The actor who portrays Carmen Berzatto, Jeremy Allen White, admits that he was unsure of The Bear’s genre during the production of the popular Hulu original series. The comedy-drama centers on Carmen, a successful chef in the haute cuisine industry who, following the passing of his older brother, relocates to Chicago to manage his family’s sandwich shop. Along with a diverse group of cooks and members of his family, with whom he has complicated relationships, Carmen works to revive the failing restaurant while battling the ghosts of his traumatic past. The Bear has been renewed for a second season after becoming one of the most popular shows in 2022.
White, the star of The Bear, admits in an interview with Variety that when he first discussed the project with Christopher Storer, the show’s creator, he was unable to identify the show’s genre. The actor discusses the significance of tone and energy in capturing the clearly demanding and fast-paced life in a restaurant kitchen in his explanation of where he took his cues without the guidance of a specific genre. See what he had to say after the break:
“It wasn’t really pitched as a drama or a comedy. I think we were just like trying to focus on this world and [trying] to do it justice… I think Chris spoke to me mostly about tone. We talked about the Safdie brothers a lot and that energy and then we talked a lot about kitchens and the kind of pressure and sacrifice of time for these people.”
Why The Bear First Season Was Successful
Although distinct, The Bear’s apparent lack of a specific genre has only served to further its status as one of the most well-liked new shows of 2022. In fact, the ease with which its scenes switch from drama to comedy has made it a show about more than just the life of a chef, touching on subjects like addiction and grief as well as ambition in the face of difficulty. The supporting cast of distinctive characters, including Ayo Edibiri’s breakout performance as Sydney, a young chef, ensures that Carmen never dwells in one place for too long before moving on to the next.
Beyond its broad scope, The Bear has won praise for its accurate portrayal of the restaurant business. The Bear deviates from portraying a glamorous image of chefs’ commitments and working conditions, in contrast to many films and television shows that depict kitchen life. Many real-life chefs and cooks have expressed their appreciation for this uncommon, hyperrealistic look at what they do because of the emphasis on the stress and pressure that Carmen and the rest of his team experience.
What We Know About The Bear Season 2
Just three weeks after the upbeat conclusion of season 1, FX and Hulu revealed that The Bear would return for a second season. Although there hasn’t been any official word on what to anticipate from the plot moving forward, the season 1 finale has opened up a lot of possibilities because Carmen found a large sum of money that his late brother had hidden in tomato cans. This money allowed him to close The Original Beef and replace it with The Bear. This suggests that season 2 might mark Carmen’s company’s new beginning. Co-showrunners Storer and Joanna Calo anticipate that The Bear season 2 will premiere on Hulu this year.
Source: Variety