Primetime Emmy Awards, Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

2025

Will Smith / Slow Horses

Joe Sachs / The Pitt

R. Scott Gemmill / The Pitt

Mike White / The White Lotus

2024

Will Smith / Slow Horses

Caillin Puente / Shōgun

Rachel Kondo / Shōgun

Justin Marks / Shōgun

Rachel Kondo / Shōgun

2023

Dave Finkel / Bad Sisters

Brett Baer / Bad Sisters

Gordon Smith / Better Call Saul

Peter Gould / Better Call Saul

Jesse Armstrong / Succession

Sharon Horgan / Bad Sisters

Mike White / The White Lotus

2022

Ashley Lyle / Yellowjackets

Bart Nickerson / Yellowjackets

Jesse Armstrong / Succession

Ashley Lyle / Yellowjackets

Bart Nickerson / Yellowjackets

Thomas Schnauz / Better Call Saul

Jonathan Lisco / Yellowjackets

2021

Our Lady J / Pose

Janet Mock / Pose

Steven Canals / Pose

Brad Falchuk / Pose

Ryan Murphy / Pose

Misha Green / Lovecraft Country

2020

Gordon Smith / Better Call Saul

Thomas Schnauz / Better Call Saul

Jesse Armstrong / Succession

2019

Emerald Fennell / Killing Eve

Peter Gould / Better Call Saul

Thomas Schnauz / Better Call Saul

Jesse Armstrong / Succession

2018

Joe Weisberg / The Americans (2013)

Phoebe Waller-Bridge / Killing Eve

Joel Fields / The Americans (2013)

2017

Gordon Smith / Better Call Saul

Joel Fields / The Americans (2013)

Joe Weisberg / The Americans (2013)

2016

Joe Weisberg / The Americans (2013)

Joel Fields / The Americans (2013)

Marti Noxon / UnREAL

Sarah Gertrude Shapiro / UnREAL

2015

Joshua Brand / The Americans (2013)

Gordon Smith / Better Call Saul

2014

House of Cards (US)

2013

Henry Bromell / Homeland

2012

Howard Gordon / Homeland

Gideon Raff / Homeland

Alex Gansa / Homeland

2011

Jason Katims / Friday Night Lights

Veena Sud / The Killing (US)

2010

Rolin Jones / Friday Night Lights

2008

Glenn Kessler / Damages

Daniel Zelman / Damages

Todd A. Kessler / 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

Robin Green / The Sopranos

Terence Winter / The Sopranos

Matthew Weiner / The Sopranos

Michael Caleo / The Sopranos

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

2003

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

Terence Winter / The Sopranos

David Chase / The Sopranos

Robin Green / The Sopranos

Aaron Sorkin / The West Wing

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

Craig Wright / Six Feet Under

2002

Shawn Ryan / The Shield

J.J. Abrams / Alias

John Wells / ER

Aaron Sorkin / The West Wing

2001

Frank Renzulli / The Sopranos

Robin Green / The Sopranos

Terence Winter / The Sopranos

Lawrence Konner / The Sopranos

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

David Chase / The Sopranos

Aaron Sorkin / The West Wing

2000

Todd A. Kessler / The Sopranos

Rick Cleveland / The West Wing

Aaron Sorkin / The West Wing

Robin Green / The Sopranos

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

David Chase / The Sopranos

1999

David Chase / The Sopranos

James Manos Jr. / The Sopranos

Robin Green / The Sopranos

Mitchell Burgess / The Sopranos

Frank Renzulli / The Sopranos

Bill Clark / NYPD Blue

Steven Bochco / NYPD Blue

David Chase / The Sopranos

Nicholas Wootton / NYPD Blue

David Milch / NYPD Blue

1998

Bill Clark / NYPD Blue

Ted Mann / NYPD Blue

David E. Kelley / The Practice

Chris Carter / The X-Files

James Yoshimura / Homicide: Life on the Street

Meredith Stiehm / NYPD Blue

Nicholas Wootton / NYPD Blue

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Bill Clark / NYPD Blue

1997

Stephen Gaghan / NYPD Blue

David Mills / NYPD Blue

Vince Gilligan / The X-Files

Frank Spotnitz / The X-Files

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Chris Carter / The X-Files

Michael R. Perry / NYPD Blue

Neal Baer / ER

John Wells / ER

John Shiban / The X-Files

1996

Darin Morgan / The X-Files

Steven Bochco / Murder One

Charles H. Eglee / Murder One

David Mills / NYPD Blue

John Wells / ER

Neal Baer / ER

David Milch / Murder One

William L. Morris / NYPD Blue

1995

Chris Carter / The X-Files

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Walon Green / NYPD Blue

Steven Bochco / NYPD Blue

Lance Gentile / ER

Michael Crichton / ER

1994

Gardener Stern / NYPD Blue

Burton Armus / NYPD Blue

Steven Bochco / NYPD Blue

Ann Biderman / NYPD Blue

David Milch / NYPD Blue

Ted Mann / NYPD Blue

David Milch / NYPD Blue

1993

Jeff Melvoin / Northern Exposure

Bernard Lechowick / Homefront (1991)

