show. The series mainly revolves around the lives of three siblings and their connections to each other from across the United States, as well as seeing flashbacks of their past to growing up with their parents. It doesn’t sound like it would be dramatic, but trust me when I say you’ll find something to cry about with this show in the first episode.

The Sopranos (1999 – 2007)

The Sopranos is another great drama that I think everyone thinks of when they hear the word “crime.” The series, which comes from HBO, tells the story of Tony Soprano, a mobster from New Jersey, and how he deals with his personal and professional life with the mob and the problems he runs into.

Black Mirror (2011 – Present)

There are some excellent anthology shows out there, but Black Mirror is the type of drama that will have you on the edge of your seat. The series has different episodes each season, and all of them display some strange dystopian concepts in a not-so-far future that will truly shock and entertain you, from strange afterlives to how we view social media.

All Of Us Are Dead (2022 – Present)

South Korea has some of the best horror shows out there, and one that I will always recommend is All Of Us Are Dead. The series follows a group of high school students who must survive when a zombie outbreak begins within their walls and how they try to communicate to the outside world that they need help.

You (2018 – Present)

Oh, hello there, you. Yes, you, reading this, because surely, you’ll end up being the next thing Joe Goldberg is obsessed with. You is a drama that follows Joe, a seemingly normal man who falls in love way too quickly – and when he loves, he loves hard and will take out whoever threatens that relationship or your life.

Black Doves (2024 – Present)

Starring Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw, Black Doves is the latest spy thriller that will have you on the edge of your seats. The series follows a young woman whose identity is revealed, putting her life in danger. Her employers send an old friend to keep her safe, sending them on a whirlwind espionage adventure.

The Haunting Of Hill House (2018)

There are plenty of Mike Flanagan TV shows to check out on Netflix, but I always recommend The Haunting of Hill House before any of the others. The series alternates between two timelines: one of a family moving into a seemingly normal house with a dark past, and the next day, the family comes back together to face the darkness they had once encountered in their new home.

The Crown (2016 – 2023)

The Crown, which detailed the life of Queen Elizabeth II, had six seasons that followed her rise to become the monarch we all knew her as and how her reign changed as the decades progressed. The series earned several awards and nominations over its six-season run.

Dexter (2006 – 2013)

While plenty of people talk about the Dexter finale, the series itself is still a great drama to drive into. Following the titular character, Dexter is a blood splatter analyst by day and a serial killer by night, who uses his job to find horrible people and take them out as a way to suit his dark urges. But when one other killer starts to challenge him, he decides to take matters into his own hands and end them.

Succession (2018 – 2023)

HBO has been a huge producer of dramas for years, and Succession is hands down one of the best in the last decade. The series follows the Roy family, a hugely successful family that owns an entertainment conglomerate. Their lives are thrown upside down thanks to a health scare from their patriarch. Now, the question of who will own the company after he passes causes drama.

These are just some of the best dramas out there to check out – all of which are great ways to spend a weekend. I think it’s time for another binge. Who’s up for a marathon?

Fans of FX’s The Bear have long wondered if the characters of Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto and Sydney Adamu might become romantically involved at some point. But, now, there’s considerable focus on the real-life relationship between two cast members. Jeremy Allen White, who portrays Carmy, was recently spotted kissing Molly Gordon – who portrays his character’s co-star, Claire. Neither actor has confirmed any sort of romantic relationship, as of this writing. In the meantime, an insider is dropping claims about the pair’s on-set dynamic.

The two actors were spotted locking lips in Los Angeles this past Wednesday. From the outside looking in, this development may be somewhat surprising. However, a source recently spoke to People, saying that they’ve had some solid chemistry for a little while now. And the unnamed individual wasn’t just referring to their work in front of the camera:

Molly Gordon’s Claire Dunlap was introduced during the second season of The Bear as a childhood friend of Carmy’s. The two had long harbored crushes on each other and eventually became a couple during the aforementioned season. That blossoming romance came to a screeching halt in the finale, however, after Claire heard Carmy ranting about their relationship being a waste of time. Throughout Season 3, Carmy and Claire didn’t actually cross paths but their seemingly dissolved romance remained a significant plot thread.

At this point, we can’t speak to the true nature of 33-year-old Jeremy Allen White and 28-year-old Molly Gordon’s relationship. What I can say, though, as a fan of their show, is that they possessed great on-screen chemistry. More recently, it’s said that White “really seems into Molly” right now, which is a sentiment that comes months after the actor was romantically linked to singer Rosalía.

The former Shameless cast member – who also shares two kids with ex-wife Addison Timlin – has reportedly opened up his L.A. abode to Molly Gordon, who lives in New York. As for how those visits apparently play out, the insider had this to say:

While the rumor mill churns on that front, speculation continues to surround The Bear Season 4, which appears set to debut as part of the 2025 TV schedule. A major plot point that fans have unsurprisingly been curious about is the aforementioned will they/won’t they dynamic between Carmy and Claire. In some spaces, there’s also still discussion about Carmy and Sydney hooking up. We’ll have to wait and see how the plot threads unfold as well as whether life ultimately imitates art when it comes to Jeremy Allen White and Molly Gordon.

You can see the two actors as well as the rest of The Bear’s cast by streaming the first three seasons of the show with a Hulu subscription. The 2024 TV schedule can also serve as a guide to those looking for other quality shows to take in during the hit dramedy’s hiatus.

As beloved as The Bear – FX and Hulu’s restaurant-centered series – is, it remains at the center of a major debate. Christopher Storer’s brainchild is classified as a comedy by the Television Academy and other organizations, though many argue that it doesn’t warrant that distinction. With that, many would prefer that it be placed in the drama category. A number of people have been vocal about that, with an SNL even alum recently blasting the show in the process. With all that said, CinemaBlend put together a video that shows how hilarious the series is.

Veteran actress and comedian Laraine Newman – a member of the OG Saturday Night Live cast – took to X (formerly Twitter) ahead of the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, where the Jeremy Allen White-led show ultimately took home four awards. Via her since-deleted post (which was captured by Deadline), Newman didn’t mince words when describing her feeling about the hit series (which is on one of the best streaming services) being pegged as a comedy:

The Coneheads alum wasn’t done after that, as she later tweeted “FUCK. THE. BEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” after the show broke its own record for the number of wins in a single season for a comedy. Despite that, she did share another post that’s still on X, in which she said the FX production was “a great show IMHO,” yet she still asserted that it’s “not a comedy- not even a dark comedy.”

In some ways, the culinary-centric series could best be described as a dramedy, which includes its share of laughs and heavy material. It’s just a question of whether one outweighs the other. While that can definitely be debated, the video we put together (which you can see above) does show that the show does have some truly funny moments. From Richie Jerimovich’s squabbles with his “cousin Carmy Berzatto, Neil Fak and more to Uncle Jimmy’s one-liners, there’s humor to be found, and our video provides just a taste (no pun intended).

While I am admittedly a fan of the dramedy, I can certainly understand the debate over its categorization and have wondered about it myself. Yes, the show is definitely funny at times, but there’s a lot of heavy material, to say the least. Plus, it can also be stressful at times, employing high-energy moments to build tension. (I’m sure some fans are still reeling from the likes of Season 1’s “Review” and Season 2’s “Fishes.”)

None of that chatter stopped The Bear’s cast and crew from becoming 2024 Emmy winners, though. This past Sunday, series lead Jeremy Allen White won the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Co-stars Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Liza Colón-Zayas earned Outstanding Supporting Actor (for the second consecutive time) and Outstanding Supporting Actress. Christopher Storer was a winner as well, as he earned the award for Outstanding Directing. The show also notched seven other awards from the Creative Emmys.

However, the show didn’t win for Outstanding Comedy Series this year, as that honor went to Max’s Hacks, another one of TV’s best comedies. Laraine Newman is the mother of one of that show’s main stars, Hannah Einbinder. I’d say that win was well deserved.

Chances are the discussion surrounding whether The Bear – which is returning for Season 4 – belongs in the “comedy” category will persist, and that’s understandable. Nevertheless, remember that the show does still have its share of funny moments, even beyond those featured in our video. You can check those out for yourself by streaming the show with a Hulu subscription. Also, check out the 2024 TV schedule for other excellent options.

Waiting for a new season of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is always a slog, so it’s great to be at a point where the hyper-talented co-stars can be seen in all kinds of other TV shows and movies in the meantime. Fans like myself are currently waiting for Kaitlin Olson’s new dramedy High Potential to hit the Fall TV schedule, but it was her deserving work on HBO’s Hacks that made Olson one of the 2024 Emmy nominees.

Unfortunately for Hacks fans, when the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series winner was announced at the Creative Arts Emmys ceremony, it wasn’t Olson’s name that was in the envelope, but The Bear’s Jamie Lee Curtis, who won for her Season 3 performance as Carmy’s mom Donna. Ever the gracious nominee, Olson took to Instagram to share her A+ explanation for why she was just fine with losing to Curtis.

Now, there was probably a sincere amount of disappointment involved, as is natural for such an event. But props to Olson for making it through to the other side with her smile intact and a fantastic outlook, albeit a self-deprecating one. She can leave it to fans like me to gripe about how deserving she is.

For all that I understand her work as Dee Reynolds on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is 20% of a do-or-die ensemble, making it slighly more difficult to affirm whether it's a lead or supporting role, can we just agree here and now to nominate her in both categories? She doesn't need to win both, because that would be too much. (The same goes for past Emmy winner Danny DeVito, who deserves more for his work as Frank.)

