Primetime Emmy Awards, Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

2026

The Pitt

R. Scott Gemmill / The Pitt

Valerie Chu / The Pitt

Brad Ingelsby / Task

Vince Gilligan / PLUR1BUS

2025

R. Scott Gemmill / The Pitt

Joe Sachs / The Pitt

Will Smith / Slow Horses

Mike White / The White Lotus

2024

Justin Marks / Shōgun

Rachel Kondo / Shōgun

Caillin Puente / Shōgun

Will Smith / Slow Horses

2023

Peter Gould / Better Call Saul

Mike White / The White Lotus

Brett Baer / Bad Sisters

Sharon Horgan / Bad Sisters

Dave Finkel / Bad Sisters

Gordon Smith / Better Call Saul

Jesse Armstrong / Succession

2022

Thomas Schnauz / Better Call Saul

Jesse Armstrong / Succession

Jonathan Lisco / Yellowjackets

Ashley Lyle / Yellowjackets

Bart Nickerson / Yellowjackets

Ashley Lyle / Yellowjackets

Bart Nickerson / Yellowjackets

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

Gordon Smith / Better Call Saul

Thomas Schnauz / Better Call Saul

2019

Emerald Fennell / Killing Eve

Jesse Armstrong / Succession

Peter Gould / Better Call Saul

Thomas Schnauz / Better Call Saul

2018

Phoebe Waller-Bridge / Killing Eve

Joel Fields / The Americans (2013)

Joe Weisberg / The Americans (2013)

2017

Gordon Smith / Better Call Saul

Joe Weisberg / The Americans (2013)

Joel Fields / The Americans (2013)

2016

Sarah Gertrude Shapiro / UnREAL

Marti Noxon / 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

Howard Gordon / Homeland

Alex Gansa / Homeland

Gideon Raff / Homeland

2011

Veena Sud / The Killing (US)

Jason Katims / Friday Night Lights

2010

Rolin Jones / Friday Night Lights

2008

Glenn Kessler / Damages

Todd A. Kessler / Damages

Daniel Zelman / Damages

2007

Matthew Weiner / The Sopranos

David Chase / The Sopranos

Terence Winter / The Sopranos

2006

Terence Winter / The Sopranos

Alan Ball / Six Feet Under

2005

Peter Tolan / Rescue Me

Denis Leary / Rescue Me

2004

Terence Winter / The Sopranos

Robin Green / The Sopranos

Michael Caleo / The Sopranos

Terence Winter / The Sopranos

Matthew Weiner / The Sopranos

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

2003

Aaron Sorkin / The West Wing

Robin Green / The Sopranos

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

David Chase / The Sopranos

Terence Winter / The Sopranos

Robin Green / The Sopranos

Craig Wright / Six Feet Under

2002

Aaron Sorkin / The West Wing

Shawn Ryan / The Shield

J.J. Abrams / Alias

John Wells / ER

2001

David Chase / The Sopranos

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

Terence Winter / The Sopranos

Robin Green / The Sopranos

Frank Renzulli / The Sopranos

Aaron Sorkin / The West Wing

Lawrence Konner / The Sopranos

2000

Todd A. Kessler / The Sopranos

Rick Cleveland / The West Wing

Robin Green / The Sopranos

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

David Chase / The Sopranos

Aaron Sorkin / The West Wing

1999

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

David Chase / The Sopranos

James Manos Jr. / The Sopranos

Frank Renzulli / The Sopranos

David Chase / The Sopranos

Bill Clark / NYPD Blue

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Steven Bochco / NYPD Blue

Nicholas Wootton / NYPD Blue

Robin Green / The Sopranos

1998

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Bill Clark / NYPD Blue

Ted Mann / NYPD Blue

James Yoshimura / Homicide: Life on the Street

Chris Carter / The X-Files

David E. Kelley / The Practice

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Bill Clark / NYPD Blue

Meredith Stiehm / NYPD Blue

Nicholas Wootton / NYPD Blue

1997

John Wells / ER

Neal Baer / ER

John Shiban / The X-Files

Vince Gilligan / The X-Files

Frank Spotnitz / The X-Files

Chris Carter / The X-Files

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Michael R. Perry / NYPD Blue

Stephen Gaghan / NYPD Blue

David Mills / NYPD Blue

1996

Darin Morgan / The X-Files

Charles H. Eglee / Murder One

David Milch / Murder One

Steven Bochco / Murder One

William L. Morris / NYPD Blue

David Mills / NYPD Blue

Neal Baer / ER

John Wells / ER

1995

Lance Gentile / ER

Steven Bochco / NYPD Blue

Walon Green / NYPD Blue

Michael Crichton / ER

Chris Carter / The X-Files

David Milch / NYPD Blue

1994

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Steven Bochco / NYPD Blue

Ann Biderman / NYPD Blue

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Ted Mann / NYPD Blue

Gardener Stern / NYPD Blue

Burton Armus / NYPD Blue

1993

Bernard Lechowick / Homefront (1991)

