Media Notes / Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series

A list of television series that won and were nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series.

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1950s

• 1951 ^note as Best Dramatic Show: Pulitzer Prize Playhouse (KECA-TV, ABC)
  • Fireside Theatre (KTLA, independent)
  • I Remember Mama (KTTV, CBS)
  • The Philco Television Playhouse (KNBH, NBC)
  • Studio One (KTTV, CBS)

• 1952 ^note as Best Dramatic Show: Studio One (CBS)
  • Celanese Theatre (ABC)
  • The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse (NBC)
  • Pulitzer Prize Playhouse (ABC)
  • Robert Montgomery Presents (NBC)

• 1953 ^note as Best Dramatic Program: Robert Montgomery Presents (NBC)
  • Celanese Theatre (ABC)
  • Kraft Television Theatre (NBC)
  • The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse (NBC)
  • Studio One (CBS)

• 1953 ^note as Best Mystery, Action or Adventure Program: Dragnet (NBC)
  • The Big Story (NBC)
  • Foreign Intrigue (Syndicated)
  • Martin Kane, Private Eye (NBC)
  • Racket Squad (CBS)

• 1954 ^note as Best Dramatic Program: The United States Steel Hour (ABC)
  • Kraft Television Theatre (NBC)
  • The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse (NBC)
  • Robert Montgomery Presents (NBC)
  • Studio One (CBS)

• 1954 ^note as Best Mystery, Action or Adventure Program: Dragnet (NBC)
  • Foreign Intrigue (Syndicated)
  • I Led Three Lives (Syndicated)
  • Suspense (CBS)
  • The Web (CBS)

• 1955 ^note as Best Dramatic Series: The United States Steel Hour (ABC)
  • Four Star Playhouse (CBS)
  • Medic (NBC)
  • The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse (NBC)
  • Studio One (CBS)

• 1955 ^note as Best Mystery or Intrigue Series: Dragnet (NBC)
  • Foreign Intrigue (Syndicated)
  • I Led Three Lives (Syndicated)
  • Racket Squad (Syndicated)
  • Waterfront (Syndicated)

• 1955 ^note as Best Western or Adventure Series: Stories of the Century (Syndicated)
  • The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (Syndicated)
  • Annie Oakley (Syndicated)
  • Death Valley Days (CBS)
  • The Roy Rogers Show (NBC)

• 1956 ^note as Best Dramatic Series: Producers' Showcase (NBC)
  • Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre (NBC)
  • Climax! (CBS)
  • Studio One (CBS)
  • The United States Steel Hour (CBS)

• 1956 ^note as Best Action or Adventure Series: Disneyland (ABC)
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents (CBS)
  • Dragnet (NBC)
  • Gunsmoke (CBS)
  • The Lineup (CBS)

• 1957 ^note as Best Series — Half Hour or Less: The Phil Silvers Show (CBS)
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents (CBS)
  • Father Knows Best (NBC)
  • The Jack Benny Program (CBS)
  • Person to Person (CBS)

• 1957 ^note as Best Series — One Hour or More : Caesar's Hour (NBC)
  • Climax! (CBS)
  • The Ed Sullivan Show (CBS)
  • Omnibus (CBS)
  • The Perry Como Show (NBC)

• 1958 ^note as Best Dramatic Series with Continuing Characters: Gunsmoke (CBS)
  • Lassie (CBS)
  • Maverick (ABC)
  • Perry Mason (CBS)
  • Wagon Train (NBC)

• 1958 ^note as Best Dramatic Anthology Series: Playhouse 90 (CBS)
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents (CBS)
  • Climax! (CBS)
  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (NBC)
  • Studio One (CBS)

• 1959 ^note as Best Dramatic Series — Less Than One Hour: Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre (NBC)
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents (CBS)
  • General Electric Theater (CBS)
  • The Loretta Young Show (NBC)
  • Naked City (ABC)
  • Peter Gunn (NBC)

• 1959 ^note as Best Western Series: Maverick (ABC)
  • Gunsmoke (CBS)
  • Have Gun – Will Travel (CBS)
  • The Rifleman (ABC)
  • Wagon Train (CBS)

1960s

• 1960 ^note as Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Drama: Playhouse 90 (CBS)
  • Du Pont Show of the Month (CBS)
  • The Moon and Sixpence (NBC)
  • Ford Startime (NBC)
  • The Untouchables (ABC)