While the Emmys may have chosen Jamie Lee Curtis, the Hacks Instagram team gave Kaitlin Olson this sweet shout out in the comments:

The comments were filled with loving replies from fans who agree that she's long deserved Emmy noms and wins for her work on Always Sunny and the canceled-too-soon magnificence The Mick. Not to mention compliments for her gorgeous look for the ceremony alongside her adoring co-star and hubby Rob McElhenney.

Of course, McElhenney broke the Emmy curse with the two wins he shared with his fellow producers on Welcome to Wrexham, which won for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program in both 2023 and 2024. It remains to be seen whether that streak will continue, but his smile certainly looks confident enough in Olson's post seen below.

Though the Creative Emmys were already handed out, the Primetime Emmys proper will air on ABC live on Sunday, September 15, and will be available to stream the next day with a Hulu subscription.

"Yes, chef!"

I can assure you that you'll be saying that again and again because The Bear Season 4 is confirmed and it’s coming real soon.

The Bear Season 3 premiered back in June 2024 and it feels like just yesterday we were waiting to hear news regarding Carmy, Sydney, and the whole Chicago crew. The Bear received critical acclaim for its third season and was a hit on Hulu, one of the best streaming services out there. Now, we’re going to return to the kitchen for Course 4. Here is what we know so far about the next season.

What Is The Bear Season 4's Premiere Date?

At the time of updating this in May 2025, The Bear Season 4 will release on June 25, 2025, according to FX. This will make it a part of the 2025 TV schedule.

Honestly, thank God. The series has continued to premiere each year since its initial release. While we wait for shows like Wednesday Season 2 (which will come out in 2025) or The Witcher Season 4 or even the next season of House of the Dragon, we can seemingly always count on this acclaimed show to keep coming back on a yearly basis.

The Bear Season 4 Cast

While there haven’t been any confirmations, there are plenty of characters from The Bear cast that we can expect to see back for Season 4. These include:

• 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
• Matty Matheson as Neil Fak

It wouldn't really be The Bear without these prominent cast members, as the show does tend to focus on their characters. Heck, just from Season 2, Richie became one of my favorite characters – the solo episodes of the main cast are always some of the best.

We do get a peek at some cast members in a special FX teaser that was posted on YouTube to preview what’s coming to the network soon, so you can check that out, below, to spot a few familiar faces for Season 4 in the few seconds we get to see:

The Bear has also been known to have plenty of great guest stars. Some you might remember who occasionally appear on the show include:

• Jon Bernthal as Michael “Mikey” Berzatto
• Gillian Jacobs as Tiffany "Tiff" Jerimovich
• Jamie Lee Curtis as Donna Berzatto
• Olivia Colman as Chef Andrea Terry
• Will Poulter as Luca
• Sarah Paulson as Michelle Berzatto

There are many more guest stars who've also appeared. My personal favorite has always been Jamie Lee Curtis as Donna, and of course, her episode, "Ice Chips," in Season 3, was to die for. I wouldn’t be shocked if there were new guest stars for Season 4 that we don’t even know about yet. Here’s hoping.

What Is The Bear Season 4 Going To Be About?

So, obviously, there were plenty of things that were left up in the air after The Bear Season 3 ending.

In Season 3, Sydney, who is becoming a significant player at the restaurant, is offered a job as a CDC (Chef de cuisine) with Adam when he wants to open his restaurant and have her employed there. At the same time, she's been offered an agreement to sign a contract that would give her partial ownership of the restaurant, but she's hesitant to sign because of this and her resentment over Carmy.

Near the end, Sydney is pretty panicky about the whole situation—so much so that she has a panic attack when she realizes just how much the restaurant has changed. Her decision hasn't been made yet, and this will most likely be a big storyline during The Bear Season 4.

On the other hand, we have Carmy, who, at the very end, sees that the Tribune review of the eatery has officially gone up – and he also has several missed calls from Cicero and Computer.

This review will also most likely be a big story point next season. Still, even actor Lionel Boyce (Marcus) said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in June 2024 that we can theorize all we want – the show will always find a way to subvert expectations, even his own:

As of this update, not much else has come out regarding the story. Something that we do know is that Edebiri and Boyce actually wrote an episode together, according to Deadline, and their characters do seem to have a lot more interaction as the seasons go on. What this means for both of them, I’m not sure, but I’m eager to see.

Edebiri hinted at an interview with Deadline that all she could say is that her character will be in Chicago and “cold.” I mean, my first instinct would be “of course she is” because it’s freaking Chicago. But the theorizer in me can’t help but make the connection that maybe she’s cold because of the whole Carmy situation and everything else. Hmm….

Season 4 May Or May Not Be The End Of The Series – Depending On The Story

While the fourth season was confirmed, we have yet to get confirmation that Season 5 will happen, leading to rumors that Season 4 could be the end of the series.

However, in an interview with Variety in July 2024, FX boss John Landgraf said that it's really a "creative decision" when it comes to whether or not it'll end after Season 4 – meaning that if Chris Storer (the creator) wants it to end then, he can, or if he wants the story to go on, then it'll continue:

Honestly, I personally love The Bear and believe it to be one of the best shows on Hulu/from FX, so I'm eager for however many seasons I get from it. We don’t have confirmation just yet if this is going to be the last season but we’ll be waiting for any news that pops up regarding it.

What are you most excited about for The Bear? All I know is that I'm ready to see all that delicious food and feel all that emotional pain once more – and then spend hours trying to recreate the dishes.

Three are a lot of places around the world that have become famous for being set locations or exterior shots from television shows. From restaurants, to prisons, to houses, to everything in between. These are just a few of these now-famous locations everyone recognizes from their favorite shows. 

Tom's Restaurant - Seinfeld

In virtually every episode of Seinfeld, the gang met up at Monk's Diner. The interiors were a set, of course, but all the exterior shots for Monk's were of Tom's Restaurant at the corner of Broadway and 112th Street in New York City. The cast of Seinfeld is enshrined in caricatures on the wall. One more fun fact about the eatery, it was also the restaurant that inspired the song "Tom's Diner" by Suzanne Vega. 

Highclere Castle - Downton Abbey

Grand houses dot the English countryside, many of which are quite famous for their ornate beauty. One house now stands out from the rest, Highclere Castle in Hampshire. As hardcore fans of Downton Abbey know, not only was it used for the exterior of the house, but many of the interiors, including the iconic library, were used in the production. 

The Painted Ladies - Full House

San Francisco was once home to thousands of grand Victorian homes, though many were destroyed by the earthquake in 1906. A notable row that survived across from Alamo Square Park is famously known as "The Painted Ladies" and is a big tourist destination for fans of Full House after they featured prominently in the show. 

Police Beach - Lost

The mysterious island in Lost was in actually many filming locations across Oahu in Hawaii. One of the most famous locations is known as Papailoa Beach or Police Beach. It is located on the North Shore and was used a lot in the show as the spot where the plane crashed and where the survivors lived for a time. 

94 Bedford Street - Friends

94 Bedford Street, at the corner of Grove and Bedford, has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in New York City. Not because anyone famous has lived there, but because that's the building used for the exterior shots of where most of the characters on Friends lived.

St. Michael's Mount - House Of The Dragon

St. Michael's Mount in southeast England is less famous than its cousin, Mont-Saint-Michel in France, but they are very similar monasteries. Both were built on little spits of land surrounded by a tidal area that leaves them completely separated from the mainland much of the time. St. Michael's Mount serves as the exterior for Driftmark, the seat of House Velaryon in House Of The Dragon.

Salish Lodge & Spa - Twin Peaks

On Twin Peaks, one of the most prominent locations is The Great Northern Inn, where Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) lives during his time in the town investigating the murder of Laura Palmer. The exterior of the hotel, located above a beautiful waterfall, is actually the Salish Lodge & Spa in Snoqualmie, WA.

The Bull & Finch Pub - Cheers

Tourists in Boston are often startled to see the exterior of Cheers as they walk around the Public Garden at the foot of Beacon Hill. The famous bar from Cheers was once called The Bull & Finch Pub and has been in that spot since the late '60s. In the early '00s, the owners changed the name to Cheers. 

Pasadena City Hall - Parks And Recreation

Parks & Recreation may be set in the town of Pawnee, Indiana, but the exterior shots of the City Hall on the show were filmed much closer to where the show was actually filmed in LA. The building is, in fact, the City of Pasadena's City Hall. A far cry from rural Indiana, but these days the building is more famous for being in a fictional TV town in the Hoosier state than the City of Roses. 

Richmond, London - Ted Lasso

A little alley in Richmond, London, has become one of the most visited tourist spots in a town chock-full of great tourist spots. That's because it served as the exterior to Coach Lasso's apartment in Ted Lasso. The pub nearby was also one of the most-used shooting locations for the show and fans of the hilarious show have been flocking ever since. 

The Belnord - Only Murders In The Building

There are a few famous apartment buildings on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, including The Belnord. The grand building is one of the most prominent of all, especially now as it serves as the titular building in Only Murders In The Building starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. It's located at 86th St. and Amsterdam.

Dubrovnik Harbor - Game Of Thrones

HBO's Game of Thrones made quite a few locations around the world famous, and while the city of Dubrovnik, Croatia was already famous among historians, it entered popular culture in a big way when it was the stand-in for King's Landing throughout many episodes of the show. There is a little harbor on the city's west coast that was one of the locations used in some of the most famous scenes.  

