“The Bear” is successfully airing on Hulu and Disney+ and breaking all viewing records. The first season became the most watched comedy show in the history of FX Productions. The second season surpassed these figures: its audience increased by 70%! This is a remarkable fact, considering that the situation with TV series is often different.
The TV series has received 13 Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, has an 8.6 rating on IMDb and an average rating of 99.5% over two seasons on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus critics’ review states: “Like an expertly made sandwich, The Bear is made up of perfectly matched ingredients that are perfectly mixed for satisfaction – and thankfully, the crispy crust is retained to enhance the flavor.”
What the series “The Bear” is about
Carmen, a young chef with a prestigious culinary award who worked in a Michelin-starred restaurant, is forced to return to Chicago to run a small family restaurant he inherited after his brother’s suicide. The staff and his brother’s best friend turn against the new owner. Creditors are demanding money, and the health inspectorate finds violations and lowers the restaurant’s rating. But the guy wants to make it a successful restaurant at any cost.
Interesting facts about the TV series
🌶The TV series was inspired by the story of the legendary Chicago restaurant/shop of Italian beef sandwiches Mr. Beef. FX filmed scenes inside and outside the restaurant and created a replica of the kitchen at Cinespace, a film studio on Chicago’s West Side.
🌶The character of Carmi is largely based on the personality of the famous Chicago chef, a great innovator and experimenter Charlie Trotter.
🌶Jeremy Allen White, the lead actor, spent two weeks studying at a culinary school and working in the kitchen of several restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Pasjoli, to prepare for the series.
🌶For the scenes of cooking, cutting, etc., we didn’t invite any stunt doubles – the actors did everything themselves.
🌶A strange character named Neil Fock was played by professional chef Matty Matheson, who was also a culinary consultant on the show. Interestingly, this character did not prepare any dishes in the series.
🌶Carmy is the nickname of the main character, which means caramelization in culinary slang.
🌶The TV series features the famous actor Oliver Platt in a cameo role, but a very colorful one. You can also see other stars in the series. These are Olivia Colman, Adam Shapiro, Sarah Paulson, Will Poulter, John Mulaney, Bob Odenkirk, Jamie Lee Curtis, etc.
🌶Soundtracks, a selection of which was noted by critics separately, help to create a certain atmosphere. These are rock hits of 1980-2000, including Van Morrison, John Mayer, Genesis, R.E.M. and others.
