AceShowbiz - "Saturday Night Live" alumna Laraine Newman recently stirred the pot ahead of the 76th annual Emmy Awards by expressing her disdain for the categorization of "The Bear" in the comedy category. Newman took to social media platform X to voice her concerns, stating, "Every time I think about 'The Bear' being in the comedy category for the Emmys I can feel an ulcer developing." Her posts, which have since been deleted, encapsulated a sentiment shared by many: that 'The Bear', despite winning accolades as a comedy, does not fit the traditional mold of the genre.

The FX series, centered around a young chef's journey to transform his late brother's Chicago sandwich shop into a fine dining establishment, leans heavily into themes of personal and familial trauma. This has led critics and fans alike to question its classification. While the show has moments of levity, largely due to Ebon Moss-Bachrach's character, the predominant narrative is more dramatic. Despite these comedic moments, Newman and others argue that "The Bear" does not meet the criteria of a comedy - not even as a dark comedy.

Newman wasn't alone in her frustration. The online discourse has been persistent, gaining traction especially after 'The Bear' 's performance in January's delayed Emmys, where it secured ten nominations. During the latest ceremony, as the series snagged eleven wins - breaking its own record - the debate found its way into the Emmys monologue. Co-hosts Dan Levy and Eugene Levy quipped, "I know some of you might be expecting us to make a joke about whether 'The Bear' is a comedy, but in true spirit of The Bear we will not be making any jokes."

Newman's daughter, Hannah Einbinder, was also outshined by "The Bear" star Liza Colon-Zayas, who won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. This win added fuel to Newman's fire, as she expressed regret over her initial posts but maintained her stance, "I regret that post and I think the actress who won is wonderful in that role. But the other people in the various categories that lost to The Bear, in my opinion, we're robbed."

The ongoing debate brings into focus the Emmys' categorization issues, with many proposing the introduction of a "dramedy" category to accommodate such genre-blending series. While "The Bear" did not win Outstanding Comedy Series this year - a title that went to "Hacks" - its record-breaking wins have indelibly sparked discourse on what truly defines a comedy in today's television landscape.