2018 Emmy Nominees: A Comprehensive Guide to the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards

The 2018 Emmy nominees and winners defined a pivotal moment in television history, marking the year Netflix officially surpassed HBO in total nominations for the first time. The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards, held on September 17, 2018, saw Game of Thrones reclaim its throne as Outstanding Drama Series, while The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel dominated the comedy categories, winning Outstanding Comedy Series and several acting honors.

The 2018 awards season was characterized by the "Peak TV" era's expansion, the rise of streaming dominance, and a shift toward more diverse storytelling. Hosted by Saturday Night Live’s Colin Jost and Michael Che at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, the ceremony reflected an industry in transition, balancing established legacy hits with fresh, innovative voices from digital platforms.

The Historical Shift: Netflix vs. HBO

One of the most significant narratives surrounding the 2018 Emmy nominees was the statistical upset in the network standings. For 17 years, HBO had held the record for the most nominations of any single network or platform. However, in 2018, Netflix broke that streak by securing 112 nominations, edging out HBO’s 108 nominations.

This shift was not merely a numbers game; it represented a fundamental change in how television was produced, distributed, and consumed. While HBO maintained a high "win-to-nomination" ratio—eventually tying with Netflix for the most wins (23 each) after the Creative Arts ceremonies were factored in—the volume of high-quality content coming from streaming services could no longer be ignored.

The Impact of Streaming Volume

The sheer variety of Netflix's nominated content in 2018 ranged from the high-budget period drama The Crown to the gritty sci-fi of Stranger Things and the sophisticated comedy of GLOW. This breadth allowed the streamer to penetrate almost every major category, a feat previously reserved for major cable giants. Meanwhile, Hulu continued its momentum from the previous year with The Handmaid’s Tale, and Amazon Prime Video found its first massive "prestige" hit in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

Outstanding Drama Series: The Return of the King

The Drama categories in 2018 were particularly competitive. After being ineligible in 2017 due to its production schedule, HBO’s Game of Thrones returned to the ballot. Its return set the stage for a showdown with the reigning champion, Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale.

The Nominees for Outstanding Drama Series

• Game of Thrones (HBO) – Winner
• The Americans (FX)
• The Crown (Netflix)
• The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)
• Stranger Things (Netflix)
• This Is Us (NBC)
• Westworld (HBO)

The victory for Game of Thrones solidified its status as the most decorated drama in Emmy history at that time. However, the night also provided a long-overdue "swan song" victory for FX’s The Americans. After six seasons of critical acclaim but limited hardware, Matthew Rhys won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Philip Jennings. His co-star, Keri Russell, was also a heavy favorite, though the Lead Actress trophy ultimately went to Claire Foy for her final season as Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown.

Outstanding Comedy Series: The Maisel Sweep

If the drama categories were a battle of titans, the comedy categories were a coronation for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. The Amazon Prime Video series, created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, became the first streaming show to win Outstanding Comedy Series, a milestone that signaled the end of the traditional sitcom's dominance at the Emmys.

The Nominees for Outstanding Comedy Series

• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime Video) – Winner
• Atlanta (FX)
• Barry (HBO)
• black-ish (ABC)
• Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
• GLOW (Netflix)
• Silicon Valley (HBO)
• Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix)

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel won five of the night’s major awards, including Lead Actress (Rachel Brosnahan), Supporting Actress (Alex Borstein), and Writing and Directing for Sherman-Palladino. This sweep left little room for other popular contenders like Donald Glover’s Atlanta, which had been a critical darling throughout its second season.

Limited Series and Movie Categories

The Limited Series categories in 2018 were dominated by Ryan Murphy’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. Following the success of The People v. O.J. Simpson, Murphy’s second installment in the anthology series focused on the dark obsession of killer Andrew Cunanan.

Key Winners in Limited Series

• Outstanding Limited Series: The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (FX)
• Lead Actor: Darren Criss, The Assassination of Gianni Versace
• Lead Actress: Regina King, Seven Seconds (Netflix)

Regina King’s win for Seven Seconds was considered one of the night’s most pleasant surprises. It marked her third Emmy win in four years, further cementing her as one of the most respected performers in the industry. Additionally, Jeff Daniels and Merritt Wever both took home trophies for their roles in the Netflix western Godless, highlighting the platform's success in the short-form storytelling space.

Comparison of Major Category Nominees and Winners

The following table summarizes the primary winners and their respective competitors in the top categories for the 2018 ceremony.