The Waybury Inn - Newhart

In Newhart Dick Loudon (Bob Newhart) and his wife Joanna (Mary Frann) moved to Vermont to run the Stratford Inn. The real-life Stratford Inn is actually The Waybury Inn in Middlebury Vermont. And yes, it's still a hotel, and you can still stay there. 

Ranger's House - Bridgerton

The stately home of the Bridgerton family in Bridgerton is, in fact, called Ranger's House. Built in 1722 in what is now London, it's located near Greenwich Park, just a couple hundred yards from the famous Royal Observatory, Greenwich, which was where time was set for the world for centuries, but it is now a museum. 

Mr. Beef - The Bear

Chicago is famous for a lot of different foods. Pizza and hot dogs are probably the two most people think of first. Or at least, they used to. After the wild success of The Bear, one of the best shows on Hulu, the Windy City is increasingly famous for Italian Beef sandwiches, like the ones served at Mr. Beef. The small eatery stood in for The Beef on the show. 

15 Washington Street, Brooklyn - Gossip Girl

Located basically under the Manhattan Bridge in the Dumbo neighborhood, 15 Washington Street has become iconic for its use as the exterior of the Humphrey loft in Gossip Girl. 

Bell Works, Holmdel, NJ - Severance

The Bell Works building in Holmdel, NJ was locally famous for decades before the Apple TV+ show Severance made it famous everywhere. Long a favorite in architectural circles, the building, designed by Eero Saarinen, was the R&D headquarters for Bell Labs for decades starting in the early '60s. It is a perfect building to house the mysterious Lumon Industries on the show.  

Chief Joseph Ranch - Yellowstone

Some terrible things have gone down on the Dutton Yellowstone Ranch in Yellowstone. It has to be the most violent place in all of Montana, in the context of the show. Luckily, the real ranch where it is filmed, Chief Joseph Ranch is like it in looks only. It's a guest ranch and fans of the show can even stay there. Just try not to murder anyone. 

Holsten’s Brookdale Confectionary - The Sopranos

One of the most controversial and possibly one of the best endings of a show in TV history took place at Holsten’s Brookdale Confectionery in Bloomfield, NJ. The Sopranos ended when Meadow walked through the door of the diner and the screen went black. Did Tony die or didn't he? The arguments will last forever, an argument you could have over some onion rings at Holsten's.

Twisters Restaurant - Breaking Bad

A Twisters Restaurant in Albuquerque, NM is better known to Breaking Bad fans as Los Pollos Hermanos. The chain restaurant location on Isleta Boulevard in Albuquerque was re-dressed as Los Pollos Hermanos for the show and its spinoff Better Call Saul. 

Speedy’s Cafe - Sherlock

221B Baker Street is one of the most famous addresses in literary history as the home of Sherlock Holmes. On the BBC show Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, the flat is located next door to a cafe called Speedy's. Not only is the restaurant's exterior featured on the show, but the interior is shown on occasion, such as when Watson (Freeman) meets with Mycroft (Mark Gatiss). 

Senoia, Georgia - The Walking Dead

Senoia, Georgia is a small unassuming town on the far southwest edge of the Atlanta metro area. It's a quaint, picturesque southern town that is not a hotbed for tourism by fans of The Walking Dead as it became the setting for the settlement of Alexandria on the show. 

Buckingham Fountain - Married... With Children

The Buckingham Fountain in the heart of Grant Park in Chicago has long been a local landmark in The Windy City. When it was used in the opening moments of the credits on Fox's Married... With Children, it became a national landmark, recognized the world over. Along with having one of the most famous musicians ever singing the theme song, Frank Sinatra, it became an iconic opening. 

Mystic Grill - The Vampire Diaries

The real Mystic Grill is located in Covington, GA, and has become a must-see location for fans of The Vampire Diaries. It pre-existed the show and looks pretty much identical to what fans remember from the beloved show. 

Frist Campus Center - House

Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, where Dr. Gregory House torments his residents and his patients on House isn't actually a hospital at all. The famous exteriors are actually of the Frist Campus Center on the campus of Princeton University. The building is also famous for Room 302, where Albert Einstein lectured when he was a professor at the school. 

Torrance High School - Beverly Hills, 90210

Without a doubt, Torrance High School in Torrance, CA, is one of the most recognizable locations in television history. It was the setting for West Beverly High on Beverly Hills, 90210, but that's not all. It was also the stand-in for Sunnydale High on Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Ulysses S. Grant High School in The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and it was used in movies like She's All That, Not Another Teen Movie, and Bruce Almighty, among others. 

Waterfords' House - The Handmaid's Tale

In The Handmaid’s Tale, the Waterfords live in Boston, but the mansion used for the exterior shots of their home is actually in Hamilton, Ontario, near Toronto. Like other houses featured in shows, it's become a popular place for selfies, but do you really want to memorialize that house after everything awful that happened inside it? 

Rosenheim Mansion - American Horror Story

The stately Rosenheim Mansion in Los Angeles has a look that is just perfect for horror stories. Most notably, it was used in American Horror Story. It's also been featured in other creepy shows like The Twilight Zone, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, The X-Files, and Dexter. Yikes! 

Franklin Square House Apartments - St. Elsewhere

The exterior of St. Eligius Hospital, the fictional hospital in the critically acclaimed '80s show St Elsewhere is actually an apartment building called Franklin Square House Apartments, in Boston's South End, where the hospital was also set. The show launched quite a few careers, including Howie Mandel's and Denzel Washington's, and like their careers, the apartment building is still around today. 

1618 Pine St., Boulder Colorado - Mork & Mindy

If you find yourself in Boulder, CO, and are a fan of Mork & Mindy, you can take a selfie in front of their apartment. The exterior used is a house that still stands on  Pine St., near the middle of town. 

Old Joliet Prison - Prison Break

If you close your eyes and picture a classic American prison, you'll probably see something that looks a lot like the old Joliet Prison in Joliet, IL. For that reason, the now-closed prison has been a popular shooting location over the years. Not only does it serve as the exterior of the jail in Prison Break, but it's also where Jake Blues (John Belushi) is released from in The Blues Brothers, and has been in numerous other movies and TV shows. 

Cincinnati Enquirer Building - WKRP In Cincinnati

Though it was really only used in the opening credits and very occasionally in the show, the studio for the fictitious radio station WKRP from the hit '70s sitcom in the Cincinnati Enquirer Building, located in downtown Cincinnati. When you're in town, you can pretend all your favorite DJs and intrepid reporter Les Nessman are hard at work in the building. 

It’s becoming increasingly normal for me to write sentences with both Chicago Med and The Bear in them. A few days ago, news came down the pipeline about the upcoming 2024 TV schedule and we learned that former NBC alum Parenthood’s Sarah Ramos would be returning to the network for a role in the One Chicago cast. This is cool news in and of itself, but I’m actually mostly stoked because it aligns perfectly with what I’m hoping will happen in The Bear Season 4.

Listen, Sarah Ramos has also had a guest stint on The Bear across the past two seasons, first when Richie staged at Ever and met the incredibly competent maître d'hôtel Jessica (Ramos) while working there. She returned in Season 3 as Ever was giving its last hurrah before closing its doors, and the future is uncertain for herself and other members of the staff. It’s unclear if Jessica and Richie’s relationship will remain strictly professional, but there’s clearly chemistry between the two of them that needs to still play out.

Now, her gig on Chicago Med implies that Ramos will be spending a lot of time in Chicago, where, intriguingly enough, The Bear also films. She wouldn’t be the only cast member to straddle both shows, either.

There’s precedent already for this with Oliver Platt, who also appears in The Bear as the restaurant's financial backer and excellent comedic relief Uncle Jimmy. Platt actually spoke out about how Chicago Med and The Bear have graciously accommodated him filming both series, and I’d assume the same could hold true for Ramos should the Hulu series want her back in Season 4.

Honestly, Richie’s arc on the show has been the most satisfying for me personally, to see his eyes opened to another way of working in the restaurant business, as well as see him come to terms and grow as a human being after his divorce. There’s one world where Jessica could be a part of the former plot and work at The Bear and another world where she could be part of the latter plot and date Richie.

Intriguingly, there’s also an entire subplot on the series where Sydney won’t sign her contract and is maybe getting poached by Ever’s Adam Shapiro, so Jessica could come into play in a rival restaurant as well. To be honest, I'm more excited about a Team Ressica storyline than hoping Shapiro’s restaurant pans out, but no matter what the script entails, one of the big questions I had when Season 3 ended had to do with whether or not Ramos would return once more.

While there's no official word from the Hulu and FX series, this latest casting does give the actress the opportunity to do both. Plus, I feel like she was great in Parenthood, she’s great in her small role on The Bear and it’s nice to see her hard work finally paying off in some new high-profile gigs. Whatever happens, though, I think the door is wide open now for the actress to return and I will be watching with my Hulu subscription.

The Bear’s one of the best shows on Hulu, and it’s aging like fine wine. Chicago Med also has one of the most loyal fanbases on TV. Straddling both would not be a bad place to be at all.

The Bear is a big hit for FX, and it is slowly becoming its own kind of phenomenon. It practically swept at the Emmys last year, and it is expected to receive the same awards attention this year. The popularity of the show can be attributed to a lot of things: great writing, career-making performances, and relatability. People who have worked in restaurants of any kind know how stressful the environment can be. Now, a world-renowned chef who actually appeared on The Bear as a guest star is speaking about the realism of the series and if it is reflective of the fine dining industry.