• 1961: Hallmark Hall of Fame (NBC)
  • Naked City (ABC)
  • Sacco-Vanzetti Story (NBC)
  • The Twilight Zone (CBS)
  • The Untouchables (ABC)

• 1962: The Defenders (CBS)
  • Alcoa Premiere (ABC)
  • Ben Casey (ABC)
  • The Dick Powell Show (NBC)
  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (NBC)
  • Naked City (ABC)

• 1963: The Defenders (CBS)
  • Alcoa Premiere (ABC)
  • The Dick Powell Show (NBC)
  • The Eleventh Hour (NBC)
  • Naked City (ABC)

• 1964: The Defenders (CBS)
  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (NBC)
  • East Side/West Side (CBS)
  • Mr. Novak (NBC)
  • The Richard Boone Show (NBC)

• 1965 ^note as Outstanding Program Achievements in Entertainment; four-way tie:
  • The Dick Van Dyke Show (CBS)
  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (NBC)
  • My Name is Barbra (CBS)
  • New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts with Leonard Bernstein (CBS)
  • The Andy Williams Show (NBC)
  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (NBC)
  • A Carol for Another Christmas (ABC)
  • The Defenders (CBS)
  • The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (NBC)
  • Mr. Novak (NBC)
  • Profiles in Courage (NBC)
  • Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (NBC)
  • Who Has Seen the Wind? (ABC)
  • The Wonderful World of Burlesque (NBC)

• 1966 ^note as Outstanding Drama Series from here onwards: The Fugitive (ABC)
  • Bonanza (NBC)
  • I Spy (NBC)
  • The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (NBC)
  • Slattery's People (CBS)

• 1967: Mission: Impossible (CBS)
  • The Avengers (ABC)
  • I Spy (NBC)
  • Run for Your Life (NBC)
  • Star Trek (NBC)

• 1968: Mission: Impossible (CBS)
  • The Avengers (ABC)
  • I Spy (NBC)
  • NET Playhouse (NET)
  • Run for Your Life (NBC)
  • Star Trek (NBC)

• 1969: NET Playhouse (NET)
  • The F.B.I. (ABC)
  • Ironside (NBC)
  • Judd, for the Defense (ABC)
  • Mission: Impossible (CBS)
  • The Name of the Game (NBC)

1970s

• 1970: Marcus Welby, M.D. (ABC)
  • The Forsyte Saga (PBS)
  • The Mod Squad (ABC)
  • The Name of the Game (NBC)
  • NET Playhouse (NET)

• 1971: The Bold Ones: The Senator (NBC)
  • The First Churchills (PBS)
  • Ironside (NBC)
  • Marcus Welby, M.D. (ABC)
  • NET Playhouse (NET)

• 1972: Elizabeth R (CBS)
  • Columbo (NBC)
  • Mannix (CBS)
  • Marcus Welby, M.D. (ABC)
  • The Six Wives of Henry VIII (PBS)

• 1973: The Waltons (CBS)
  • Cannon (CBS)
  • Columbo (NBC)
  • Hawaii Five-O (CBS)
  • Kung Fu (ABC)
  • Mannix (CBS)

• 1974: Upstairs Downstairs (PBS)
  • Kojak (CBS)
  • Police Story (NBC)
  • The Streets of San Francisco (ABC)
  • The Waltons (CBS)

• 1975: Upstairs, Downstairs (PBS)
  • Kojak (CBS)
  • Police Story (NBC)
  • The Streets of San Francisco (ABC)
  • The Waltons (CBS)

• 1976: Police Story (NBC)
  • Baretta (ABC)
  • Columbo (NBC)
  • The Streets of San Francisco (ABC)

• 1977: Upstairs, Downstairs (PBS)
  • Baretta (ABC)
  • Columbo (NBC)
  • Family (ABC)
  • Police Story (NBC)

• 1978: The Rockford Files (NBC)
  • Columbo (NBC)
  • Family (ABC)
  • Lou Grant (CBS)
  • Quincy, M.E. (NBC)

• 1979: Lou Grant (CBS)
  • The Paper Chase (CBS)
  • The Rockford Files (NBC)

1980s

• 1980: Lou Grant (CBS)
  • Dallas (CBS)
  • Family (ABC)
  • The Rockford Files (NBC)
  • The White Shadow (CBS)