Tom Fontana / Homicide: Life on the Street

Geoffrey Neigher / Northern Exposure

Jeff Melvoin / Northern Exposure

1992

Diane Frolov / Northern Exposure

Andrew Schneider / Northern Exposure

John Wells / China Beach

John Sacret Young / China Beach

Robin Green / Northern Exposure

Jeff Melvoin / Northern Exposure

David Chase / I'll Fly Away

Carol Flint / China Beach

Lydia Woodward / China Beach

1991

Joshua Brand / Northern Exposure

John Falsey / Northern Exposure

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

Sarah Woodside-Gallagher / L.A. Law

Patricia Green / L.A. Law

Alan Brennert / L.A. Law

Patricia Green / L.A. Law

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

Sarah Woodside-Gallagher / L.A. Law

Judith Feldman / L.A. Law

Ann Lewis Hamilton / Thirtysomething

1990

William M. Finkelstein / L.A. Law

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

Harley Peyton / Twin Peaks

Mark Frost / Twin Peaks

David Lynch / Twin Peaks

Joseph Dougherty / Thirtysomething

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

1989

Edward Zwick / Thirtysomething

Steven Bochco / L.A. Law

Marshall Herskovitz / Thirtysomething

Joseph Dougherty / Thirtysomething

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

Michele Gallery / L.A. Law

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

William M. Finkelstein / L.A. Law

Judith Parker / L.A. Law

Michele Gallery / L.A. Law

William M. Finkelstein / L.A. Law

1988

John Sacret Young / China Beach

Marshall Herskovitz / Thirtysomething

Paul Haggis / Thirtysomething

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

Terry Louise Fisher / L.A. Law

Steven Bochco / L.A. Law

Terry Louise Fisher / L.A. Law

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

1987

David Milch / Hill Street Blues

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

Terry Louise Fisher / L.A. Law

John Romano / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / L.A. Law

William M. Finkelstein / L.A. Law

Georgia Jeffries / Cagney & Lacey

1986

Dick Wolf / Hill Street Blues

1985

Deborah Arakelian / Cagney & Lacey

Patricia Green / Cagney & Lacey

Michael Wagner / Hill Street Blues

Jacob Epstein / Hill Street Blues

1984

Mark Frost / Hill Street Blues

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

David Milch / Hill Street Blues

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

David Milch / Hill Street Blues

Michael Wagner / Hill Street Blues

Karen Hall / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Peter Silverman / Hill Street Blues

1983

Karen Hall / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

Anthony Yerkovich / Hill Street Blues

Karen Hall / Hill Street Blues

Anthony Yerkovich / Hill Street Blues

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

David Milch / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

David Milch / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

David Milch / Hill Street Blues

Anthony Yerkovich / Hill Street Blues

Michael Wagner / Hill Street Blues

1982

Seth Freeman / Lou Grant

Michael Wagner / Hill Street Blues

Anthony Yerkovich / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Robert Crais / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Michael Kozoll / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Michael Wagner / Hill Street Blues

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

Anthony Yerkovich / Hill Street Blues

Michael Wagner / Hill Street Blues

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

Michael Kozoll / Hill Street Blues

1981

Barbara Corday / American Dream

April Smith / Lou Grant

Seth Freeman / Lou Grant

Ronald M. Cohen / American Dream

Ken Hecht / American Dream

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Anthony Yerkovich / Hill Street Blues

Michael Kozoll / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Michael Kozoll / Hill Street Blues

1980

Allan Burns / Lou Grant

Michele Gallery / Lou Grant

Seth Freeman / Lou Grant

Gene Reynolds / Lou Grant

Abby Mann / Skag

1979

Gene Reynolds / Lou Grant

Michele Gallery / Lou Grant

Leon Tokatyan / Lou Grant

James Bridges / The Paper Chase

1978

Abby Mann / King (1978)

Gerald Green / Holocaust

Steve Allen / Meeting of Minds

Robert W. Lenski / The Dain Curse

Alan Ayckbourn / The Norman Conquests

1977

Tad Mosel / The Adams Chronicles

Roger O. Hirson / The Adams Chronicles

1976

Sherman Yellen / The Adams Chronicles

Dean Riesner / Rich Man, Poor Man

Alfred Shaughnessey / Upstairs, Downstairs

1975

John Hawkesworth / Upstairs, Downstairs

Alfred Shaughnessey / Upstairs, Downstairs

Robert Collins / Police Story

1974

Gene Kearney / Kojak

1971

Joel Oliansky / The Bold Ones: The Senator

David W. Rintels / 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

Don Mankiewicz / Ironside

William Read Woodfield / Mission: Impossible

Allan Balter / Mission: Impossible

Reginald Rose / CBS Playhouse

Loring D. Mandel / CBS Playhouse

1967

Robert Culp / I Spy

Bruce Geller / Mission: Impossible

Ronald Ribman / CBS Playhouse

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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