In a recent interview, triple Michelin star Chef René Redzepi spoke about his experience appearing on the show, as well as if he believes The Bear is an accurate portrayal of working in a high-end restaurant. If anyone would know, it’s Chef Redzepi, who works at Noma, which is widely considered to be one of the best restaurants in the world. The Bear even shot scenes at Noma to make the environment as accurate as possible to a real fine dining experience. Additionally, he made a cameo in the first episode of the most recent season, which you can see below:

While Chef Redzepi believed the stress depicted in the FX series was accurate, he also highlighted that a lot of creative liberties were taken in the show. He told MovieWeb:

This seems to be a commonly shared sentiment amongst the restaurant community. A lot of chefs have previously said that watching The Bear is difficult because of the feelings of anxiety it brings up. However, other chefs have been more critical of The Bear’s realism, saying that the show did not mirror their experience at all. Every restaurant is different, but it seems like the Jeremy Allen White-led series has made a strong effort to be as true to life as possible, even encouraging the cast to gain real-life baking and cooking experience.

The choice to feature Chef Redzepi’s restaurant in particular is a strong one. The Copenhagen restaurant is a much more serene environment that pastry chef Marcus is sent to in order to brush up his skills in the show. The Bear restaurant, however, is the opposite environment. The Chicago restaurant’s high end exterior is contrasted by the yelling, and often impatient chef in Carmy.

Showing establishments like Noma and Ever and their quiet kitchens offers even more of an insight into the overall restaurant industry, and how not every kitchen needs to be as outwardly noisy and intense to function.

Whether The Bear is channeling world-renowned restaurants like Noma in Season 3, or townie sandwich joints which was Season 1’s focus, it seems like it is getting a lot right. The dramedy has showcased the “pressure-cooker” kind of environments that exist within a lot of kitchens, and how this can even get more complex as personal relationships become involved.

Of course, The Bear is still a TV show that seeks to entertain an audience, and it’s implied that many elements will be exaggerated or dramatized for storytelling's sake. However, praise from chefs like Redzepi is an incredible feat and definitely a reason for Christopher Storer and the rest of the team to pat themselves on the back.

You can check out The Bear now with a Hulu subscription, and revisit Chef René Redzepi’s cameo in Season 3’s first episode titled “Tomorrow.” He also has his own series available for those with an AppleTV+ subscription titled Omnivore, where the chef explores flavors and dishes from around the world.

After just three seasons, Quinta Brunson’s Abbott Elementary is already considered one of the best sitcoms of all time, and that was further supported this week when the 2024 Primetime Emmy nominations were announced. The cast and crew garnered nine nods as they prepare for their fourth season, which will premiere on ABC’s fall schedule on October 9, but they’re up against some stiff competition, specifically with The Bear. That fact isn’t lost on Abbott Elementary’s cast and crew, as one of the writers celebrated the Emmy news by seemingly shading the FX on Hulu dramedy. 

The Bear received a record 23 nominations for the upcoming Primetime Emmy Awards, and they’ll be in direct competition with Abbott Elementary in many categories including Outstanding Comedy Series, Best Supporting Actor and Lead Actress — with Quinta Brunson and Ayo Edebiri amongst the Black actresses taking Hollywood by storm on their respective shows. However, The Bear continues to be a point of controversy, with many arguing it should be entered as a drama rather than a comedy. That seemed to be the tone of writer Joya McCrory's post, as she wrote on X (Twitter): 

While the writer didn’t call out The Bear by name, the implication is pretty clear, especially because this is not a new argument. The Bear swept the 2023 Primetime Emmys, winning in every category it was nominated for, while Abbott Elementary’s only win went to Quinta Brunson for Outstanding Lead Actress (Ayo Edebiri, incidentally, was entered for Best Supporting Actress, which she won). 

It also seems like the Emmys often awards the same series over and over, so after its success in 2023, many feel like The Bear is primed to win all the trophies again this year. There are a lot of people who feel that would do a disservice to other shows and actors, including its competition for Outstanding Comedy Series — Abbott Elementary, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Hacks, Only Murders in the Building, Palm Royale and Reservation Dogs.

Nobody’s arguing that the Chicago-based dramedy isn’t worthy of any of the recognition it’s getting. The issue is simply that It’s easier to find the comedy in any of the other series listed above than The Bear, which includes darker themes of suicide and depression, and overall has a much more frenetic tone. 

Many have often said it’s an honor just to be nominated, and while I’m sure that’s true to some extent, it seems like at least some people with Abbott Elementary might be a little salty about having to go up against a show that arguably shouldn’t be in its category.

Tune into the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards to see how it all plays out. The ceremony will air at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, September 15, on ABC, and keep an eye on the 2024 TV schedule for the return dates for all of your favorite shows. 

As expected, The Bear absolutely dominated the Emmy nominations. Actually, it dominated so hard that it broke a record for most nominations for a comedy. Obviously, it’s also probably going to win a lot of those awards too. While I love this FX dramedy as much as the next person, I think it’s a major issue that it’s probably going to win everything.

The Bear Received A Record-Breaking Number Of Nominations For The 2024 Emmys 

Coming off the heels of a successful Season 3 premiere on the 2024 TV schedule, Season 2 of The Bear received a record 23 nominations for the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards. Here are a few of the show’s notable nominations:

• Best Comedy Series
• Lead Actor In A Comedy Series for Jeremy Allen White
• Lead Actress In A Comedy Series for Ayo Edebiri
• Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Liza Colón-Zayas
• Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Lionel Boyce and Ebon Moss-Bacrach

It also received nods for its production design, casting, cinematography, costumes, directing and guest stars (who include Olivia Colman, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jon Bernthal, Bob Odenkirk and Will Poulter).

I’m sure many remember that The Bear absolutely devoured awards season last year. Jeremy Allen White took home award after award for playing Carmy, and his co-stars, Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, both won Emmys, and numerous other trophies for their performances. Along with that, the show as a whole won over and over again.

Now, even more of The Bear cast and creatives are nominated, and it’s looking like it could completely sweep the comedy categories this year.

I Desperately Do Not Want The Bear To Win Everything

Let me start by saying this: This problem is not The Bear’s fault and I’m not mad about it because I don’t like the show. In fact, I love the show. However, I think the Emmys have an issue of always awarding the same series over and over and over again. We’ve seen it happen in the drama category recently as Succession made it so it felt like no other shows got a spotlight on them. And I fear this is going to happen to the comedy categories now.

The Bear is great and award-worthy. However, the shows it's nominated with – Abbott Elementary, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Hacks, Only Murders in the Building, Palm Royale and Reservation Dogs in the overall comedy category, among others in various acting and other categories – are also fantastic!

The Emmys really need to share the wealth here, and it can’t do that by giving The Bear everything.

When I look back on my favorite performances of the year, I’m more inclined to note Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder’s dynamic, emotional and funny performances in Hacks or the cast of Abbott Elementary’s brilliant work over some of the nominated performances in The Bear. Both shows were firing on all cylinders this season, and their ensembles hit a new level of fantastic. Plus, shows that have never won Emmys in the big tentpole categories, like Only Murders in the Building and Reservation Dogs, served up excellent new seasons that were incredibly smart and award-worthy.

I’m a big believer that talents like Einbinder, Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Selena Gomez, Steven Martin, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai and more deserve just as much love as The Bear.

It’s no fun to give one show all the awards. As a viewer, it gets repetitive and boring, and I find that it also makes it so fewer series get the attention they deserve.

Obviously, I’d love to see the FX/Hulu dramedy take home a few trophies. However, I think it’s important that more brilliant shows get recognized than just the one. So, Emmy voters, if you are reading this, when you are filling out your ballots consider all the nominees, and maybe show multiple love rather than just one, because they are all brilliant.

The biggest and best shows from the 2023-2024 TV schedule are being celebrated for the 76th annual Emmy Awards, at least after everyone gets to show off their eye-popping looks on the red carpet. With father-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy handling emcee duties, this is actually the second Emmys of the year, with the entertainment strikes pushing the highly enjoyable 75th Emmys to January 2024.

So many shows are nominated for awards during the telecast (airing on ABC and streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription), though quite a few were already handed out during the Creative Arts Emmys ceremonies the weekend prior. For instance, The Traitors’ accent-affecting host Alan Cumming won for Outstanding Reality Competition host, and gave his thank you speech during E!’s red carpet coverage.

But let’s now focus on all the big Primetime Emmy winners that earned trophies for their work during the past year of A+ television. We’ll keep the article updated throughout the telecast, so keep checking back to see who earned the top prize in each of the categories.

