Jon Bernthal Nominated for Guest Actor in Comedy Series Emmy for The Bear

The FX series The Bear has set a new record by garnering 23 Emmy nominations for a comedy in 2024, surpassing the previous record of 22 nominations held by 30 Rock in 2022. Despite debates over whether the series fits the comedy genre, its outstanding quality makes it a must-watch. Fans of The Walking Dead will be thrilled to learn that Jon Bernthal, who played Shane Walsh in the first two seasons, has been nominated for his role in The Bear.

Bernthal is nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his portrayal of Mikey in The Bear. He faces stiff competition from his co-stars Bob Odenkirk and Will Poulter, as well as other notable actors like Matthew Broderick for “Only Murders in the Building,” Ryan Gosling for “Saturday Night Live,” and Christopher Lloyd for “Hacks.” On the female side, Olivia Colman and Jamie Lee Curtis also received nominations for their roles in the series.

For the guest role nominations, the TV Academy has chosen specific episodes to highlight the actors’ talents. Bernthal’s performance in the sixth episode of season 2, titled “Fishes,” was selected as his standout for the season.

In The Bear, Bernthal plays Mikey, the elder brother to Jeremy Allen White’s character, Carmen ‘Carmy’ Berzatto. Created by Christopher Storer for FX, the storyline follows Carmy’s return to Chicago to manage the sandwich shop his deceased brother left behind. Bernthal’s appearances in flashbacks enrich the family’s backstory. This episode, directed by Storer, has also received a nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.

The episode “Fishes” is particularly notable for its depth and emotional weight. In this episode, Mikey struggles with personal demons and strained relationships, particularly with Uncle Lee. During a conversation with Carmy about revamping The Beef, Mikey’s financial struggles and battles with depression are revealed. The episode reaches its peak when Mikey’s suppressed frustrations explode in a confrontation with Lee.

“Fishes” has been widely praised as the best episode of season 2, thanks to its powerful ensemble guest cast. Alongside Bernthal, the episode also features Jamie Lee Curtis, Oliver Platt, Gillian Jacobs, John Mulaney, Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Paulson, Ricky Staffieri, and Maura Kidwell.

In addition, The Bear has gained recognition across various other categories. The full list of Emmy nominations can be seen on the FX Network’s Facebook page.

Looking ahead, Jon Bernthal is set to reprise his role as Frank Castle/Punisher in the Disney+ series Daredevil: Born Again in 2025. Initially slated for 18 episodes, the series will now consist of 9 episodes and is expected to be released in March 2025.

Bernthal will also return as Brax Wolff in the sequel to The Accountant. Production on the film was expected to begin earlier this year with a potential release date in 2025.

Source: FX Network, Twitter