Primetime Emmy Awards, Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

2025

Mike White / The White Lotus

Joe Sachs / The Pitt

Will Smith / Slow Horses

R. Scott Gemmill / The Pitt

2024

Will Smith / Slow Horses

Rachel Kondo / Shōgun

Justin Marks / Shōgun

Caillin Puente / Shōgun

Rachel Kondo / Shōgun

2023

Dave Finkel / Bad Sisters

Sharon Horgan / Bad Sisters

Brett Baer / Bad Sisters

Peter Gould / Better Call Saul

Gordon Smith / Better Call Saul

Jesse Armstrong / Succession

Mike White / The White Lotus

2022

Jonathan Lisco / Yellowjackets

Bart Nickerson / Yellowjackets

Ashley Lyle / Yellowjackets

Bart Nickerson / Yellowjackets

Ashley Lyle / Yellowjackets

Jesse Armstrong / Succession

Thomas Schnauz / Better Call Saul

2021

Misha Green / Lovecraft Country

Our Lady J / Pose

Janet Mock / Pose

Steven Canals / Pose

Brad Falchuk / Pose

Ryan Murphy / Pose

2020

Jesse Armstrong / Succession

Thomas Schnauz / Better Call Saul

Gordon Smith / Better Call Saul

2019

Jesse Armstrong / Succession

Emerald Fennell / Killing Eve

Thomas Schnauz / Better Call Saul

Peter Gould / Better Call Saul

2018

Joel Fields / The Americans (2013)

Phoebe Waller-Bridge / Killing Eve

Joe Weisberg / The Americans (2013)

2017

Joe Weisberg / The Americans (2013)

Joel Fields / The Americans (2013)

Gordon Smith / Better Call Saul

2016

Marti Noxon / UnREAL

Sarah Gertrude Shapiro / UnREAL

Joe Weisberg / The Americans (2013)

Joel Fields / The Americans (2013)

2015

Gordon Smith / Better Call Saul

Joshua Brand / The Americans (2013)

2014

House of Cards (US)

2013

Henry Bromell / Homeland

2012

Gideon Raff / Homeland

Howard Gordon / Homeland

Alex Gansa / Homeland

2011

Veena Sud / The Killing (US)