Best Drama Series

• WINNER: Shogun
• The Crown
• Fallout
• The Gilded Age
• The Morning Show
• Mr. and Mrs. Smith
• Slow Horses
• 3 Body Problem

Oustanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

• WINNER: Hiroyuki Sanada, Shogun
• Idris Elba, Hijack
• Donald Glover, Mr. and Mrs. Smith
• Walton Goggins, Fallout
• Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
• Dominic West, The Crown

Oustanding Actress in a Drama Series

• WINNER: Anna Sawai, Shogun
• Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
• Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age
• Maya Erskine, Mr. and Mrs. Smith
• Imelda Staunton, The Crown
• Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

• WINNER: Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
• Tadanobu Asano, Shōgun
• Mark Duplass, The Morning Show
• Jon Hamm, The Morning Show
• Takehiro Hira ,Shōgun
• Jack Lowden, Slow Horses
• Jonathan Pryce, The Crown

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

• WINNER: Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown
• Christine Baranski, The Gilded Age
• Nicole Beharie, The Morning Show
• Greta Lee, The Morning Show
• Lesley Manville, The Crown
• Karen Pittman, The Morning Show
• Holland Taylor, The Morning Show

Oustanding Comedy Series

• Abbott Elementary
• The Bear
• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Hacks
• Only Murders in The Building
• Palm Royale
• Reservation Dogs
• What We Do in The Shadow

Oustanding Lead Actor In a Comedy Series

• WINNER: Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
• Matt Berry, What We Do In The Shadows
• Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Steve Martin, Only Murders In The Building
• Martin Short, Only Murders In The Building
• D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Resevation Dogs

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

• WINNER: Jean Smart, Hacks
• Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
• Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
• Selena Gomez, Only Murders In The Building
• Maya Rudolph, Loot
• Kristen Wiig, Palm Royale

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

• WINNER: Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear
• Lionel Boyce, The Bear
• Paul W. Downs, Hacks
• Paul Rudd, Only Murders in The Building
• Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary
• Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

• WINNER: Liza Colón-Zayas, The Bear
• Carol Burnett, Palm Royale
• Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
• Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
• Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary
• Meryl Streep, Only Murders in The Building

Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series

• WINNER: Baby Reindeer
• Fargo
• Lessons in Chemistry
• Ripley
• True Detective: Night Country

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie

• WINNER: Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer
• Matt Bomer, Fellow Travelers
• Jon Hamm, Fargo
• Tom Hollander, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
• Andrew Scott, Ripley

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie

• WINNER: Jodie Foster, True Detective: Night Country
• Brie Larson, Lessons in Chemistry
• Juno Temple, Fargo
• Sofía Vergara, Griselda
• Naomi Watts, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie

• WINNER: Lamorne Morris, Fargo
• Jonathan Bailey, Fellow Travelers
• Robert Downey Jr., The Sympathizer
• Tom Goodman-Hill, Baby Reindeer
• John Hawkes, True Detective: Night Country
• Lewis Pullman, Lessons in Chemistry
• Treat Williams, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie

• WINNER: Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer
• Dakota Fanning, Ripley
• Lily Gladstone, Under the Bridge
• Aja Naomi King, Lessons in Chemistry
• Diane Lane, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
• Nava Mau, Baby Reindeer
• Kali Reis, True Detective: Night Country

Outstanding Reality Competition Program

• WINNER: The Traitors
• The Amazing Race
• RuPaul's Drag Race
• Top Chef
• The Voice

Outstanding Talk Series

• WINNER: The Daily Show
• Jimmy Kimmel Live!
• Late Night with Seth Meyers
• The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

Outstanding Scripted Variety Series

• WINNER: Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
• Saturday Night Live

Noteworthy Creative Arts Emmy Winners

• Outstanding TV Movie: Quiz Lady (Hulu)
• Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded): Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic (CBS)
• Outstanding Variety Special (Live): The Oscars (ABC)
• Outstanding Game Show: Jeopardy! (ABC/Syndicated)
• Outstanding Animated Program: Blue Eye Samurai (Netflix)
• Outstanding Structured Reality Program: Shark Tank (ABC)
• Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program: Welcome to Wrexham (FX)
• Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series: Beckham (Netflix)
• Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special: Jim Henson - Idea Man (Disney+)
• Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special: My Next Guest with David Letterman (Netflix)
• Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Jon Bernthal - The Bear (FX)
• Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Jamie Lee Curtis - The Bear (FX)
• Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: Néstor Carbonell – Shōgun (FX)
• Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Michaela Coel - Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Prime Video)
• Outstanding Host for a Game Show: Pat Sajak - Wheel of Fortune (ABC/Syndicated)
• Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program: Alan Cumming - The Traitors (Peacock)

Thanks for following along with CinemaBlend throughout the 2024 Emmy Awards, and stay tuned for all the shows hitting the 2025 TV schedule that will likely be honored during next year’s awards.

Inside Out 2 instantly became one of the year’s biggest movies when it hit the box office in June, and audiences have continued to flock to theaters to experience Pixar’s new flood of emotions. One of the things that makes Inside Out 2 a good movie is how viewers of all ages can relate to the feelings being portrayed on the screen, and a new viral trend is helping people express themselves even further. In fact, fans are pulling from other facets of entertainment, like It’s Always Sunny in PHiladelphia and Justin Bieber, to illustrate their emotions, and I can’t get enough of these creative comparisons.

The Pixar sequel Inside Out 2 continues Riley’s story from the 2015 animated classic, adding more complex emotions like Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment and Ennui to portray a teenager’s authentic experience. It’s inspired people to imagine what we might get if Inside Out 2 were filmed inside their own heads, leading to the fantastic viral trend. I mean, who hasn’t felt this kind of Shameless chaos from time to time, as posted by one X (Twitter) user: 

Another person referenced Taylor Swift and The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version), seemingly telling their brain, “Look What You Made Me Do” and wondering which of these beautiful emotions they could expect to be dealing with today. 

If Inside Out 2 can truly paint a picture of what anxiety feels like, I’d argue that a series like The Bear is just as good at inducing that emotion. That seems to be the experience of another social media user, as they tweeted: 

Sometimes it’s hard to know which emotion would be appropriate to access, and I can completely relate to this It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia image that seems to portray some kind of perplexed bemusement: 

You know that feeling when a gang of Justin Biebers “Pull Up” in your brain? Yeah, um, me neither. 

Love Island provided another perfect illustration of how it can feel when the emotions aren’t sure how to proceed. As one fan put it: 

And for anybody who’s ever frozen up when asked if you’re more of a Miranda or a Carrie, just do like this person say it depends on the day: 

Inside Out 2 will undoubtedly join its predecessor as one of the best Pixar films, even if it did leave some of our staff feeling the second-hand embarrassment. Being able to identify and communicate what we’re feeling is so important, which is why this viral trend that allows the world a peek at how we picture our emotions is so great. We feel a little less alone knowing that others can identify with us, and we’re having a good laugh in the meantime. 

If you haven’t made it out to see the animated sequel yet, Inside Out 2 is still in theaters, and be sure to check out our 2024 movie release calendar to see what else is new and coming soon to the big screen. 

Spoilers for the Season 3 finale of The Bear are ahead. If you haven’t watched the show yet, you can stream it with a Hulu subscription.

When Season 3 of The Bear ended, my first thought was “That can’t be it.” Not only was I unsatisfied with the cliffhanger, but it also felt like we were right in the middle of all the action. We were getting to the climax of the season where Sydney revealed her job offer and Carmy read the review. However, neither of those things happened. So, I immediately started thinking that this might not be the last time we see new episodes of this show on the 2024 TV schedule. Now, Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s latest comments have added fuel to this ongoing theory I’ve been thinking about.

Quite some time ago, rumors came out (via Deadline) that Seasons 3 and 4 of The Bear were being filmed back-to-back. Considering the popularity and acclaim of the show plus the star power of its cast, that wouldn’t be surprising. However, the ensemble has been reluctant to talk about whether those extra episodes are really a fourth installment or not. Now, Moss-Bachrach’s comments about everything they filmed have me wondering if that “To Be Continued” card at the end of this season was telling us that we only got the first half of Season 3.

What Ebon Moss-Bachrach Said About The Next Episodes Of The Bear

While we still don’t really know how things will proceed following The Bear’s finale (which let me down), Ebon Moss-Bachrach did confirm that they filmed more than the ten episodes we saw. When he spoke with Mr. Porter, he explained that they ended up filming more than they initially planned:

So, yes, he said “two seasons.” However, it feels like this is all one big cohesive chapter, and we stopped in the middle of it, not the end. Maybe, what we get next could be a Season 3B.

Moss-Bachrach continued to explain that they filmed 18 episodes this time around, and as you likely know, we've only seen ten of those. The actor said:

Also, as the story notes, Moss-Bachrach “thinks” they shot Seasons 3 and 4 together, but they did not confirm that that’s the case, and that, my friend, is suspicious.

I Think They’ll Surprise Drop The Second Half Of Season 3

My theory about all this began when I attended The Bear’s press conference for CinemaBlend, and the cast was asked about the reports that they filmed Seasons 3 and 4 together. They wouldn’t give a straight answer about what’s to come, as you can see by the responses Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri and Abby Elliott gave to the question below:

Jeremy Allen White: We did something like that.

Ayo Edebiri: Yeah, a little version of it, sort of. But not exactly.

Jeremy Allen White: Not exactly.

Ayo Edebiri: Is that helpful for journalism?

Abby Elliott: You'll have to find out.

As I noted, the second I finished binge-ing The Bear, I didn’t feel like it was over. Yes, both seasons that came before have ended on cliffhangers, but they also ended a chapter definitively. Season 1 closed out with them deciding to open The Bear, Season 2 saw them open the restaurant, and Season 3 gave us the result of the review and their work…but not really…there's still so much to do.

So, it stands to reason that we could get a Part 2 to Season 3 so we can find some closure. It's filmed, the story lends itself to that format, and it would explain these confusing answers about what's coming next.