Tom Fontana / Homicide: Life on the Street

Geoffrey Neigher / Northern Exposure

1992

Robin Green / Northern Exposure

Andrew Schneider / Northern Exposure

Carol Flint / China Beach

Lydia Woodward / China Beach

Jeff Melvoin / Northern Exposure

John Wells / China Beach

John Sacret Young / China Beach

David Chase / I'll Fly Away

Diane Frolov / Northern Exposure

1991

Patricia Green / L.A. Law

Sarah Woodside-Gallagher / L.A. Law

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

Judith Feldman / L.A. Law

Patricia Green / L.A. Law

Alan Brennert / L.A. Law

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

Sarah Woodside-Gallagher / L.A. Law

Joshua Brand / Northern Exposure

Ann Lewis Hamilton / Thirtysomething

John Falsey / Northern Exposure

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

1990

David Lynch / Twin Peaks

Joseph Dougherty / Thirtysomething

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

William M. Finkelstein / L.A. Law

Mark Frost / Twin Peaks

Harley Peyton / Twin Peaks

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

1989

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

Edward Zwick / Thirtysomething

Marshall Herskovitz / Thirtysomething

Steven Bochco / L.A. Law

Joseph Dougherty / Thirtysomething

Judith Parker / L.A. Law

Michele Gallery / L.A. Law

William M. Finkelstein / L.A. Law

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

William M. Finkelstein / L.A. Law

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

1988

Paul Haggis / Thirtysomething

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

John Sacret Young / China Beach

David E. Kelley / L.A. Law

Terry Louise Fisher / L.A. Law

Steven Bochco / L.A. Law

Marshall Herskovitz / Thirtysomething

Terry Louise Fisher / L.A. Law

1987

Georgia Jeffries / Cagney & Lacey

William M. Finkelstein / L.A. Law

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

John Romano / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / L.A. Law

Terry Louise Fisher / L.A. Law

David Milch / Hill Street Blues

1986

Dick Wolf / Hill Street Blues

1985

Patricia Green / Cagney & Lacey

Deborah Arakelian / Cagney & Lacey

Michael Wagner / Hill Street Blues

Jacob Epstein / Hill Street Blues

1984

Karen Hall / Hill Street Blues

Mark Frost / Hill Street Blues

David Milch / Hill Street Blues

Michael Wagner / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Peter Silverman / Hill Street Blues

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

David Milch / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

1983

David Milch / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

David Milch / Hill Street Blues

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

Anthony Yerkovich / Hill Street Blues

Karen Hall / Hill Street Blues

Michael Wagner / Hill Street Blues

Karen Hall / Hill Street Blues

Anthony Yerkovich / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

1982

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

Anthony Yerkovich / Hill Street Blues

Michael Wagner / Hill Street Blues

Michael Kozoll / Hill Street Blues

Anthony Yerkovich / Hill Street Blues

Michael Wagner / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Michael Kozoll / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Robert Crais / Hill Street Blues

Jeffrey Lewis / Hill Street Blues

Seth Freeman / Lou Grant

Anthony Yerkovich / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

1981

Anthony Yerkovich / Hill Street Blues

Michael Kozoll / Hill Street Blues

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Michael Kozoll / Hill Street Blues

Ronald M. Cohen / American Dream

Steven Bochco / Hill Street Blues

Seth Freeman / Lou Grant

April Smith / Lou Grant

Ken Hecht / American Dream

Barbara Corday / American Dream

1980

Seth Freeman / Lou Grant

Michele Gallery / Lou Grant

Allan Burns / Lou Grant

Abby Mann / Skag

Gene Reynolds / Lou Grant

1979

Leon Tokatyan / Lou Grant

Gene Reynolds / Lou Grant

Michele Gallery / Lou Grant

James Bridges / The Paper Chase

1978

Robert W. Lenski / The Dain Curse

Steve Allen / Meeting of Minds

Abby Mann / King (1978)

Alan Ayckbourn / The Norman Conquests

Gerald Green / Holocaust

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

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

Ellen M Violett / CBS Playhouse

Allan Sloane / Hallmark Hall of Fame

J.P. Miller / CBS Playhouse

1968

Loring D. Mandel / CBS Playhouse

Reginald Rose / CBS Playhouse

William Read Woodfield / Mission: Impossible

Allan Balter / Mission: Impossible

Don Mankiewicz / Ironside

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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