Emmys: “The Bear” and “White Lotus”, the series that generated controversy due to their classification

In today’s changing television landscape, where the lines between comedy and drama become increasingly intertwined, two series have recently stood out for the controversy surrounding their classification in the Emmy Awards 2023: “The Bear” and “White Lotus”. These series, acclaimed by both critics and the public, have generated a debate about the categorization of works in the modern era of television.

Historically, the Emmys have tended to categorize 30-minute shows as comedies and longer ones as dramas. However, this distinction has become increasingly blurred with series that mix elements of both genres. Examples like “The Wonder Years,” “Ally McBeal,” and “Desperate Housewives” have shown how dramatic elements can be integrated into comedies. Likewise, series like “Atlanta” and “Barry” have earned recognition in comedy categories despite adopting more serious tones.

This phenomenon is not recent; From series such as “The Wonder Years”, “Ally McBeal” and “Desperate Housewives”, dramatic elements have been explored within narrative genres traditionally considered comedy. The evolution of comedy at the Emmy Awards reflects this change. In the past, comedy had to generate constant laughs to be considered such, with classic examples such as “I Love Lucy,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “Taxi.” However, in recent decades, series such as “The Wonder Years,” “Ally McBeal” and “Desperate Housewives” have incorporated more notable dramatic elements, blurring the lines between comedy and drama.

This debate intensifies when considering cases such as that of Uzo Aduba in “Orange is the New Black,” who won Emmy Awards in both the categories of actress in a comedy and in a drama for the same role in the same series. This ambiguity in classification reflects a growing trend in contemporary television, where comedies are often thought-provoking and dramas can provoke laughter.

The Bear A comedy?

“The Bear”, a series that has stood out at the top of the awards this season of awards, including the Emmy, Critics Choice Awards and the Golden Globes, has been classified in the “Comedy” category. However, this designation has generated confusion and debate, as many consider the FX production to have a more dramatic than satirical tone. On social media, audiences have expressed surprise and questioning about this classification, comparing it to other comedies such as “Ted Lasso,” “Abbott Elementary,” “Barry,” “Only Murders in the Building” and “Wednesday.”

The series addresses topics such as grief, anxiety and depression, moving away from conventional comedy formats to adopt a more tense and darker narrative. Despite this, it has been presented at the awards as a comedy, probably due to its thirty-minute episode format, a length typically associated with comedies.

Despite this, Star Plus, which broadcasts the series in Latin America, uses the labels “Drama” and “Comedy”, reflecting this duality. Publications such as ScreenRant and Vanity Fair have analyzed this phenomenon, suggesting that “The Bear” could be using a strategy to increase its chances of success in a less competitive category. This tactic appears to be effective, as evidenced by its 13 award nominations, including writing, directing, and leading actor.

White Lotus A drama?

On the other hand, “White Lotus”, which has been classified as a drama, has experienced an opposite phenomenon. Some argue that it should be considered a comedy, given the nature of its content. This reverse approach has also generated discussion, highlighting the fluidity of genres in contemporary television.

The series is notable for its ability to integrate comedic elements into a plot with serious and often dark themes. Using satirical humor, “White Lotus” explores issues of class, privilege and social dynamics, all with an ironic tone and sharp social observation, typical characteristics of comedy.

Categorizing a series as a comedy or drama often falls to the studios, which are responsible for submitting their shows for awards. In the case of “The Bear” and “White Lotus,” the decision to present them as comedy and drama, respectively, could be related to a strategy to link them to the genres in which they were nominated. However, this decision continues to surprise the public who has closely followed the characters of both series.