fans of Bear “We should prepare for an annual binge,” FX's John Landgraf revealed at the TCA Winter Press Tour on Friday, February 9. The Emmy-winning comedy, now in production on Season 3, will debut in June 2024 with all episodes premiering at once.
Landgraf acknowledged that this will be the pattern going forward for the series, which began with the first season in 2022. “We all watched the first season, we talked about it, and it wasn't lost on me or anyone who worked on it. on the show that's a little anxiety-inducing… So we made the decision to binge-watch the whole thing, because for those of you who watched it, it has a really beautiful, very uplifting ending.”
The strategy worked, he added: “I literally first had an idea of what a huge success it would be when I spoke to a friend and colleague on the platform the day after we abandoned it. And he said, there are currently a hundred thousand simulcasts in the United States watching the eighth episode of Bear – the day after we left everything.”
When it came time to discuss the release of Season 2, Landgraf continues, “we discussed it, since we knew we had a hit, and you know, can we squeeze it out a little bit and roll it out in weeks?” But they decided that “it would be a bad idea to change it for the audience… So we just decided not to change what we had already put in place. And I have no doubt that we will continue to do so.”
Another curious fact: because production in Bear Keeps its secrets under wraps, Landgraf didn't know about the caliber of guest stars brought in for season 2 until he watched the episodes for the first time. “I was as surprised as you were when the Christmas episode [‘Fishes’] “I walked in the door; I experienced the cast that had come together with the surprise and freshness of the audience, something you don't get to do very often in network work.”
Bear Season 2 was not only made ConsequenceThe list of the best TV shows of 2023, but season 1 cleaned up at the most recent Emmy Awards in January. (Its second season will be eligible for the Emmy Awards this fall.) For more, check out our breakdown of how the Season 1 episode “Review” was made and why Season 2. had to include a Taylor Swift needle drop.
Fans can catch up on the first two seasons of Bear on Hulu (Subscribe here).
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