Of course, I could be completely wrong, and maybe that was the end of Season 3, and the next installment of one of Hulu’s best shows will be a totally new Season 4. However, as Moss-Bachrach said, they didn’t want to feel constrained, and so they decided to make more. That signifies to me that a Season 3B could be coming.

Plus, no other season has ended with a “To Be Continued.” Season 1 ended with “The Bear is coming” written on the door, but it wasn’t a cut-and-dry “more is coming” like the end of Season 3 was.

So, when you mix Ebon Moss-Bachrach's comments about filming 18 episodes with the ambiguous press conference comments, I can’t help but think that I might be onto something.

However, we won’t know until we get official word from The Bear itself.

To go back and watch the first three seasons of The Bear, and see if you agree with my theory that we might be getting a part two sooner than later, you can do so with a Hulu subscription.

If there is anything the internet is always obsessed with, it is Ayo Edebiri. Between her critically acclaimed projects, her style and her long-running bit about being Irish, it seems like she’s always trending. And since both Dune Part 2 and The Bear Season 3 premiered this year, we got an unexpected crossover moment between the two, and fans can’t get over how perfect it is.

Since starring in The Bear, Edebiri and her work have skyrocketed to fame, as she's appeared in multiple critically acclaimed movies and TV shows, including Inside Out 2 where she voiced Envy. But she’s a comedian at heart, and therefore is always cracking jokes and impressions in interviews.

In a recent edition of The Vanity Fair Game Show, The Bear cast put Chef Sydney’s skills to the test. While trying to guess Edebiri’s go-to karaoke song, her co-stars kept yelling out unserious answers, one of them being the Dune theme. The Bottoms actress went along, nailing a perfect impression of the sound, which broke the whole cast into laughter, as you can see below:

The Hans Zimmer score for the well-reviewed Dune: Part 2 recently went viral on TikTok, along with the most dramatic 1-minute cameo of Anya-Taylor Joy in the film. In the edit, The Menu actress is dressed in robes, turning dramatically to stare at the camera with piercing blue eyes. People on the internet have been making jokes trying to mimic it ever since, but I think Ayo has them all beat. I need to see her version of the theme over that clip ASAP.

But I’m not the only one who appreciated her pop culture reference. Fans had the best reactions to the Theater Camp actress imitating the clip, and here are some of the best comments from Film Update's post about the video on X (formerly Twitter):

• Hans Zimmer is SHAKING -Cameo
• Hans? OUT. Ayo? IN. 😭😭😭 -ladidaix
• The more I see of Ayo the more I love her, how can you not stan. -Bleach4lyfe8
• I could watch this on loop all day -GeorgeWine
• THE BALL IS IN YOUR COURT NOW, ZIMMER -grandpairoh
• Ayo’s such an amazing talent. -english_shamar

Even Warner Brothers, who produced Dune, chimed in on X, clearly impressed, writing:

A lot of the comments wanted to make it clear too that they want the upcoming Dune 3 to include The Bear actress. I’d seriously consider it if I were them. I mean, she’s proven she can successfully do drama and comedy and now sci-fi too! I think this comment from @JackDMurphy on X perfectly sums up what we are all thinking:

No, there’s not, because she even directed an episode in the latest season of The Bear that recently premiered on the 2024 TV schedule, and fans are saying it is one of the best episodes of the show. You can watch the episode “Napkins” and the entire season now with a Hulu subscription. 

Then, to go and see just how spot-on her Dune theme recreation was, you can stream both parts of the sci-fi epic with a Max subscription. 

Major Spoilers for The Bear Season 3 lie ahead, so read on with caution, chef.

Hulu subscribers were recently graced with the highly anticipated third season of The Bear. During this latest chapter of the Emmy-winning drama (or comedy?), Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, Sydney Adamu, Richard “Richie” Jerimovich and co. tried to keep their newly revamped restaurant afloat. Collectively, the 10 episodes firmly built upon what came before while also exuding a different rhythm compared to past seasons. There are plenty of memorable moments, to say the least. However, what might stick out the most for a number of fans is the finale, which has me convinced that the series – which is one of the best shows on Hulu – is nearing its conclusion. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

During the early part of the season, the employees of the eponymous restaurant discover that they were, at some point, visited by a critic from the Chicago Tribune. That leads to anxiety for much of the staff, especially Carmy. And that pressure only increases after “uncle” Jimmy Kalinowski – who’s an investor in the restaurant – gives an ultimatum: if the review is negative, he’ll pull his money out. (Unbeknownst to the team, it’s because he’s facing financial problems). The final scene of Season 3 sees Carmy checking his phone to find not only a mixed review from the Tribune but also several missed calls from Jimmy and Computer (Kalinowski’s financial advisor). The words “To Be Continued” then flash on the screen and, from there, we’ll discuss why I feel the end is nigh.

Why Do I Think The Bear May Be Ending Soon?

It’s first important to mention that it was reported by Deadline that a fourth season had already been greenlit. Not only that, but the trade alleged that it would be filmed back to back with Season 3. FX has yet to confirm this, though this is coming from a source that’s as reliable as one of the Fak brothers. The reported decision to film these two seasons consecutively can be chalked up to one of two reasons in my mind. One is that the producers want to accommodate the actors’ schedules, and the other is that they’ve plotted out both of these seasons as a collective capper for the series. I’m leaning towards the latter being the case.

A big indicator for me on that front is that the third season is the message that pops up at the very end. A “To Be Continued” card isn’t something you see all that often on TV anymore, even if a cliffhanger is blatantly presented. The Bear hasn’t been one to use this text, so I find it interesting that it was placed at the end of this installment. While seemingly small on the surface, this card could be series creator Christopher Storer and co. trying to indicate that the third and fourth seasons feel a bit more connected narrative-wise than past seasons have been to each other. I mean, each season has obviously pushed the narrative forward, of course. But, with multiple cliffhangers on the line right now (i.e. the review, Sydney’s job offer, Carmy and Claire’s relationship), it feels like these seasons will have very direct ties.

Plus, a story arc involving the restaurant truly facing closure would be entertaining (and logical) for a final season. You may be under the impression that I’m overthinking this – like Carmy probably would. However, there is precedent for back-to-back seasons closing out a show and, ironically, the production I’m thinking of is a fellow FX original.

Atlanta May Provide The Blueprint For The Bear’s Future

Months from now, we’ll reach the two-year anniversary of the final episode of FX’s Atlanta, which I still miss. The series was unlike anything else on TV, as noted in our own Nick Venable’s 2016 review. After Season 2 aired in 2018, the series went on hiatus – one that was lengthened by COVID-related delays. It was then confirmed in the fall of 2020 that a plan for Seasons 3 and 4 was in place: they would both be filmed back to back. And, in 2022, it was confirmed that the latter set of episodes would close out the series. Later, the show’s co-creator, EP and lead actor, Donald Glover, said the series was ending because it felt like the right time to finish out the story.

It’s important to note that Atlanta isn’t as serialized as The Bear, so there weren’t many specific storylines that carried over between the third and fourth seasons. Nevertheless, together, they both closed out the series on a high note. Considering how FX handled that and that Christopher Storer is arguably as shrewd a creative as Donald Glover, I could certainly see him using a fourth season to wrap up his restaurant-centric show. That’s a bittersweet prospect, as was the case with Glover’s program, but it would be the right call.

Why I’d Be Fine If The Bear Ended With Season 4

Since its debut in 2022, The Bear has delivered hours of high-quality TV and, as a result, many have become invested in the lives of Carmy, Sydney and those in their orbit. The show has not only delivered true tension and legitimate laughs, but it’s also beautifully highlighted the experiences of hardworking restaurant employees. So it would be sad to see the series go, but I’d rather it go out on top. A four-season run is respectable and, in the case of Christopher Storer’s Chicago-based production, it would be lean but substantial, given how eventful the dramedy has been.

Many of us avid TV watchers know there are plenty of shows out there that remained on the air far too long. And, as a result, they ultimately overstayed their welcome. I imagine that The Bear’s team could possibly keep the show going for a season or two (at the most) past the fourth. However, closing up shop with Season 4 would ensure that the series’ lifespan is sharp with no narrative fat on the bone.

This is all obviously speculation at this point, as the show could end up running beyond the reported Season 4. Still, given the recent finale, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if we’re heading into the final chapter of Carmy and the gang’s stories. Regardless of what’s planned beyond that, I’d imagine that news on the fourth season will arrive within the next several months. I’ll be waiting intently to see what the game plan is.

For now, stream The Bear’s first three seasons on Hulu now. Those who’ve already screened it and aren’t quite ready to relive the kitchen chaos can check out the 2024 TV schedule for other viewing options.

For a long time, watching the Star Wars movies in order was all that was necessary to keep track of the biggest events in a galaxy far, far away, but that’s no longer the case. Animated shows like The Clone Wars and Rebels got the ball rolling on the TV side of things, and now there also plenty of live-action shows to keep track of using your Disney+ subscription, including Andor, the prequel to Rogue One. Although Andor earned a lot of positive reception upon premiering in September 2022, Star Wars: The Force Awakens alum Simon Pegg only just started watching it, although the story behind that takes an expected turn.

