Overview of the 2018 Emmy Nominations
The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards, held in 2018, recognized creative excellence across broadcast and cable. The nominations were announced in July 2018, highlighting achievements in the 2017–2018 television season. This explainer covers major nominees and winners in key drama and comedy categories, with a focus on series, acting, and craft. It reflects the consensus view of the industry as encoded by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Use this as a durable reference for how the race was perceived at the time and how outcomes aligned with critical conversation.
Historic Context and Industry Conversation
Because the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards occurred in 2018, the nominations encapsulated a year of notable momentum for prestige cable and broadcast event television. The field invited comparisons across legacy franchises and breakout dramas, with renewed attention to diverse storytelling and international influence. Conversations about voting blocs, eligibility windows, and evolving categories shaped the discourse. This section sets the stage for understanding how the nominees were positioned in real time and how outcomes were interpreted by critics, voters, and audiences.
Key Drama Series Nominees and Winners
In the drama category, nominees reflected a mix of established hits and ambitious newcomers. The series race emphasized serialized storytelling, performance depth, and production scale. Below is a concise overview of leading contenders, aligned by category, with verified outcomes where available.
Notable Drama Nominees (partial verification)
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Outstanding Drama Series (leading nominees) | The Crown; The Handmaid’s Tale; Game of Thrones; The Walking Dead | Publicly announced nominations |
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (notable nominees) | Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us); Matthew Rhys (The Americans) | Publicly announced nominations |
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (notable nominees) | Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale); Robin Wright (House of Cards) | Publicly announced nominations |
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (notable nominees) | Mandy Patinkin (Homeland); John Lithgow (The Crown) | Publicly announced nominations |
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (notable nominees) | Jennifer Hudson (Empire); Alexis Bledel (The Handmaid’s Tale) | Publicly announced nominations |
Outcome Snapshot: Major Drama Winners (2018)
- Outstanding Drama Series: The Handmaid’s Tale
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Matthew Rhys, The Americans
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Alexis Bledel, The Handmaid’s Tale
Key Comedy Series Nominees and Winners
The comedy landscape in 2018 featured strong sitcom contenders and innovative narrative comedies. Categories emphasized writing, ensemble casts, and star-making performances. The following table summarizes leading nominees and verified outcomes where applicable.
Notable Comedy Nominees (partial verification)
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Outstanding Comedy Series (leading nominees) | The Big Bang Theory; The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel; Schitt’s Creek | Publicly announced nominations |
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (notable nominees) | Anthony Anderson (Black-ish); William H. Macy (Shameless) | Publicly announced nominations |
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (notable nominees) | Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel); Issa Rae (Insecure) | Publicly announced nominations |
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (notable nominees) | Tony Hale (Veep); Andre Braugher (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) | Publicly announced nominations |
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (notable nominees) | Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel); Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) | Publicly announced nominations |
Outcome Snapshot: Major Comedy Winners (2018)
- Outstanding Comedy Series: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: William H. Macy, Shameless
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Tony Hale, Veep
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Notable Snubs and Critical Reactions
The 2018 Emmy nominations generated significant discussion around conspicuous omissions and perceived mismatches between critical reception and finalist alignment. Certain dramas and performances widely highlighted in year-end lists did not receive nominations, intensifying debates about campaign effectiveness and voting blocs. Meanwhile, several cable and streaming shows gained recognition, reflecting the continued rise of premium non-broadcast storytelling. These dynamics influenced how the season was framed in broader cultural conversations.
Category Trends and Voting Context
Understanding the 2018 Emmy nominations requires attention to category dynamics, eligibility rules, and voter composition. Primetime Emmy categories are divided across program-type buckets (drama vs. comedy), with craft and performance awards further segmented by gender and supporting/lead distinctions. The Academy’s voting process involves peer voting within branches, which can amplify incumbency advantages and franchise familiarity. These mechanics help explain cluster nominations around established series and why certain breakout shows gained traction while others did not.
Legacy and Takeaways
As an evergreen reference, the 2018 Emmy nominations capture a transitional moment in television, where streaming prominence began to rival legacy franchises in both volume and perceived prestige. The winners—most notably The Handmaid’s Tale and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel—shaped subsequent discourse around what constituted the season’s defining work. For analysts, the nominations remain a useful baseline for studying momentum shifts, voting patterns, and the evolving competitive landscape across broadcast and cable.