The FX series The Bear received a record-breaking 23 Emmy nominations for a comedy in 2024, breaking the record previously held by 30 Rock with 22 nominations in 2022. While many question if comedy is the correct category for the series, there is no denying it is a series worthy of a watch. Walking Dead fans will be excited to hear that Jon Bernthal, who portrayed Shane Walsh in seasons 1 and 2, has also been nominated for his role in The Bear.
Bernthal is nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Mikey in The Bear, pitting him against his co-stars, Bob Odenkirk and Will Poulter. Other actors nominated in the category include Matthew Broderick for “Only Murders in the Building," Ryan Gosling for “Saturday Night Live," and Christopher Lloyd for “Hacks." That's an impressive list. Additionally, Olivia Colman and Jamie Lee Curtis were nominated in the female section for this category for their roles in The Bear.
For these guest role nominations, the TV Academy chose specific episodes that showcase the talents of the actors. For Bernthal, the sixth episode of season 2, "Fishes," was selected as the episode featuring his best performance for the season.
Bernthal portrays Mikey, the elder brother of Jeremy Allen White's Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto.
Created by Christopher Storer for FX, the story chronicles Carmy's return to his hometown of Chicago, where he embarks on a mission to manage the sandwich shop previously owned by his deceased brother. Bernthal appears in flashbacks, which flesh out the family's story. The episode, directed by Storer, has been nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.
"Fishes" synopsis: Mikey, the eldest Berzatto sibling, wrestles with inner turmoil amid strained relations with Uncle Lee. He softens when Carmy discusses revamping The Beef, exposing Mikey’s financial worries and past battles with depression. Tensions climax as Mikey’s pent-up frustrations erupt in a heated clash with Lee.
This episode has been widely praised as the best of season 2, which featured an ensemble guest cast. In addition to Bernthal, the episode also featured Jamie Lee Curtis, Oliver Platt, Gillian Jacobs, John Mulaney, Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Paulson, Ricky Staffieri, and Maura Kidwell.
