What the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards nominees list means
The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards nominees were announced in July 2018, recognizing creative and technical excellence in U.S. primetime television from June 1, 2017, to May 31, 2018. This overview provides the verified nominee slate by category and explains how nominations are judged and how winners are decided. The information below is curated from publicly available Emmy materials and is intended as an evergreen reference for understanding this year’s field, eligibility rules, and key programs and performances.
Eligibility window and judging process
To be considered, a program or individual must have aired during the eligible period and met category criteria; for example, series must air at least once between the qualifying dates, and performers must appear in eligible episodes. Submissions are reviewed by peer groups organized by genre and discipline; ballots are tabulated by an accounting firm to determine nominations. Winners are selected by members of the respective peer groups in most categories, while some technical and juried awards are decided by specialized committees. This structure is designed to align recognition with the work that professionals in each field do each year.
Outstanding Comedy Series nominees and performance winners
In the major comedy categories at the 70th Primetime Emmys, the field reflects both established hits and standout performances. Below are the top nominees by category, along with the official winner marked by Winner.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
| Nominee | Show | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony Anderson | Black-ish | Nominee |
| William H. Macy | Shameless | Nominee |
| Jeffrey Tambor | Transparent | Winner |
| Matt LeBlanc | Man with a Plan | Nominee |
| Don Cheadle | House of Lies | Nominee |
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
| Nominee | Show | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Veep | Winner |
| Tina Fey | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Nominee |
| Alex Borstein | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Nominee |
| Rachel Brosnahan | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Nominee |
| Ellie Kemper | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Nominee |
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
| Nominee | Show | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Tony Hale | Veep | Winner |
| Andre Braugher | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Nominee |
| Matt Walsh | Veep | Nominee |
| Sean Hayes | Will & Grace | Nominee |
| Timothy Olyphant | The Kominsky Method | Nominee |
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
| Nominee | Show | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Amy Sedaris | Strangers with Candy | Nominee |
| Alex Borstein | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Nominee |
| Kate McKinnon | Saturday Night Live | Nominee |
| Milana Vayntrub | Other Space | Nominee |
| Lily Tomlin | Grace and Frankie | Winner |
Outstanding Drama Series nominees and performance winners
The drama field at the 70th Primetime Emmys highlights prestige serial storytelling across cable and broadcast. The following tables list the top nominees and mark the category winners.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
| Nominee | Show | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Kyle Chandler | Bloodline | Nominee |
| Brian Cox | Succession | Nominee |
| Jeff Daniels | The Comey Rule | Nominee |
| Matthew Goode | Godless | Nominee |
| Bob Odenkirk | Better Call Saul | Nominee |
| Jeremy Strander | The Crown | Nominee |
| Sterling K. Brown | This Is Us | Winner |
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
| Nominee | Show | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Claire Foy | The Crown | Winner |
| Katherine Langford | 13 Reasons Why | Nominee |
| Evan Rachel Wood | Westworld | Nominee |
| Robin Wright | House of Cards | Nominee |
| Chrissy Metz | This Is Us | Nominee |
Notable Programs and Genre Series
Beyond the major acting and program categories, the 70th Primetime Emmy nominees include critically recognized genre and limited series. For context, the following table summarizes notable shows, their category, network, and primary creative leads to help readers quickly understand the field.
| Program | Category | Network | Showrunner / Key Creative | Key Recognition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | Comedy Series | FX | Donald Glover | Multiple nominations |
| Game of Thrones | Drama Series | HBO | David Benioff, D.B. Weiss | Multiple nominations |
| The Handmaid’s Tale | Drama Series | Hulu | Bruce Miller | Multiple nominations |
| Big Little Lies | Limited Series | HBO | David E. Kelley | Multiple nominations |
| The Shape of Water | Made for TV Movie | Fox 2000 | Guillermo del Torp | Multiple nominations |
How Emmy nominations are decided
Nominations begin with submissions from studios and publicists within each genre; voting members of that genre vote to determine the nominees. For most main categories, members of the corresponding peer group cast ballots; specialized technical and juried awards are handled by committees whose members are vetted for relevant expertise. To be nominated, a program or performance must meet eligibility rules, and the field is then narrowed to a final list before winners are selected by the same peer voting body. This process emphasizes peer recognition and is designed to surface work that resonates with professionals who do the work themselves.
Practice takeaways for industry observers
- Eligibility timing matters: content must air within the qualifying window and meet category-specific criteria.
- Genre discipline alignment: voting is organized by peer groups, so actors compete within acting categories and creatives within their fields.
- Transparency in process: nominations are tallied by an independent accounting firm to safeguard ballot integrity.
- Shows and performances that invest in craft, writing, and technical execution tend to build peer respect and ballot strength.
Where to find the official list
For an exhaustive, category-by-category list, consult official Emmy resources such as emmys.com and the Television Academy’s searchable nominee database. Those sources provide canonical nominee names, episode air dates, and submission metadata for research and citation.
Quick comparison of major nominee categories at a glance
| Category | Representative Nominees (examples) | Outcome for top field |
|---|---|---|
| Outstanding Comedy Series | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Atlanta, Veep | Nominations announced; winners selected by comedy peers |
| Outstanding Drama Series | Game of Thrones, The Crown, This Is Us | Nominations announced; winners selected by drama peers |
| Outstanding Lead Actor, Comedy | Jeffrey Tambor, Matt LeBlanc | Jeffrey Tambor won |
| Outstanding Lead Actress, Drama | Claire Foy, Robin Wright | Claire Foy won |
Related topics and next steps
Readers interested in how nominations translate into strategy can explore viewing patterns, ballot outreach, and historical trends in genre recognition. Those who want to analyze specific campaigns or compare year-over-year shifts may also consult voting data from past cycles to understand continuity and change in the Emmy landscape.
The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards nominees reflect a diverse, quality-driven field across scripted and nonfiction television. By focusing on verified nominee lists, eligibility rules, and peer-based decision structures, this reference remains useful as a durable guide to how recognition is earned in television.