Overview of the 2018 Emmy Nominations
The 2018 Emmy nominations, announced in July 2018 for the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards, recognized creative achievement in U.S. primetime television during the 2017–2018 eligibility window. This overview provides a durable reference for the nominated and winning programs, key categories, and how the Emmy voting process determines nominees and winners. It is structured as an evergreen explainer designed to remain useful as a reference for researchers, journalists, and readers seeking clarity on how these nominations reflect the broader television landscape.
2018 Primetime Emmy Nominees and Winners by Major Category
The following table summarizes major 2018 Primetime Emmy categories, listing the winners first, followed by additional nominated programs. These categories highlight distinctions in drama, comedy, lead and supporting performances, and writing and directing for series.
| Category | Winner (Year) | Nominated Programs (Year) |
|---|---|---|
| Outstanding Drama Series | The Crown (2018) | The Crown; Game of Thrones; This Is Us; Stranger Things; Westworld (2018) |
| Outstanding Comedy Series | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2018) | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel; Atlanta; The Big Bang Theory; Veep; Schitt’s Creek (2018) |
| Outstanding Lead Actor, Drama | Matthew Rhys, The Americans (2018) | Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul; John Lithgow, The Crown; Kyle MacLachlan, Twin Peaks; Kevin Spacey, House of Cards (2018) |
| Outstanding Lead Actress, Drama | Claire Foy, The Crown (2018) | Claire Foy, The Crown; Keri Russell, The Americans; Elisabeth Moss, Handmaid’s Tale; Winona Ryder, Stranger Things (2018) |
| Outstanding Lead Actor, Comedy | Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method (2018) | Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method; Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent; William H. Macy, Shameless; Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory; Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm (2018) |
| Outstanding Lead Actress, Comedy | Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2018) | Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep; Annie Murphy, Schitt’s Creek; Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie; Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation (2018) |
| Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama | David Harbour, Stranger Things (2018) | David Harbour, Stranger Things; Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones; John Lithgow, The Crown; Michael Kelly, House of Cards; Andy Serkis, Planet Earth (2018) |
| Outstanding Supporting Actress, Drama | Sandra Oh, Killing Eve (2018) | Sandra Oh, Killing Eve; Julia Garner, Ozark; Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown; Millie Bobby Brown, Stranger Things; Chrissy Metz, This Is Us (2018) |
| Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy | Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2018) | Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel; Steve Buscemi, The Sopranos; Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt; Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock; Jeremy Piven, Entourage (2018) |
| Outstanding Supporting Actress, Comedy | Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2018) | Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel; Heidi Gardner, Saturday Night Live; Jane Krakowski, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt; Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie; Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation (2018) |
| Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series | Jeremy Podeswa, The Handmaid’s Tale (“Offred”) | Jeremy Podeswa, The Handmaid’s Tale; David Nutter, Game of Thrones; Carl Franklin, House of Cards; Daniel Sackheim, The Americans; James Hawes, Stranger Things (2018) |
| Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series | Gary Goetzman, Tom Fontana, and John Sacret Young, The Crown (“Wolferton Splash”) | Gary Goetzman, Tom Fontana, and John Sacret Young, The Crown; David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, Game of Thrones; Noah Hawley, Fargo; Beau Willimon, House of Cards (2018) |
| Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series | Susanna Fogel, The Kominsky Method (“The Depths”) | Susanna Fogel, The Kominsky Method; Donald Glover, Atlanta; Beth McCarthy-Miller, 30 Rock; Chuck Hayward, Schitt’s Creek; Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation (2018) |
| Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series | Allison Silverman, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) | Allison Silverman, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel; Lena Waithe, Atlanta; Chuck Hayward, Schitt’s Creek; Mike Schur, Parks and Recreation; Amy Poehler and Mike Schur, Parks and Recreation (2018) |
Key Highlights Across the 2018 Nominations
- The Crown and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel led all series with multiple nominations in their respective categories.
- Streaming platforms, including Netflix and Amazon, accounted for a significant share of nominations, reflecting the continued shift in how audiences consume television.
- Notable first-time nominees in comedy included Schitt’s Creek and The Kominsky Method, signaling emerging series alongside established hits.
Eligibility and Airing Windows for the 2018 Emmys
Primetime Emmy nominations are based on programming that aired during the eligibility period, which for the 70th Primetime Emmys ran from June 1, 2017, to May 31, 2018, in U.S. primetime hours. Programs must have been released or first broadcast within this window and meet original and accreditation requirements defined by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Rules limit the number of episodes a series can submit and specify technical and creative criteria that make a program eligible in categories such as acting, writing, and directing.
Because the 2018 cycle reflects content from 2017–2018, many evergreen series that remain relevant for reference are often revisited under these rules. Understanding the eligibility window helps explain why certain shows appear in a given year and why others, even if popular, may not be nominated until later seasons.
How the Emmy Nominations Are Selected
The nomination process is carried out by peer voting members of the Academy, with separate committees overseeing different genres and craft categories. Members watch submitted episodes and vote online to determine nominees and, eventually, winners. The system is designed to reward creative and technical excellence while balancing representation across genres and platforms.
Because nominations reflect votes within specialized branches, patterns emerge over time—for example, prestige drama and limited series often perform well in writing and directing categories, while comedies are evaluated on performance and ensemble writing. These structural factors help make Emmy recognition a durable indicator of quality within the television industry.
Context: The 2018 Emmys in Television Trends
The 2018 Emmy nominations arrived amid a period of rapid change for television, with streaming services challenging traditional broadcast and cable models. Series like The Crown and The Handmaid’s Tale demonstrated how high-budget, cinematic television could thrive on premium subscription platforms, while comedies such as The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel showed that niche, creator-driven shows could reach mainstream audiences. The diversity of nominated shows, both in genre and distribution, highlighted a more fragmented and competitive landscape than in previous decades.
At the same time, long-running hits like The Big Bang Theory and Game of Thrones showed that legacy franchises continued to command attention, even as new voices and formats gained ground. Examining the 2018 nominations therefore offers insight into how television quality is defined and recognized in the streaming era.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2018 Emmy Nominations
When were the 2018 Emmy nominations announced?
The 2018 Primetime Emmy Award nominations were announced in July 2018, ahead of the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony held in September 2018.
Which shows received the most nominations in 2018?
The Crown and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel were among the most-nominated series, with several programs in each major category receiving multiple nods across acting, writing, and directing.
Are the 2018 Emmy results still relevant for research or retrospectives?
Yes. Because the 2018 ceremony reflects a pivotal moment when streaming prominence and traditional television converged, it remains a useful reference point for industry analysis, critical retrospectives, and content studies.