After devouring the second season of The Bear, Awards Insider’s Rebecca Ford and David Canfield gathered to take a look at the cornucopia of guest stars that dropped by, and the ones who might be a part of next year’s Emmy guest-star conversation.

A guide to Hollywood’s biggest races

Rebecca Ford: After a knockout first season, there were high expectations for the second installment of culinary dramedy The Bear. And the show did not disappoint. Not only did they bring back the drama in the kitchen of the Beef/Bear but they boldly showcased supporting talent with stand-alone episodes and deeper dives into the characters’ personal lives and pasts. One of the best side effects of this expanded season was a truly insane parade of guest stars. In the flashback sixth episode, we get to meet Carmy’s extended family, and it feels like every character was played by a very famous face. Plus, an Oscar winner even drops by the kitchen in episode seven. I have to assume when you have one of TV’s biggest breakout shows of the year, actors are clamoring to drop by for a visit, but this packed lineup seemed beyond the norm.

While The Bear’s first season is eligible for the current Emmy race, this second season will be a part of the 2024 race. So yes, we are getting a little ahead of ourselves. But David, let’s attempt to forecast what might happen with the guest star race for this show next year. With so many surprise appearances, it’ll be hard to pick, but we might as well break down who showed up, what they did, and why that might put them in the conversation next season. Where shall we begin?

David Canfield: Episode six probably makes the most sense, with big names appearing on either side of it, but the bulk of them gathered around this chaotic dinner table. But before we get into all of those exciting names, I think it’s worth highlighting the continued brilliant work of Jon Bernthal, who may be nominated as a guest in a few weeks for season one. As Carmy’s brother Mikey, he’s explosive, the heartbreaking loss of his character in the present informing every beat of his flashback performance. In this episode, he’s so dialed in that I held my breath during the climactic scene, when he gets into a fork-tossing showdown with Bob Odenkirk’s uncle. It’s not a particularly funny turn, but it’s brilliant, and I hope it gets recognized amid the huge names.

Because, yeah, there are a lot of those. There’s John Mulaney in a surprisingly affecting role as the husband to Carmy’s cousin, who is played with lived-in gravitas by Sarah Paulson. There’s Gillian Jacobs, pregnant with Richie’s child, and as mentioned, Odenkirk joining Oliver Platt (who will need to compete in supporting for this season) as another fiery, scolding uncle in the family. Between them, that’s five potential guest-acting nominees, and all could get in. And that doesn’t even get into the true showcase of the episode, Jamie Lee Curtis as the unwell matriarch. Curtis goes as big as humanly possible here, which makes sense, as “Fishes” illustrates the hold her character maintains on the family. It’s also undeniably bait for awards voters, well-timed after she won an Oscar for a completely different kind of performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once. Am I right that she’s basically a lock to win this a year from now?

Ford: Yes, it does feel like Curtis is the one to beat. She returns in episode 10 for a heart-wrenching scene about being a disappointment to your kids that wrecked me, and I have to assume will leave a lasting impression with voters. For her to get that extra moment puts her ahead of the rest of those guest stars from episode six.

But let’s not forget the guest stars who appear outside of that episode! In episode four, “Honeydew,” we follow Marcus (Lionel Boyce) to Copenhagen, where he trains under a prestigious dessert chef, played by Will Poulter. Poulter is pitch-perfect as Luca, the restrained master, and their heart-to-heart in the kitchen was one of my favorite moments of the season. Poulter earned his first Emmy nomination for supporting actor in a limited series in 2022 for Dopesick, so we know the voters appreciate his work, and the quieter style of the standalone episode gives him the space to really be in the spotlight.

Speaking of heart-to-hearts in a kitchen, episode seven sees Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) on his own culinary journey, with a huge surprise guest. What do you think of this Oscar winner’s chances after that performance, David? I’m a firm believer that voters can’t resist checking her name on a ballot.

Canfield: Anyone who remembers Olivia Colman’s surprise best-actress win a few years back for The Crown should know not to underestimate the star’s appeal with the Television Academy. Her performance was incredibly surprising, if only for how conversational and intimate it was—this is the actor known for big performances as literal queens—and she shined effortlessly in that light. It’s a small scene, but one that caps one of the season’s very best episodes with a sensitive and humane touch. It’s the exact opposite of what Curtis pulls off, so it may depend on what voters are in the mood for—but at the end of the day, there’s just a lot less to consider here.

That said, I’m reminded of what Colman’s The Crown predecessor Claire Foy pulled off in the guest-acting category a few years back. A beloved past winner—for the same role!—Foy returned for a single-scene flashback and was not only nominated, but won, despite stiff competition. When these voters love you, they really love you. The Bear’s only campaigning challenge, then, is to figure out which of its mega-guests has the most goodwill to go around.