‘The Bear’ is poised to be the next comedy to serve up 4 supporting actor Emmy nominees

Season 1 of “The Bear” earned one Best Comedy Supporting Actor Emmy nomination for eventual winner Ebon Moss-Bachrach, but you can definitely bet on that number increasing for Season 2. The reigning Best Comedy Series champ is forecasted to receive four supporting actor bids this year, which would make it just the third show after “Modern Family” and “Ted Lasso” to quadruple up in the category.

In addition to Moss-Bachrach, who is expected to defend his crown and is way out in front in the odds, Oliver Platt (third place), Matty Matheson (fifth) and Lionel Boyce (seventh) are all in the top seven. “Abbott Elementary’s” Tyler James Williams (second), “Only Murders in the Building’s” Paul Rudd (fourth) and “Hacks'” Carl Clemons-Hopkins (sixth) are the other expected nominees.

Depending on the number of submissions, comedy supporting actor could return to eight slots, as was the case from 2020-22, which would be even better news for “The Bear.” Also good: There are five open slots as Moss-Bachrach and Williams are the only 2023 nominees who are eligible to return in a category that in recent years has been flooded by multiple “Ted Lasso” and “Barry” actors.

But the biggest factor that would help “The Bear” in securing four slots is a simple one: It’s Emmy voters’ favorite show. The FX hit won 10 Emmys for its first season — four at the Creative Arts and all six categories in which it was nominated at the delayed main ceremony in January — breaking the record for the most wins for a first-year comedy (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s” eight in 2018) and the most wins for a freshman series overall (“The West Wing’s” nine in 2000). And we know what the acting branch does when voters really, really love a show: They vote for basically every actor on said show.

SEE Emmy Experts Typing: Will ‘The Bear’ pull off a full sweep for Season 2?

“Succession” and “The White Lotus” have ruled the drama and limited acting categories in recent years. Last year, the TV academy eliminated the unlimited ballot, which allowed voters to nominate as many people/shows as they want, in favor of a restricted ballot, where they could only nominate up to the number of slots in a category (so seven picks for comedy supporting actor last year). But that did little to stem the popular show domination. Best Drama Supporting Actor featured four “Succession” dudes” and four “White Lotus” dudes. The drama guest categories were just performers from “Succession” (five) and “The Last of Us” (seven).

“The Bear” is also ripe for an Emmy explosion for its acclaimed second season, which dropped during the last few days of nomination voting last year. Platt received a guest actor bid last year but will compete in supporting this time as he was in six of Season 2’s 10 episodes. A five-time nominee, the actor has a perfect submission in “Omelette,” in which his Uncle Jimmy recounts the infamous Steve Bartman incident to Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) to impart some pearls of wisdom. Boyce, who plays fan favorite Marcus, also has an ideal submission in the third episode, “Honeydew,” a Marcus-focused installment as he trains under Will Poulter‘s dessert chef Luca in Copenhagen. Matheson’s Neil Fak provides lots of the LOLs, especially opposite Richie (Moss-Bachrach), on a show that many feel isn’t funny enough or at all. If he gets in, it’d be a Nicholas Braun-esque nomination.

And don’t think four nominees will prevent any of them from prevailing, likely to be Moss-Bachrach, whose Season 2 showcase “Forks” no doubt aided in his Season 1 win. “Modern Family” fielded four nominees in 2011 and 2012, back when the category was set at six slots, with Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ed O’Neill and Eric Stonestreet, and saw victories for Burrell in 2011 and Stonestreet the following year. Granted, this was under the tape system. “Ted Lasso” competed under the current popular vote system and nabbed four spots in 2021, for its first season, with Brett Goldstein, who won, Brendan Hunt, Nick Mohammed and Jeremy Swift.

“Modern Family” and “Ted Lasso” won Best Comedy Series these years as well, and it should not shock you to learn that “The Bear” is the resounding favorite to claim the prize once again.

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