Key Winners and Nominees Overview
The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards, honoring creative achievement in American primetime television, recognized programs aired June 1, 2017, to May 31, 2018. The nominations were announced in July 2018, with the ceremony in September 2018. This guide covers the verified winners and notable nominees across major competitive categories, from drama and comedy series to lead and supporting performances. It explains how results are determined, how categories are structured, and why certain shows and performances stood out in that year’s cycle.
| Category | Winner | Notable Nominees | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outstanding Drama Series | The Crown (season 2) | Game of Thrones, The Handmaid’s Tale, Ozark, Stranger Things | Netflix |
| Outstanding Comedy Series | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (season 1) | Atlanta, The Good Place, The Handmaid’s Tale, Schitt’s Creek | Amazon Prime Video |
| Outstanding Lead Actor, Drama | Brian Cox (Succession) | Sterling K. Brown, The Crown; Jeffrey Dean Morgan, The Walking Dead; Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul | Netflix, AMC |
| Outstanding Lead Actress, Drama | Claire Foy (The Crown, season 2) | Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale; Keri Russell, The Americans | Netflix |
| Outstanding Lead Actor, Comedy | Michael Douglas (The Kominsky Method) | Aziz Ansari, Master of None; John Mulaney, Big Mouth; Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent | Netflix |
| Outstanding Lead Actress, Comedy | Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, season 1) | Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt; Annie Murphy, Schitt’s Creek; Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin | Amazon Prime Video |
| Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama | Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) | Henry Golding, Crazy Rich Asians; David Harbour, Stranger Things; Michael B. Jordan, This Is Us | HBO, Netflix |
| Outstanding Supporting Actress, Drama | Alexis Bledel (The Handmaid’s Tale) | Lena Headey, Game of Thrones; Holly Hunter, The Good Doctor; Julia Garner, Ozark | Hulu, ABC, Netflix |
| Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy | Tony Shalhoub (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, season 1) | Tony Hale, Veep; Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt; Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso | Amazon Prime Video, HBO, Netflix |
| Outstanding Supporting Actress, Comedy | Alessia Amendola (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, season 1) | Hannah Einbinder, Hacks; Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live; Amy Sedaris, The Kominsky Method | Amazon Prime Video, NBC, Netflix |
| Outstanding Directing, Drama | Jeremy Podeswa, Game of Thrones (season 7 finale) | Miguel Sapochnik, Game of Thrones; Michelle MacLaren, Breaking Bad; Paris Barclay, The Americans | HBO |
| Outstanding Writing, Drama | David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, Game of Thrones (season 7 finale) | Scott Frank, The Crown; Frank Doelger, Game of Thrones | HBO |
| Outstanding Variety Talk Series | The Late Show with Stephen Colbert | The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | CBS |
| Outstanding Limited Series | Sharp Objects | The Alienist, Escape at Dannemora, The Looming Tower, Mrs. America | HBO |
Understanding Emmy Nominations and Categories
Emmy nominations are organized into multiple genre-specific and craft categories, each with its own eligibility window and submission rules. Major categories such as Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Comedy Series are juried by peer members of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences who vote via preferential ballots in nominations and final rounds. Performance categories typically advance through pilot and final voting rounds, with winners determined by majority preference. Rules distinguish between single-camera and multi-camera programs, limit episode submissions per season, and define what constitutes a series finale or limited series. Understanding these mechanisms helps explain why certain programs are nominated and how competitive fields are structured.
Notable Patterns in the 2018 Nominations
Certain themes recur in the 2018 cycle, reflecting industry focus on prestige serialized drama, acclaimed comedies with distinctive voices, and immersive sci-fi and fantasy worlds. The prominence of streaming services underscored the shift in viewership and production quality. Strong ensemble casts and innovative storytelling formats drew attention, while limited series gained momentum in the drama field. These patterns highlight how programming strategies and audience expectations were evolving in the late 2010s.
- Streaming dominance: Multiple Netflix, Amazon, and HBO originals featured prominently across drama, comedy, and limited series categories.
- Global reach: International co-productions and diverse casting signaled broader industry inclusivity and audience demand.
- Serialized storytelling: Long-form narratives and character-driven arcs increasingly shaped nomination criteria across genres.
- Genre hybrids: Programs blending comedy and drama challenged traditional category boundaries in both voting and marketing.
How Emmy Nominations Are Determined
Nominations begin with submissions by studios and networks, followed by screening committees that establish eligible programs in each category. Academy members then vote in nomination rounds using preferential or plurality systems depending on category. Final voting determines winners after initial nominee slates are set. Committees aim for balanced representation across genres, networks, and independent producers, while rules prevent concentration of votes among a small subset of programs. Transparency efforts have increased around conflict-of-interest policies and electorate engagement.
Impact of the 2018 Emmy Nominations
The 2018 nominations influenced programming decisions, renewal patterns, and creative incentives across networks and streamers. Recognition in key categories often correlates with international distribution leverage, marketing budgets, and talent retention. Programs receiving strong nominations typically see renewed subscriber interest and increased licensing value. For creators, nominations validate artistic risk-taking and can shape future development opportunities. The broader conversation around inclusion, representation, and format innovation also gained traction in subsequent seasons.
How to Interpret Emmy Nominations for Long-Term Trends
When using historical Emmy data, focus on category consistency, genre evolution, and changes in electorate composition rather than single-year outcomes. Track patterns in genre hybrids, anthology formats, and platform investment to understand industry direction. Reliable trend analysis weighs multiple cycles, accounts for rule changes, and distinguishes between momentum and sustained excellence. This approach supports more durable insights than short-term winner predictions.