It’s unclear who had the last laugh at the Emmys on Sunday night. The bear broke its 2023 record with 11 wins, but failed to win the statue for Outstanding Comedy Series. The Academy nominated The bear 23 times, a record for a comedy series. Sunday’s awards ceremony honored the second season of the Chicago-set show, which premiered last year.

The bear‘s 11 awards are the most Emmys won by a comedy in a single year, surpassing the show’s previous standard of 10, set in 2023. Jeremy Allen White (Carmen Berzatto) once again won outstanding lead actor in a comedy series. Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Richie Jerimovich) also won again for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series, beating co-star Lionel Boyce (Marcus Brooks), who was also nominated.

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Liza Colón-Zayas (Tina Marrero) took the stage and admitted she hadn’t prepared a speech. She made history as the first Latina to win in her category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (a category packed with talent from Meryl Streep to Carol Burnett – and that’s not even counting the numerous Abbott Elementary School Nominees).

Park Ridge’s Christopher Storer – the show’s co-creator, whose childhood friendship with the family that runs Mr. Beef, the real-life Italian beef stand in downtown Chicago, formed the basis for the series – won the award for outstanding directing in a comedy series. The award was given for the emotional season two Christmas episode “Fishes.”

At the Creative Arts Emmys on Sunday, September 8, “Fishes” won for a number of guest stars. Jamie Lee Curtis (Donna Berzatto) won for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. Jon Bernthal (Michael Berzatto) won for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. Bob Odenkirk (Uncle Lee) and Will Poulter (Pastry Chef Luca) were also nominated for their roles in the episode. “Fishes” also won for Outstanding Editing in a Single-Camera Comedy Series.

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The episode “Forks,” which was mostly filmed at the Michelin-starred restaurant Ever in Chicago – with a brief detour to deep-dish legend Pequod’s in Lincoln Park — won the award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Half Hour). The episode also won the award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half Hour) and Animation.

The bear also won the award for outstanding casting in a comedy series.

Once again, there was a stir over the show’s classification as a comedy. Co-host Eugene Levy quipped, “Well, I love the show, and I know some of you might be expecting us to make a joke about whether The bear is actually a comedy. But in the true spirit of The bearwe will not joke.”

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Also, the show didn’t take home the trophy for outstanding comedy, with stand-up themes from Las Vegas Hacking to win in that category. That sparked speculation about whether the show would have done better as a drama (though it’s hard to top 11 wins). It’s something to watch in 2025, especially since the final episode, Season 3, received lukewarm reviews.

The show launched in 2022 and became a pop culture phenomenon as it gave the general public a behind-the-scenes look at the pressures restaurant workers regularly face, shining a spotlight on several Chicago establishments in the process. Some in the industry refuse to watch the show as the show’s portrayal of anxiety hits too close to home for them. The cast and crew have completed much of the work on Season 4, which could be the final chapter in the saga (FX has not confirmed this).