Live from 2024 Emmys night, it's Laraine Newman's hot take about The Bear!
Now, the Saturday Night Live alum isn't the only one who's got thoughts about whether or not the defending champion in the Outstanding Comedy Series category and the winner of another 11 Emmys this year is, in fact, a comedy.
Even Emmys host Eugene Levy, emceeing the proceedings with son Dan Levy, had his fun with the FX show's lacking laugh quotient.
"The Bear is nominated for 23 Emmys tonight, making it the most nominated comedy in history," the Schitt's Creek alum noted during their opening monologue. “Now, I love the show and I know some of you might be expecting us to make a joke about whether The Bear is really a comedy."
"But," he added, "in the true spirit of The Bear, we will not be making any jokes."
However, Newman does have a daughter, Hannah Einbinder, who stars in a show that was up against The Bear in many of those comedy categories.
Jean Smart did win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Hacks, but by then Newman had been posting away on X for hours. (See the whole list of winners from the 2024 Emmys here.)
"Every time I think about The Bear being in the comedy category for the Emmys I can feel an ulcer developing," she wrote at 3:25 p.m. Los Angeles time (i.e. smack in the middle of the red carpet).
Then, once The Bear's Liza Colón-Zayas had topped Einbinder (as well as Carol Burnett, Janelle James, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Meryl Streep) for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy, Newman fired off another post at 5:27 p.m.
Newman also, incidentally, deleted the post—which actually garned many replies of agreement, but presumably also left a bad taste in a few too many dramedy fans' mouths. "I know," she posted in reply to someone asking if that was necessary. "I took it down. Not my best moment."
(Some of the hate included digs at her daughter being a nepo baby, a topic Einbinder has weighed in on: "Ever-present," she quipped to Interview in May regarding the children of celebs. "Here to stay.")
Newman clarified at 7:37 p.m., "I think the Bear is a great show but IMHO it's not a comedy- not even a dark comedy."
And then, a half-hour later, Hacks won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series. So...
While The Bear didn't repeat in the top category, Colón-Zayas will probably win again next year (or she should win something, whichever category embraces the hard-to-pin-down show) for the heartbreaking-turned-heartwarming Tina-centric episode that was one of the highlights of the polarizing and oft-heartbreaking third season that premiered this past summer.
Also during the Sept. 15 ceremony, Jeremy Allen White won for Outstanding Lead Actor and Ebon Moss-Bachrach took the prize for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, while Christopher Storer won for directing. Jamie Lee Curtis and Jon Bernthal picked up guest actress and actor wins at the Creative Arts Emmys last weekend for season two's epic "Fishes" episode.
While Newman certainly provided a moment, look at all the candid moments you missed that occurred at the 2024 Emmy Awards:
(Originally published Sept. 15, 2024, at 7:05 p.m. PT)
Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey
The longtime couple looked marvelous during their date night at the Emmys, walking the red carpet in front of the FIJI Water bar.
Elizabeth Debicki
FIJI Water takes the crown for the Netflix star, who took home a statue for portraying Princess Diana in The Crown.
Martin Short and Meryl Streep
Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez
These two were clearly loving each other like a love song, baby.
Stephen Nedoroscik, Ilona Maher, Caeleb Dressel and Ezra Frech,
The Olympians came in HOT to help present the award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series.
Eugene Levy, Annie Murphy and Dan Levy
It was a Schitt's Creek reunion for the books, and clearly Annie Murphy was excited to be there.
Antony Starr, Kathy Bates and Giancarlo Esposito
Antony Starr, Kathy Bates and Giancarlo Esposito were giving villain as they handed out the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig and Carol Burnett
Time to bow down to just a few of the Queens of Comedy.
Sofia Vergara, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Justin Mikita
The Modern Family alums were serving thorougly modern selfie looks.
Lamorne Morris
The Fargo actor picked up an award and proved he definitely knows where babies come from.
Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern
The Big Little Lies costars were clearly intrigued by something off in the distance.
Anna Sawai
The Shogun star broke down in tears as she went up to accept her award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Janelle James and Chris Perfetti
The Abbott Elementary costars were looking abb-solutely fabulous.
Tess McCracken and Stephen Nedoroscik
Tess knows she's got the pommel horse king by her side.
Da'Vine Joy Randolph
The Only Murders in the Building star gracefully waited for her moment in the spotlight.
Catherine O'Hara
Catherine O'Hara was thrilled to present Hacks with the trophy for Outstanding Comedy Series.
Liza Colón-Zayas
The Bear star admitted she didn't prepare a speech while accepting her Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress, "How could I have thought it would be possible to be in the presence of Meryl Streep and Carol Burnett and Janelle and Sheryl Lee Ralph?"
Allison Janney and Martin Sheen
Some of The West Wing cast reunited at the Emmys, 25 years after the series aired in 1999.
The West Wing cast
The cast of The West Wing, including Allison, Martin, Dulé Hill, Janel Moloney and Richard Schiff presented the award for Outstanding Drama Series to Shogun.
Lisa Ann Walter
The Abbott Elementary actress taught everyone how to dazzle on the Emmys red carpet.
Jean Smart and Katilin Olson
The Hacks stars caught up on the Emmys red carpet.
Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey
The Fellow Travelers costars reunited on the Emmys 2024 red carpet.
Taika Waititi and Rita Ora
The Reservation Dogs producer assisted Rita with her gown on the Emmys red carpet.
Jelly Roll
Jelly Roll sang during the In Memoriam segment which honored the late Shannen Doherty, Bob Newhart, Richard Lewis and more.
Andrew Scott and Dakota Fanning
The Ripley costars were both rocking that Emmys nominee glow.
Eugene Levy and Dan Levy
The father son hosting duo put each other on blast in more ways than one.
Jennifer Aniston
The Morning Show actress was thrilled to wave to her adoring fans.
Alan Cumming & The Crew of The Traitors
The Traitors folks were feel not traitorous at all after winning the Emmy for Outstanding Reality Competition Program.
The Bear Cast
Jeremy Allen White, Liza Colón-Zayas and Ebon Moss-Bachrach from The Bear know that the cast that wins Emmys together stays together.
Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey
Get someone who looks at you the way Robert Downey Jr. looks at his wife of 17 years.