Pegg, who played Unkar Plutt in the first Sequel Trilogy movie, explained on his Instagram Stories he was initially hesitant to watch Andor because he didn’t feel like the show’s dark tone was a good fit for the Star Wars franchise. He’s now come around and begun Season 1, but hasn’t made it that far because he’s been sidetracked by The Bear, which can be viewed with a Hulu subscription: In his words:

As you can see, Simon Pegg liked what he saw in the first episode of Andor, so it’s not as though he’s tabled the first season for a lack of interest. Rather, the exceptional quality of The Bear, which recently premiered its third season on the 2024 TV schedule, has taken priority, and I don’t blame him. The Hulu series starring Jeremy Allen White has raked in critical acclaim and numerous accolades, including 10 Emmy wins and nominations in three other categories last year.

I’m curious what prompted Simon Pegg to check out The Bear right after watching the first episode of Andor rather than wait until after he was down with the Star Wars show’s first season. Maybe he simply wanted to learn what all the buzz surrounding The Bear is about following Season 3 dropping its 10 episodes, or maybe he wants to space out his Andor experience rather than binge Season 1. Whatever the answer is, Cassian Andor, the story of how you joined the Rebel Alliance will have to take a backseat until Pegg is finished watching Carmy Berzatto’s stressful life running a restaurant in Chicago.

For fans of one or both of these shows, The Bear Season 4 is officially on the way following Season 3’s cliffhanger ending, and Andor Season 2 is expected to premiere sometime in 2025 on the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows slate. Simon Pegg can be seen reprising Benji Dunn in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, which is streamable with a Paramount+ subscription.

Okay, so The Bear Season 3 has finally come—and I am stressed as all hell—but we need to talk about "Ice Chips." 

At this point, if you're a fan of The Bear, you've probably already developed a few grey hairs. While the show itself is considered one of the best shows on Hulu, it certainly isn't for the faint of heart. There are plenty of intense moments that will either make you scream, cry, or do both at the same time – all while probably making you hungry. 

But you want to know what else The Bear has? Great guest actors. And one of those guest actors came back for Season 3 of the show – Jamie Lee Curtis as Donna, Carmy and Sugar's (Natalie) mother. But why am I talking specifically about her episode this time around? Let's get into the reasons. 

How The Bear Season 3 Stressed Me Out During My Binge 

When The Bear Season 3 dropped, I was pretty much glued to my couch from the first episode onwards because I have no self-control whatsoever. 

Here's the thing with me—do I love the weekly structure of episodes when it comes to some of the best shows on Max, or maybe when Netflix decides to release their series weekly? Sure, I do. It builds up hype. 

But will I willingly force myself to spread out a show if all the episodes drop at once? No, I am not that strong, and I don't think anyone has ever expected me to be. The Bear is one of those examples – I will sit down and binge every episode no matter what, even if it keeps me up until one in the morning…which this did. 

Regardless, I like to binge shows, and The Bear has always been one that means a lot to me. As someone who has a passion for cooking and loves to watch the best cooking shows out there, this was a show that I knew I would love from the first season. It's made me even happier seeing how popular it has gotten over the last few years. But man, Season 3 had me stressed. 

Honestly, it's not even a fact that it didn't feel like thy had a functional kitchen anymore. It just felt like everyone was always mad. There was rarely any compromise, which is what makes a good drama (I still can't believe this show is labeled as a comedy), and it's almost too much for my little heart to handle. I found myself near tears during certain parts of the episodes. 

That overwhelming feeling of needing to be perfect, to make sure everything runs smoothly, but also having all these other little instances in their lives that turn it all upside down—it hits something in me and stresses me out beyond belief. But I actually had a bit of a break when we got to Episode 8, otherwise known as "Ice Chips."

Jamie Lee Curtis Is Still Amazing As Donna In "Ice Chips" 

During Season 2 of The Bear, I specifically wrote a piece about Jamie Lee Curtis in the episode "Fishes" and how she appeared in the Season 2 finale as well. I was blown away by her performance and knew without a doubt that I needed this Oscar-winner to come back for Season 3. 

I don't know why I didn't think it would happen, considering there were a good amount of return guest stars for Season 3, but when I saw Curtis appear as Donna again, I just about screamed and said, "There she is!" 

Jamie Lee Curtis' best movies are endless, and her time on television is divine, but honestly, I think her role as Donna has become one of my favorites she has ever done – and that's even counting my love for her in the Halloween films. Donna is one of the emotionally complex characters that makes me really think about whether I like her or not, and that's what makes a great actor. 

At first, Donna seems like a volatile mother. She screams, does abusive things, and can be emotionally manipulative, as we've seen from flashbacks. But Curtis is able to bring humanity into this woman, and we really start to see the cracks underneath the surface that have made her this way, the things that have shaped her into who she believed she had to become to not only deal with her children but her family, as well. 

We see that in her interactions with Sugar throughout "Ice Chips," there is good in her despite the horrible things she has done. She still has this love for her children that she recalls to this day, and that makes her all the better. 

This Episode Was My Favorite Of The Season For A Few Reasons 

The biological act of giving birth is one of the most beautiful things a woman can do, and Sugar has feared it for some time in the show. Now, in her hour of need, she has to rely on her mother—the only person who answered the phone and the person she is most afraid of disappointing because of their past. 

I loved this episode for a few reasons, and they're mainly these two characters. Not only is the act of a mother aiding her daughter into birthing the next generation beautiful, but it's how it's done that makes me emotional. 

It's the slow giving in to Donna's breathing style that Sugar does to help with the contractions. It's the way that, through the pain, Donna and Sugar have some of the most honest conversations they have ever had because she is all Sugar has right now. It's that moment where Donna plays the same song for Sugar that she played when Sugar was born – gosh, I'm getting choked up thinking about it. 

There is something so simple about this episode – a mother and a daughter welcoming a new daughter and granddaughter – but something so beautifully human. I'm also astounded that I somehow began this episode terrified for Sugar because her mother was there (thanks to the past they have) to becoming happy her mother came for her – and that's just excellent television writing. 

I Have High Hopes For Donna And Natalie Moving Forward 

Look, The Bear cast is incredibly talented. We have seen some amazing stories so far, and I'm sure we'll continue to see more in Season 4. I'm sure I'll end up loving Richie even more or falling more in love with Sydney and her incredible cooking…but I really, desperately want to see more Donna and Sugar. Or at least more Donna, because this episode, to me, was a turning point. 

Even when Sugar's husband arrives, we can see how emotional Donna is to leave her daughter and let her be with the man Sugar truly feels safe with. Those tears in her eyes, the way she departs… there's so much you can tell about someone from just the way they walk. 

I genuinely have nothing but high hopes for these two. In The Bear, we are always so focused on the environment of a high-paced kitchen, the yelling and screaming, the cursing and the drama…but "Ice Chips" is the perfect example of how we can slow down and focus on two characters growing, healing, and being there for each other in a show where everything feels as if it is falling apart in every other episode. It was a breath of fresh air that didn't feel forced to me. 

That, readers, is how you make great television. 

I'm not sure what's next for Donna and Sugar. I'm curious if we'll even see them together again on screen, as much as I'd love to. For now, I at least have this episode and moment in time where it felt, if not just for a minute, that they connected. And, maybe that's all I need. 

…But for real, please bring back Curtis for Season 4. Pretty please!

Spoilers ahead for The Bear Season 3's finale.

Since its first season debuted, The Bear has been called one of the best Hulu original shows. The acclaimed series dominated at the 2024 Emmy Awards, so the pressure was on for the third season to similarly deliver. And while The Bear's third installment was gorgeous, I felt let down by that finale. Let's break it all down.

The Bear Season 3 was another stunning installment of the beloved series (and available to stream with a Hulu subscription). While some fans want to see Carmy and Sydney together, I'm more invested in the state of the titular restaurant, and the other interpersonal dynamics at play. And while we got emotional moments like Sugar's reunion with her mother in the delivery room, I thought that the restaurant itself took a backseat. And the finale really hammered that home.

While Season 2 of The Bear was about on the road to the restaurant's opening, the third season didn't have as focused of a narrative. The last few episodes made it clear that reviews are going to make or break the new place, and the audience is shown excerpts from imaginary headlines coming from the minds of both Carmy and Syd. So that ends up being exactly what the audience (myself included) looked forward to in the Season 3 finale.

The finale saw Carmy finally confront his boss from hell/ abuser Chef David, to unfortunate results. Add in Sydney failing to tell Carmy about her job offer, and things felt pretty bleak. As such, when the culinary review for The Bear finally dropped, we couldn't really make it out. Instead the audience is shown brief flashes of a mixed variety of adjectives. But since this is filmed the same way as all the fake reviews that we'd previously seen, it wasn't clear if it were real. That is, until Jeremy Allen White lets out a final F-bomb of disappointment. 

The Season 3 finale was still a great episode, especially as it featured the return of The Bear guest stars that we fell in love with throughout Season 2. But it was the ending that bothered me. I needed to see more of this review, for better or worse. And since the season was less plot-driven than its predecessors, that was doubly important for me.

To be clear, I am still a HUGE fan of The Bear, and was once again reduced to tears multiples throughout my binge of Season 3. Jamie Lee Curtis' character Donna continues to tug at my heart strings, and I'm really rooting for Carmy and Richie to finally bury the hatchet. There's a reason I flew through the entire third season so quick: I love the show and it's a gorgeous piece of art. 

Season 3 took some amazing risks, including it's first, musical episode through Carmy's past. The entire season played with time in this way, with the show's protagonists history with cooking enveloping us. Perhaps Season 2's countdown to opening day was just a structure I was hoping for, especially related to plot point about the restaurant's reviews. Hopefully the wait for Season 4 isn't too long, because fans like me no doubt have questions about what comes next.

