Disney Films Are Shut Out of Awards Season, But They’ve Got the Best Show on Television

It’s awards season. That’s been a bit of a mixed bag for the Walt Disney Company. On the film side, Walt Disney Studios have been shut out.

For the first time in the awards history, Disney was not nominated for an Annie Award. Disney has pulled its films out of contention in the past, but this is the first time that Disney has not been nominated for the award that recognizes achievement in animated films.

Disney/Pixar only released two animated films last year, Elemental (2023) and Wish (2023). While Elemental eventually found an audience, Wish became just another one of Disney’s 2023 films to lose money.

But on the television side, Disney/Hulu have found that they have the best television show, and it is racking up the awards this year.

The Bear

Christopher Storer created, wrote, and directed The Bear. The first season premiered in 2022 and was a critical darling. Jeremy Allen White stars as Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto and won a Golden Globe for Best Actor for the show’s first season. But then came this year’s second season, and the show evolved into one of the best television shows.

Related: Disney Joins Forces With Hulu’s Top Show to Combat Childhood Hunger

In the first season, Carmy is a world-renowned chef who returns to his family’s sandwich joint after his brother, Michael, commits suicide. Carmy must navigate the staff, including his “cousin” Richie, played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach. He brings Chef Sydney, played by Ayo Edebiri, to help restore the restaurant. The season ends (spoiler alert) with the group finding money that Michael stored in tomato cans, which allows them to build a fine-dining restaurant, The Bear.

The second season sees the staff navigating the pitfalls of opening a new restaurant while dealing with grief. It is a comedy in the same way that the final seasons of Reservation Dogs was a comedy. Sure, you laugh, but the viewer mostly feels with the characters. It’s a tribute to the writing, done mainly by Christopher Storer.

The streaming series on Hulu has been cleaning up with awards season. First, it was the Golden Globes. Jeremy Allen White won his second consecutive award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Carmy Berzatto.

But then Ayo Edebiri won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Comedy or Musical. Finally, The Bear won the Best Television Show–Comedy or Musical award.

The series also swept the Critics Choice Awards for Best Actor, Actress, and Best Comedy Series and added Best Supporting Actor for Ebon Moss Bachrach as Richie. In his speech, he thanked Taylor Swift, as he used one of her songs in an emotional, transformative scene for his character.

Then came the Emmys. The Bear took home 10 Emmys, including wins for Edebiri, Moss Bachrach, and White. It also won for Best Comedy Series, Outstanding Casting in a Comedy Series, and directing and writing wins for Christopher Storer. It was the most wins for any television show.

The second season also featured some huge guest stars for the biggest episode. Oliver Platt returns as Uncle Jimmy, but Jaime Lee Curtis, Jon Bernthal, Bob Odenkirk, John Mulaney, and Sarah Paulson all make guest appearances in Fishes, the season’s best and most intense episode.

So, jump on Hulu and enjoy The Bear.

We will continue to update this story at Disney Fanatic.