Diversity and Historic Milestones

The 2018 Emmy nominees also reflected a growing commitment to diversity, though the final results were met with mixed reactions regarding the actual wins for people of color.

Sandra Oh made history as the first woman of Asian descent to be nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Killing Eve. While she did not win that year, her nomination was a watershed moment for the industry. Furthermore, the 2018 Creative Arts Emmys saw all four Guest Acting categories won by Black performers—Tiffany Haddish, Ron Cephas Jones, Samira Wiley, and Katt Williams—a first in the history of the Television Academy.

Thandie Newton won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Westworld, delivering a powerful speech about her journey in the industry. RuPaul also continued his dominance in the Reality-Competition category, winning Outstanding Host for RuPaul's Drag Race and seeing the show itself win for the first time in the Outstanding Reality-Competition Program category.

Technical Achievement and Creative Arts

While the primetime broadcast focuses on acting and "top" show honors, the 2018 Creative Arts Emmy Awards provided deep insight into the technical mastery required for modern television. Shows like Game of Thrones and Westworld dominated the technical categories, including Visual Effects, Sound Mixing, and Makeup.

• Game of Thrones: Secured several wins for its ambitious "Beyond the Wall" and "The Dragon and the Wolf" episodes.
• Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown: Following the tragic passing of Anthony Bourdain earlier in 2018, the Television Academy honored his work with several posthumous awards, highlighting the show’s unique blend of journalism and cinematography.
• Saturday Night Live: Continued its reign as a technical powerhouse, particularly in the Variety Sketch Series categories, proving that despite the rise of streaming, linear broadcast variety shows still held significant craft value.

The Cultural Context: 2018 vs. 2026

From our perspective in 2026, the 2018 Emmy Awards represent the "Big Bang" of the streaming wars. In 2018, Apple TV+ and Disney+ had not yet launched; the landscape was still largely defined by the rivalry between Netflix, Amazon, and the "old guard" of HBO and FX.

Looking back, the 2018 nominees list is a "Who's Who" of talent that would go on to define the next decade of entertainment. Bill Hader’s win for Barry marked the beginning of his transition from sketch comedian to elite director and dramatic actor. Similarly, the recognition of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s writing for Killing Eve foreshadowed her future sweep for Fleabag a year later.

The 2018 ceremony is also remembered for one of the most romantic moments in live television history: Glenn Weiss, while accepting his award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special, proposed to his girlfriend, Jan Svendsen, on stage. This moment of genuine human connection remains a highlight in the long history of the Emmy telecast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which show had the most nominations in 2018?

Game of Thrones led all programs with 22 nominations. It was followed closely by Westworld with 21 and The Handmaid's Tale with 20. In terms of networks, Netflix led with 112 total nominations, while HBO followed with 108.

Who hosted the 2018 Emmy Awards?

The ceremony was hosted by Michael Che and Colin Jost, the co-anchors of Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update." Their hosting style was noted for its dry, topical humor and frequent references to the changing demographics and politics of the television industry.

Why was Game of Thrones eligible in 2018 but not 2017?

Emmy eligibility is based on a specific "window" (usually June 1 to May 31). Because Game of Thrones Season 7 premiered in July 2017, it missed the deadline for the 2017 ceremony and was instead considered for the 2018 Emmy cycle.

Did any show win all major categories it was nominated for?

While no show won every single nomination, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel came close by sweeping the major comedy categories, including Best Comedy Series, Lead Actress, Supporting Actress, Writing, and Directing. This was a rare feat for a show’s debut season.

How many Emmys did Netflix win in 2018?

Netflix won a total of 23 Emmys in 2018, tying with HBO for the most wins of the year. This total includes awards from both the Primetime telecast and the Creative Arts ceremonies.

Strategic Takeaway for Researchers and Historians

The 2018 Emmy nominees provide a vital snapshot of an industry at a crossroads. For those researching the evolution of digital media, 2018 serves as the definitive proof-of-concept for the streaming model. The success of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and the nomination volume of Netflix demonstrated that digital platforms could achieve both scale and critical prestige simultaneously.

For a complete verified list of all winners and nominees, including technical and creative arts categories, the official Television Academy Emmy Awards Database remains the primary source for historical records. Reviewing the 2018 data is essential for understanding the trajectory of modern television, particularly the decline of traditional network sitcoms and the rise of high-concept, serialized drama.