The story
Carmy Berzatto has cooked in some of the world's most celebrated restaurants, yet grief brings him back to Chicago to take charge of the beef sandwich joint his late brother left behind. The books are a mess, the kitchen is falling apart and the crew resent being told what to do. With an ambitious young sous-chef at his side, he tries to drag the place towards fine-dining standards while every frantic service pulls old wounds open.
Why it matters
Made by FX but premiered on Hulu under the FX on Hulu banner, The Bear showed a cable brand launching its prestige work on streaming first. Its frantic kitchen scenes won praise from real chefs, it took the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, and in 2024 it set a record for comedy nominations.
Notable facts
- Its entire first season was released at once on FX on Hulu on 23 June 2022; internationally it streams in the Star hub on Disney+. (source)
- In 2024 it received 23 Emmy nominations, a record for a series in comedy categories, beating the 22 that 30 Rock earned in 2009. (source)
- JustWatch reported that it was the third most-streamed show in the US in 2024. (source)
- Its fifth season was released on FX on Hulu with a weekly broadcast on FX from the same day, the first returning FX on Hulu series to be simulcast on the channel. (source)