Jason Katims / Friday Night Lights

2010

Rolin Jones / Friday Night Lights

2008

Todd A. Kessler / Damages

Daniel Zelman / Damages

Glenn Kessler / Damages

2007

Terence Winter / The Sopranos

David Chase / The Sopranos

Matthew Weiner / The Sopranos

David Chase / The Sopranos

2006

Alan Ball / Six Feet Under

Terence Winter / The Sopranos

2005

Denis Leary / Rescue Me

Peter Tolan / Rescue Me

2004

Robin Green / The Sopranos

Terence Winter / The Sopranos

Michael Caleo / The Sopranos

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

Matthew Weiner / The Sopranos

Terence Winter / The Sopranos

2003

David Chase / The Sopranos

Craig Wright / Six Feet Under

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

Robin Green / The Sopranos

Terence Winter / The Sopranos

Aaron Sorkin / The West Wing

2002

Aaron Sorkin / The West Wing

J.J. Abrams / Alias

John Wells / ER

Shawn Ryan / The Shield

2001

David Chase / The Sopranos

Robin Green / The Sopranos

Aaron Sorkin / The West Wing

Frank Renzulli / The Sopranos

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

Lawrence Konner / The Sopranos

Terence Winter / The Sopranos

2000

Aaron Sorkin / The West Wing

Rick Cleveland / The West Wing

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

Robin Green / The Sopranos

David Chase / The Sopranos

Todd A. Kessler / The Sopranos

Aaron Sorkin / The West Wing

1999

James Manos Jr. / The Sopranos

David Chase / The Sopranos

Robin Green / The Sopranos

David Chase / The Sopranos

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

Bill Clark / NYPD Blue

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Steven Bochco / NYPD Blue

Nicholas Wootton / NYPD Blue

Frank Renzulli / The Sopranos

1998

Chris Carter / The X-Files

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Bill Clark / NYPD Blue

Meredith Stiehm / NYPD Blue

Nicholas Wootton / NYPD Blue

David E. Kelley / The Practice

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Ted Mann / NYPD Blue

Bill Clark / NYPD Blue

James Yoshimura / Homicide: Life on the Street

1997

John Shiban / The X-Files

Frank Spotnitz / The X-Files

Michael R. Perry / NYPD Blue

David Milch / NYPD Blue

David Mills / NYPD Blue

Stephen Gaghan / NYPD Blue

Neal Baer / ER

Chris Carter / The X-Files

John Wells / ER

Vince Gilligan / The X-Files

1996

Darin Morgan / The X-Files

David Milch / Murder One

John Wells / ER

Neal Baer / ER

David Mills / NYPD Blue

William L. Morris / NYPD Blue

Charles H. Eglee / Murder One

Steven Bochco / Murder One

1995

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Walon Green / NYPD Blue

Steven Bochco / NYPD Blue

Chris Carter / The X-Files

Michael Crichton / ER

Lance Gentile / ER

1994

Steven Bochco / NYPD Blue

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Gardener Stern / NYPD Blue

Burton Armus / NYPD Blue

Ted Mann / NYPD Blue

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Ann Biderman / NYPD Blue

1993

Geoffrey Neigher / Northern Exposure

Jeff Melvoin / Northern Exposure

Bernard Lechowick / Homefront

Tom Fontana / Homicide: Life on the Street

1992

Andrew Schneider / Northern Exposure

Jeff Melvoin / Northern Exposure

John Sacret Young / China Beach

Lydia Woodward / China Beach

Robin Green / Northern Exposure

John Wells / China Beach

David Chase / I'll Fly Away

Diane Frolov / Northern Exposure

Carol Flint / China Beach

1991

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

Sarah Woodside-Gallagher / L.A. Law

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

Ann Lewis Hamilton / Thirtysomething

Patricia Green / L.A. Law

Sarah Woodside-Gallagher / L.A. Law

Alan Brennert / L.A. Law

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

John Falsey / Northern Exposure

Judith Feldman / L.A. Law

Joshua Brand / Northern Exposure

1990

Joseph Dougherty / Thirtysomething

Harley Peyton / Twin Peaks

Mark Frost / Twin Peaks

David Lynch / Twin Peaks

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

William M. Finkelstein / L.A. Law

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

1989

William M. Finkelstein / L.A. Law

Michele Gallery / L.A. Law

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

Marshall Herskovitz / Thirtysomething

Michele Gallery / L.A. Law

William M. Finkelstein / L.A. Law

Joseph Dougherty / Thirtysomething

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

Steven Bochco / L.A. Law

Edward Zwick / Thirtysomething

Judith Parker / L.A. Law

1988

John Sacret Young / China Beach

Terry Louise Fisher / L.A. Law

Steven Bochco / L.A. Law

Terry Louise Fisher / L.A. Law

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

Paul Haggis / Thirtysomething

Marshall Herskovitz / Thirtysomething

1987

Georgia Jeffries / Cagney & Lacey

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

David Milch / Hill Street Blues

John Romano / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / L.A. Law

Terry Louise Fisher / L.A. Law

William M. Finkelstein / L.A. Law

1986

Dick Wolf / Hill Street Blues

1985

Jacob Epstein / Hill Street Blues

Michael Wagner / Hill Street Blues

Deborah Arakelian / Cagney & Lacey

Patricia Green / Cagney & Lacey

1984

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

Mark Frost / Hill Street Blues

David Milch / Hill Street Blues

Michael Wagner / Hill Street Blues

Karen Hall / Hill Street Blues

Peter Silverman / Hill Street Blues

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

David Milch / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

1983

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

David Milch / Hill Street Blues

Anthony Yerkovich / Hill Street Blues

Michael Wagner / Hill Street Blues

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

David Milch / Hill Street Blues

Anthony Yerkovich / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Karen Hall / Hill Street Blues

Anthony Yerkovich / Hill Street Blues

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

David Milch / Hill Street Blues

1982

Michael Wagner / Hill Street Blues

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

Anthony Yerkovich / Hill Street Blues

Michael Wagner / Hill Street Blues

Michael Kozoll / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Michael Kozoll / Hill Street Blues

Anthony Yerkovich / Hill Street Blues

Robert Crais / Hill Street Blues

Seth Freeman / Lou Grant

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Anthony Yerkovich / Hill Street Blues

Michael Wagner / Hill Street Blues

1981

Michael Kozoll / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Michael Kozoll / Hill Street Blues

Anthony Yerkovich / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Seth Freeman / Lou Grant

Ken Hecht / American Dream

Barbara Corday / American Dream

Ronald M. Cohen / American Dream

April Smith / Lou Grant

1980

Michele Gallery / Lou Grant

Gene Reynolds / Lou Grant

Seth Freeman / Lou Grant

Allan Burns / Lou Grant

Abby Mann / Skag

1979

James Bridges / The Paper Chase

Gene Reynolds / Lou Grant

Michele Gallery / Lou Grant

Leon Tokatyan / Lou Grant

1978

Robert W. Lenski / The Dain Curse

Alan Ayckbourn / The Norman Conquests

Steve Allen / Meeting of Minds

Gerald Green / Holocaust

Abby Mann / King (1978)

1977

Roger O. Hirson / The Adams Chronicles

Tad Mosel / The Adams Chronicles

1976

Alfred Shaughnessey / Upstairs, Downstairs

Sherman Yellen / The Adams Chronicles

Dean Riesner / Rich Man, Poor Man

1975

Robert Collins / Police Story

Alfred Shaughnessey / Upstairs, Downstairs

John Hawkesworth / Upstairs, Downstairs

1974

Gene Kearney / Kojak

1971

David W. Rintels / The Bold Ones: The Senator

Joel Oliansky / The Bold Ones: The Senator

1970

George Bellak / CBS Playhouse

Don M. Mankiewicz / Marcus Welby, M.D.

1969

J.P. Miller / CBS Playhouse

Ellen M Violett / CBS Playhouse

Allan Sloane / Hallmark Hall of Fame

1968

Loring D. Mandel / CBS Playhouse

Don Mankiewicz / Ironside

Reginald Rose / CBS Playhouse

Allan Balter / Mission: Impossible

William Read Woodfield / Mission: Impossible

1967

Ronald Ribman / CBS Playhouse

Robert Culp / I Spy

Bruce Geller / Mission: Impossible

1966

I Spy

1965

David Karp / The Defenders

1964

Ernest Kinoy / The Defenders

1963

The Defenders

1962

The Defenders

1960

Loring Mandel / Playhouse 90

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