One of the best things at an award show is when a favorite nominee loses, and a surprise winner comes out on top. This happened at the Oscars when “Parasite” won Best Picture over the popular war film “1917.”
Fans were happy with this unexpected result. Similarly, at the Emmy Awards, “Hacks” won Best Comedy Series, surprising many who thought “The Bear” would take the prize.
After a surprising win for Lamorne Morris for “Fargo,” the Emmy Awards were mostly predictable. “Baby Reindeer” and “Shōgun” won many awards in the miniseries and drama categories, except for Elizabeth Debicki in “The Crown” and Jodie Foster for “True Detective: Night Country.”
At first, it looked like “The Bear” would win in the comedy categories after it picked up three acting wins and a directing win. However, “Hacks” ultimately took home the top prize, which was great news for the Emmys and the TV industry.
“Hacks” is an amazing comedy about comedians. It features Deborah Vance, played by Jean Smart, a long-time comedian who relies on her QVC products and her Vegas show. She teams up with Ava Daniels, played by Hannah Einbinder, a young comedian who is very honest and strong-willed.
Together, they create great comedy but also face personal struggles. The show deals with how comedy changes and what it takes to succeed in the competitive world of entertainment. It is very funny, with quick jokes that come from different situations and character interactions.
While “Hacks” has not won every Emmy, Jean Smart has won for Best Actress in a Comedy three times. The creative team behind the show has also received awards for writing and directing. However, Hannah Einbinder has not yet won, despite her growing talent.
During its run, “Hacks” has competed against the powerful show “Ted Lasso,” which won Best Comedy Series twice. Since “The Bear” beat “Ted Lasso,” many thought it would win again, leaving “Hacks” without recognition. This would be unfortunate because “Hacks” is one of the best comedies on TV. If “The Bear” won, it would not be for being a comedy, as it is more complex.
Defining comedy can be tricky. For instance, “Barry” is a dark comedy, but other shows like “Transparent,” “Cobra Kai,” and “Wednesday” also have humor.
“Orange Is the New Black” started as a comedy but later became a drama. “The Bear” fits into this confusing category. It has funny moments, but the show focuses on serious topics like obsession, restaurant culture, trauma, ambition, family, and identity.
Emmy host Eugene Levy mentioned that “The Bear” lacks jokes. It does have humor that arises from situations and character interactions, but this is not the main focus. “The Bear” could still work well without the humor, which makes it different from “Hacks.”
“Hacks” prioritizes comedy in its storytelling. The characters always find funny ways to deal with challenges, while “The Bear” can skip the jokes and still tell its story. “Hacks” is funny, emotional, and surprising, but it is undeniably a comedy from start to finish.