• 1981: Hill Street Blues (NBC)
  • Dallas (CBS)
  • Lou Grant (CBS)
  • Quincy, M.E. (NBC)
  • The White Shadow (CBS)

• 1982: Hill Street Blues (NBC)
  • Dynasty (ABC)
  • Fame (NBC)
  • Lou Grant (CBS)
  • Magnum, P.I. (CBS)

• 1983: Hill Street Blues (NBC)
  • Cagney & Lacey (CBS)
  • Fame (NBC)
  • Magnum P.I. (CBS)
  • St. Elsewhere (NBC)

• 1984: Hill Street Blues (NBC)
  • Cagney & Lacey (CBS)
  • Fame (NBC)
  • Magnum P.I. (CBS)
  • St. Elsewhere (NBC)

• 1985: Cagney & Lacey (CBS)
  • Hill Street Blues (NBC)
  • Miami Vice (NBC)
  • Murder, She Wrote (CBS)
  • St. Elsewhere (NBC)

• 1986: Cagney & Lacey (CBS)
  • Hill Street Blues (NBC)
  • Moonlighting (ABC)
  • Murder, She Wrote (CBS)
  • St. Elsewhere (NBC)

• 1987: L.A. Law (NBC)
  • Cagney & Lacey (CBS)
  • Moonlighting (ABC)
  • Murder, She Wrote (CBS)
  • St. Elsewhere (NBC)

• 1988: thirtysomething (ABC)
  • Beauty and the Beast (CBS)
  • L.A. Law (NBC)
  • Rumpole of the Bailey (PBS)
  • St. Elsewhere (NBC)

• 1989: L.A. Law (NBC)
  • Beauty and the Beast (CBS)
  • China Beach (ABC)
  • thirtysomething (ABC)
  • Wiseguy (CBS)

1990s

• 1990: L.A. Law (NBC)
  • China Beach (ABC)
  • Quantum Leap (NBC)
  • thirtysomething (ABC)
  • Twin Peaks (ABC)

• 1991: L.A. Law (NBC)
  • China Beach (ABC)
  • Northern Exposure (CBS)
  • Quantum Leap (NBC)
  • thirtysomething (ABC)

• 1992: Northern Exposure (CBS)
  • I'll Fly Away (NBC)
  • L.A. Law (NBC)
  • Law & Order (NBC)
  • Quantum Leap (NBC)

• 1993: Picket Fences (CBS)
  • Homefront (ABC)
  • I'll Fly Away (NBC)
  • Law & Order (NBC)
  • Northern Exposure (CBS)

• 1994: Picket Fences (CBS)
  • Law & Order (NBC)
  • Northern Exposure (CBS)
  • NYPD Blue (ABC)
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation (Syndicated)

• 1995: NYPD Blue (ABC)
  • Chicago Hope (CBS)
  • ER (NBC)
  • Law & Order (NBC)
  • The X-Files (FOX)

• 1996: ER (NBC)
  • Chicago Hope (CBS)
  • Law & Order (NBC)
  • NYPD Blue (ABC)
  • The X-Files (FOX)

• 1997: Law & Order (NBC)
  • Chicago Hope (CBS)
  • ER (NBC)
  • NYPD Blue (ABC)
  • The X-Files (FOX)

• 1998: The Practice (ABC)
  • ER (NBC)
  • Law & Order (NBC)
  • NYPD Blue (ABC)
  • The X-Files (FOX)

• 1999: The Practice (ABC)
  • ER (NBC)
  • Law & Order (NBC)
  • NYPD Blue (ABC)
  • The Sopranos (HBO)

2000s

• 2000: The West Wing (NBC)
  • ER (NBC)
  • Law & Order (NBC)
  • The Practice (ABC)
  • The Sopranos (HBO)

• 2001: The West Wing (NBC)
  • ER (NBC)
  • Law & Order (NBC)
  • The Practice (ABC)
  • The Sopranos (HBO)

• 2002: The West Wing (NBC)
  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS)
  • Law & Order (NBC)
  • Six Feet Under (HBO)
  • 24 (FOX)

• 2003: The West Wing (NBC)
  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS)
  • Six Feet Under (HBO)
  • The Sopranos (HBO)
  • 24 (FOX)