The Bear is streaming in its entirety on Hulu. Check out the TV premiere list to plan your next binge watch. 

The Bear has been a brilliant spotlight highlighting the immense acting talents of star Ayo Edebiri – who has earned widespread acclaim for her role as Sydney Adamu – but in Season 3, the show gives her a different opportunity to showcase her special skills. She makes her directorial debut with the sixth episode of the new run, titled "Napkins, and unsurprisingly, it's one of the best of the bunch. It's a new hat for her to wear in the industry, but it doesn't seem as though it's going to be the last time she dons it, as she apparently loved the experience.

During a recent press conference for The Bear Season 3 (which is now available to stream with a Hulu subscription), Ayo Edebiri was asked about her first time in the director's chair, and she gushed about the opportunity and her collaborators. Said the actor-cum-director,

SPOILER WARNING: The rest of this article contains light spoilers for The Bear Season 3. If you have not yet watched episode 6, proceed at your own risk!

The episode "Napkins" specifically focuses on the backstory of Liza Colón-Zayas' Tina Marrero and how she ended up working at The Beef. Beginning in 2018, we re-meet Tina as she gets laid off from her job and goes on the hunt for new employment. She faces rejection everywhere she goes, but she finds herself wandering into The Beef and has a wonderful meeting and conversation with Mikey Berzatto (Jon Bernthal).

It's a story that provides wonderful insight into Tina as a character and should make rewatching early seasons of The Bear interesting as we have a deeper understanding of her loyalty to Mikey and the classic way that The Beef operated under his leadership.

As for how Ayo Edebiri ended up helming that specific episode, she noted that making her directorial debut is something that she had discussed with showrunner Christopher Storer prior to Season 3. She also noted that she wasn't the only special guest filmmaker for the run:

Continuing, Edebiri said that the producers had an idea who they wanted to direct which episodes, but when it came to the idea of having her take "Napkins," they were very much on the same page. She said,

It certainly worked out well, and this surely won't be the last time we hear about Ayo Edebiri exercising her talents behind the camera.

As noted, all 10 episodes of The Bear Season 3 are now available to stream, and to learn about what else is coming to the small screen in the weeks and months ahead, be sure to consult our 2024 TV Premiere Schedule.

I know I might make a lot of you mad when I say this, but I passionately believe Carmy and Sydney should NEVER be romantically involved in The Bear. Ever since the Chicago-based restaurant dramedy premiered, there’s been a passionate group of fans who want the lead characters of The Bear cast – Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri – to be together, and I’m here to say, I think that’s a terrible idea.

So, now that Season 3 of The Bear has dropped on the 2024 TV schedule, and it just further proved my point about Sydney and Carmy, now feels like the right time to do a deep dive into why these two characters should never, ever fall in love.

I’ve Always Liked Carmy And Sydney’s Complicated Friendship

One of my favorite dynamics when it comes to The Bear’s characters is the relationship between Carmy and Sydney. Sometimes they have a mentor and mentee kind of vibe, other times they’re business equals, occasionally they seem like real friends and all of the time it’s interesting to see how they’re working together to help their business succeed.

In Season 1, we saw Carmy mentoring Sydney (or at least trying to) while they ran The Beef. In Season 2, we saw them work as collaborators, creating the menu for The Bear and running the new kitchen. And in Season 3…well, things got complicated, and we’ll talk about that later.

Basically, these two have always grown together in the confines of the business, and through that, a lovely (and complex) friendship has been created. This relationship is at the heart of the series, and it's one of the reasons why it’s one of Hulu’s best shows. Adding romance into this would make it worse because I don’t think it’s logical and if anything it’d make the show more stressful.

The Show Is Already Stressful, We Don’t Need A Workplace Romance Complicating Matters

The last thing I want to see is a doomed relationship.

I know some fans think there’s chemistry between Carmy and Sydney, and I know they’d love to see them kiss. That one moment might be great for them, however, if a romance like that continued on the show, there’s no way it’d be fun to watch.

Even in happy comedies like The Office, Parks and Rec and Abbott Elementary, workplace romances make matters complicated before they get better. Take the stress and tension you felt during those and turn the dial all the way up, and that's what we'd get on The Bear.

A workplace romance in The Bear is just asking for more chaos. I don’t think anyone at this restaurant could handle a relationship with someone they also work with, especially Sydney and Carmy. They run the business, they constantly butt heads, and if you add romance into that equation, I’m positive it wouldn’t end well, therefore, I don’t think I’d ever want to see it.

The series is already incredibly stressful, I don’t need to see Carmy and Sydney trying to navigate a romantic relationship too. Plus, after seeing how Jeremy Allen White’s character treated Ayo Edebiri in the latest season of The Bear (which you can stream with a Hulu subscription), there’s no chance they could maintain a healthy romantic relationship at all, in my humble opinion.

Here’s your chance to stop reading if you haven’t seen Season 3 of The Bear! We’re about to get into the weeds of the Emmy-winning show’s newest episodes.

What Happens Between Carmy And Sydney In Season 3, Made Me Believe They Could Never Be Together 

As Jeremy Allen White said, Carmy’s mentality is “challenging,” to put it lightly, this season, and it deeply impacts everyone on the show, especially Sydney.

In the first few episodes, Carmy gives everyone non-negotiables, which involves changing the menu every day. So, all that hard work Sydney and Carmy put into their menu last season was essentially thrown out the window. Then, as the season goes on, when she tries to ask him something or tries to give input on the menu or a decision for the business, she gets shut down.

By the end of the season, both characters seem like shells of themselves, and I think it’s because Carmy has unintentionally tried to control everything so much that it’s made his employees, especially Sydney feel un-cared for in the workplace.

Sydney is considering leaving, she hasn’t signed the business agreement because of how controlling Carmy is, and it’s also the thing that is straining their partnership and friendship.

At this point, a romance between these two is completely out of the question. There’s no way it could happen now, and even if they get back to a place where their relationship is healthy, it should never be romantic. That’s because on top of this simply not working for this show and these characters, it’s also so important to see platonic friendships and partnerships on television.

It’s Important To Represent Platonic Friendship And Partnership On TV

One of my favorite friendships on Ted Lasso was Ted and Rebecca’s. The owner and head coach of AFC Richmond went from being co-workers to really good friends, and they were such great support systems for each other. While fans really wanted Tedbecca to happen romantically, and the show even teased Ted and Rebecca in Season 3, it never happened, thankfully.

Seeing platonic and professional friendship is vital, and it’s not something we see often enough. I think it’s important to see men and women being friends and developing important bonds that aren’t based in romance. Ted Lasso did it, so why can't The Bear?

While I love a romance – I’ve been shipping Gregory and Janine on Abbott Elementary since day one – I also adore seeing two people be really good friends who support each other and help one another succeed. That’s what Carmy and Sydney can be, and I think it’s what they want to be.

We’ve gotten a taste of how powerful Carmy and Sydney’s friendship is, and how they can truly help each other achieve their goals. Romance would ruin that, as we’ve discussed. It’d take the focus off their professional relationship and goals, and that’s the last thing I want to see.

Watching them find success together with The Bear is one of my favorite elements of the show, and I can’t bear to see it ruined (even though it’s currently at a breaking point in the show) because of unnecessary romance.

At no point has it really felt like Carmy and Sydney could be a romantic couple, and I’ve never wanted it. Plus, as Vulture compiled, Ayo Edebiri and Jeremy Allen White have said it will never happen many times.

While I know fans want it, and as much as I love Carmy and Sydney as a duo, I will never be able to ship them as a couple.

In my humble opinion, The Bear is one of the best shows available on TV at the moment… if not ever. Now that the show is back on Hulu for a third season, we are finally able to learn how running a new restaurant is mentally affecting Carmy’s daily life, and whether or not it will impact his ongoing relationships with Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), Cousin (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Claire (Molly Gordon). Off screen, however, we were curious how involvement in a show like The Bear would change the way that the cast views restaurants themselves, and the normally enjoyable act of eating out. Once you have seen how the sausage is made – and how a reputable joint is run – are you able to treat a meal any differently?

We got first-hand insight from the cast of The Bear themselves during a recent press day ahead of the drop of The Bear Season 3. They had strong opinions on how to view the season (the Binge, or the Pace), but lightened up when the conversation shifted to eating out. More than anything, it seems like working on The Bear have given the cast a newfound respect for the establishment’s workers, as Ayo Edebiri told CinemaBlend:

Once you have played someone who is working day and night to deliver the best dining experience possible, you 100% want to lighten the load of the servers who are doing it in real life. This rings especially true for Abby Elliott, who plays Carm’s sister “Sugar” on the show. Natalie occupies the role of Mother Hen at the restaurant, so it wasn’t that surprising that she saw the question from the point of view of a mom, explaining:

To which The Bear star Jeremy Allen White summed up:

Thanks to The Bear, I now also have a hypersensitivity to Taylor Swift’s “Love Story,” the way that meats and fish are sliced, and Jon Bernthal, in general. Then again, I was late to The Bear, and had no idea how emotionally attached I would get to each and every character. But I’m not alone in this, as the show basically has been cleaning up on the awards circuit from the moment it made its debut. We will be curious to see how The Bear Season 3 is received now that it has dropped, so dive in and enjoy if you have a Hulu subscription and the time to watch.