Primetime Emmy Awards, Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

2025

Joe Sachs / The Pitt

Will Smith / Slow Horses

Mike White / The White Lotus

R. Scott Gemmill / The Pitt

2024

Justin Marks / Shōgun

Will Smith / Slow Horses

Rachel Kondo / Shōgun

Caillin Puente / Shōgun

2023

Sharon Horgan / Bad Sisters

Dave Finkel / Bad Sisters

Gordon Smith / Better Call Saul

Peter Gould / Better Call Saul

Brett Baer / Bad Sisters

Jesse Armstrong / Succession

Mike White / The White Lotus

2022

Bart Nickerson / Yellowjackets

Ashley Lyle / Yellowjackets

Jesse Armstrong / Succession

Thomas Schnauz / Better Call Saul

Bart Nickerson / Yellowjackets

Ashley Lyle / Yellowjackets

Jonathan Lisco / Yellowjackets

2021

Ryan Murphy / Pose

Our Lady J / Pose

Brad Falchuk / Pose

Steven Canals / Pose

Janet Mock / Pose

Misha Green / Lovecraft Country

2020

Jesse Armstrong / Succession

Gordon Smith / Better Call Saul

Thomas Schnauz / Better Call Saul

2019

Thomas Schnauz / Better Call Saul

Emerald Fennell / Killing Eve

Peter Gould / Better Call Saul

Jesse Armstrong / Succession

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

Gideon Raff / 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

Glenn Kessler / Damages

Daniel Zelman / Damages

2007

David Chase / The Sopranos

Matthew Weiner / The Sopranos

David Chase / The Sopranos

Terence Winter / The Sopranos

2006

Terence Winter / The Sopranos

Alan Ball / Six Feet Under

2005

Denis Leary / Rescue Me

Peter Tolan / Rescue Me

2004

Terence Winter / The Sopranos

Michael Caleo / The Sopranos

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

Matthew Weiner / The Sopranos

Robin Green / The Sopranos

2003

Terence Winter / The Sopranos

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

David Chase / The Sopranos

Aaron Sorkin / The West Wing

Robin Green / The Sopranos

Craig Wright / Six Feet Under

2002

Shawn Ryan / The Shield

Aaron Sorkin / The West Wing

J.J. Abrams / Alias

John Wells / ER

2001

Robin Green / The Sopranos

Aaron Sorkin / The West Wing

Frank Renzulli / The Sopranos

Terence Winter / The Sopranos

Lawrence Konner / The Sopranos

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

David Chase / The Sopranos

2000

David Chase / The Sopranos

Robin Green / The Sopranos

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

Todd A. Kessler / The Sopranos

Rick Cleveland / The West Wing

Aaron Sorkin / The West Wing

1999

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

Robin Green / The Sopranos

James Manos Jr. / The Sopranos

David Chase / The Sopranos

Frank Renzulli / The Sopranos

Nicholas Wootton / NYPD Blue

Steven Bochco / NYPD Blue

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Bill Clark / NYPD Blue

1998

Ted Mann / NYPD Blue

Meredith Stiehm / NYPD Blue

David E. Kelley / The Practice

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Bill Clark / NYPD Blue

Nicholas Wootton / NYPD Blue

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Bill Clark / NYPD Blue

Chris Carter / The X-Files

James Yoshimura / Homicide: Life on the Street

1997

Frank Spotnitz / The X-Files

Vince Gilligan / The X-Files

Michael R. Perry / NYPD Blue

David Milch / NYPD Blue

David Mills / NYPD Blue

Stephen Gaghan / NYPD Blue

Neal Baer / ER

John Wells / ER

Chris Carter / The X-Files

John Shiban / The X-Files

1996

Steven Bochco / Murder One

John Wells / ER

Charles H. Eglee / Murder One

Darin Morgan / The X-Files

Neal Baer / ER

William L. Morris / NYPD Blue

David Mills / NYPD Blue

David Milch / Murder One

1995

Lance Gentile / ER

Steven Bochco / NYPD Blue

Chris Carter / The X-Files

Walon Green / NYPD Blue

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Michael Crichton / ER

1994

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Ted Mann / NYPD Blue

Burton Armus / NYPD Blue

Gardener Stern / NYPD Blue

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Ann Biderman / NYPD Blue

Steven Bochco / NYPD Blue

1993

Jeff Melvoin / Northern Exposure

Tom Fontana / Homicide: Life on the Street

Geoffrey Neigher / Northern Exposure

Bernard Lechowick / Homefront

1992

Jeff Melvoin / Northern Exposure

Robin Green / Northern Exposure

David Chase / I'll Fly Away

John Sacret Young / China Beach

Diane Frolov / Northern Exposure

John Wells / China Beach

Lydia Woodward / China Beach

Carol Flint / China Beach

Andrew Schneider / Northern Exposure

1991

Judith Feldman / L.A. Law

Patricia Green / L.A. Law

Alan Brennert / L.A. Law

Patricia Green / L.A. Law

Sarah Woodside-Gallagher / L.A. Law

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

Ann Lewis Hamilton / Thirtysomething

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

Sarah Woodside-Gallagher / L.A. Law

Joshua Brand / Northern Exposure

John Falsey / Northern Exposure

1990

William M. Finkelstein / L.A. Law

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

Joseph Dougherty / Thirtysomething

Harley Peyton / Twin Peaks

Mark Frost / Twin Peaks

David Lynch / Twin Peaks

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

1989

Michele Gallery / L.A. Law

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

Michele Gallery / L.A. Law

William M. Finkelstein / L.A. Law

Judith Parker / L.A. Law

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

Steven Bochco / L.A. Law

Edward Zwick / Thirtysomething

Marshall Herskovitz / Thirtysomething

William M. Finkelstein / L.A. Law

Joseph Dougherty / Thirtysomething

1988

John Sacret Young / China Beach

Terry Louise Fisher / L.A. Law

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

Marshall Herskovitz / Thirtysomething

Steven Bochco / L.A. Law

Terry Louise Fisher / L.A. Law

Paul Haggis / Thirtysomething

1987

Georgia Jeffries / Cagney & Lacey

John Romano / Hill Street Blues

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

David Milch / 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

Patricia Green / Cagney & Lacey

Deborah Arakelian / Cagney & Lacey

Michael Wagner / Hill Street Blues

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

Steve Allen / Meeting of Minds

Robert W. Lenski / The Dain Curse

Gerald Green / Holocaust

Abby Mann / King (1978)

Alan Ayckbourn / The Norman Conquests

1977

Tad Mosel / The Adams Chronicles

Roger O. Hirson / The Adams Chronicles

1976

Dean Riesner / Rich Man, Poor Man

Sherman Yellen / The Adams Chronicles

Alfred Shaughnessey / Upstairs, Downstairs

1975

Alfred Shaughnessey / Upstairs, Downstairs

Robert Collins / Police Story

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

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

George Bellak / CBS Playhouse

1969

J.P. Miller / CBS Playhouse

Allan Sloane / Hallmark Hall of Fame

Ellen M Violett / CBS Playhouse

1968

Loring D. Mandel / CBS Playhouse

Allan Balter / Mission: Impossible

Don Mankiewicz / Ironside

Reginald Rose / CBS Playhouse

William Read Woodfield / Mission: Impossible

1967

Robert Culp / I Spy

Ronald Ribman / CBS Playhouse

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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