• 2004: The Sopranos (HBO)
  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS)
  • Joan of Arcadia (CBS)
  • 24 (FOX)
  • The West Wing (NBC)

• 2005: Lost (ABC)
  • Deadwood (HBO)
  • Six Feet Under (HBO)
  • 24 (FOX)
  • The West Wing (NBC)

• 2006: 24 (FOX)
  • Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
  • House (FOX)
  • The Sopranos (HBO)
  • The West Wing (NBC)

• 2007: The Sopranos (HBO)
  • Boston Legal (ABC)
  • Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
  • Heroes (NBC)
  • House (FOX)

• 2008: 'Mad Men'' (AMC)
  • Boston Legal (ABC)
  • Damages (FX)
  • Dexter (Showtime)
  • House (FOX)
  • Lost (ABC)

• 2009: Mad Men (AMC)
  • Big Love (HBO)
  • Breaking Bad (AMC)
  • Damages (FX)
  • Dexter(Showtime)
  • House (FOX)
  • Lost (ABC)

2010s

• 2010: Mad Men (AMC)
  • Breaking Bad (AMC)
  • Dexter (Showtime)
  • The Good Wife (CBS)
  • Lost (ABC)
  • True Blood (HBO)

• 2011: Mad Men (AMC)
  • Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
  • Dexter (Showtime)
  • Friday Night Lights (DirectTV)
  • Game of Thrones (HBO)
  • The Good Wife (CBS)

• 2012: Homeland (Showtime)
  • Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
  • Breaking Bad (AMC)
  • Downton Abbey (PBS)
  • Game of Thrones (HBO)
  • Mad Men (AMC)

• 2013: Breaking Bad (AMC)
  • Downton Abbey (PBS)
  • Game of Thrones (HBO)
  • Homeland (Showtime)
  • House of Cards (Netflix)
  • Mad Men (AMC)

• 2014: Breaking Bad (AMC)
  • Downton Abbey (PBS)
  • Game of Thrones (HBO)
  • House of Cards (Netflix)
  • Mad Men (AMC)
  • True Detective (HBO)

• 2015: Game of Thrones (HBO)
  • Better Call Saul (AMC)
  • Downton Abbey (PBS)
  • Homeland (Showtime)
  • Game of Thrones (HBO)
  • Mad Men (AMC)
  • Orange is the New Black (Netflix)

• 2016: Game of Thrones (HBO)
  • The Americans (FX)
  • Better Call Saul (AMC)
  • Downton Abbey (PBS)
  • Homeland (Showtime)
  • House of Cards (Netflix)
  • Mr. Robot (USA Network)

• 2017: The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)
  • Better Call Saul (AMC)
  • The Crown (Netflix)
  • House of Cards (Netflix)
  • This Is Us (NBC)
  • Westworld (HBO)

• 2018: Game of Thrones (HBO)
  • The Americans (FX)
  • The Crown (Netflix)
  • The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)
  • This Is Us (NBC)
  • Westworld (HBO)

• 2019: Game of Thrones (HBO)
  • Better Call Saul (AMC)
  • Bodyguard (Netflix)
  • Ozark (Netflix)
  • Pose (FX)
  • Succession (HBO)
  • This Is Us (NBC)

2020s

• 2020: Succession (HBO)
  • Better Call Saul (AMC)
  • The Crown (Netflix)
  • The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)
  • Killing Eve (BBC America)
  • The Mandalorian (Disney+)
  • Ozark (Netflix)
  • Stranger Things (Netflix)

• 2021: The Crown (Netflix)
  • The Boys (Prime Video)
  • Bridgerton (Netflix)
  • The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)
  • Lovecraft Country (HBO)
  • The Mandalorian (Disney+)
  • Pose (FX)
  • This Is Us (NBC)

• 2022: Succession (HBO)
  • Better Call Saul (AMC)
  • Euphoria (HBO)
  • Ozark (Netflix)
  • Severance (Apple TV+)
  • Squid Game (Netflix)
  • Stranger Trings (Netflix)
  • Yellowjackets (Showtime)

• 2023: Succession (HBO)
  • Andor (Disney+)
  • Better Call Saul (AMC)
  • The Crown (Netflix)
  • House of the Dragon (HBO)
  • The Last of Us (HBO)
  • The White Lotus (HBO)
  • Yellowjackets (Showtime)

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