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TV dramas have come a long way since the days of Playhouse 90, Hallmark Hall of Fame and NET Playhouse – all of which won Emmys for best drama in the 1960s. Even the category’s name has evolved since then, from Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Drama to Outstanding Dramatic Series or Outstanding Series-Drama and the current Outstanding Drama Series.
Click through a gallery of the shows that have taken home to marquee Emmy Award since 1960 – from the elegance of The Defenders and the period tech of Mission: Impossible through cop shows including Police Story, Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue; medical shows Marcus Welby, M.D. and ER, the legal offices of L.A. Law and The Practice; such quirky fare as Picket Fences, Northern Exposure and Ally McBeal; and into the antihero tales of The Sopranos and Breaking Bad – and many more.
Along the way you’ll find the five shows tied for most Emmys in the category with four each: Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, The West Wing, Mad Men and Game of Thrones. Four others have snagged a trio of statuettes apiece: Playhouse 90; Upstairs, Downstairs; The Defenders; and Dragnet.
Which show will take the top prize next? While we wait, check out our gallery of all the Drama Series winners since the Kennedy administration. Enjoy.
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The Crown (Netflix) – 2021
Elizabeth Debicki & Dominic West
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Succession (HBO) – 2020, 2022, 2023
From left: Jeremy Strong, Alan Ruck & Sarah Snook
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The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu) – 2017
Image Credit: Hulu Alexis Bledel & Elisabeth Moss
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Game Of Thrones (HBO) – 2015, 2016, 2018
Image Credit: HBO Kit Harington
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Breaking Bad (AMC) – 2012, 2013
Image Credit: Everett Collection Bryan Cranston & Aaron Judge
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Homeland (Showtime) – 2011
Image Credit: Everett Collection Damian Lewis & Claire Danes
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Mad Men (AMC) – 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Image Credit: AMC Jon Hamm
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24 (Fox) – 2006
Kiefer Sutherland
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Lost (ABC) – 2005
Image Credit: Snap Stills/Shutterstock Full Season 1 cast
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The Sopranos (HBO) – 2004, 2007
Image Credit: HBO From left: Tony Sirico, Steven Van Zandt, James Gandolfini, Michael Imperioli & Vincent Pastore
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The West Wing (NBC) – 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Image Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock From left: John Spencer, Moira Kelly, Rob Lowe, Martin Sheen, Bradley Whitford, Allison Janney & Richard Schiff
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The Practice (ABC) – 1998, 1999
Image Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock From left: Dylan McDermott, LisaGay Hamilton, Steve Harris, Camryn Manheim, Michael Badalucco, Lara Flynn Boyle & Kelli Williams
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Law & Order (NBC) – 1997
Image Credit: Universal Tv/Wolf Film/Kobal/Shutterstock From left: Jerry Orbach, Chris Noth & S. Epatha Merkerson
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ER (NBC) – 1996
Image Credit: Everett Collection Clockwise, from left (not counting back row or far right): Sherry Stringfield, Julianna Margulies, George Clooney, Noah Wyle, Eriq La Salle & Anthony Edwards
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NYPD Blue (ABC) – 1995
Image Credit: Everett Collection From left: Dennis Franz, Gail O’Grady, Nicholas Turturro, Amy Brenneman, (two unidentified), Gordan Clapp & David Caruso
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Picket Fences (CBS) – 1993, 1994
Image Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock From left: Lauren Holly, Tom Skerritt & Costas Mandylor
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Northern Exposure (CBS) – 1992
Image Credit: Everett Collection John Corbett & Barry Corbin
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Thirtysomething (ABC) – 1988
Image Credit: Everett Collection Clockwise from bottom left: Mel Harris, Peter Horton, Timothy Busfield, Patricia Wettig, Polly Draper & Ken Olin
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L.A. Law (NBC) – 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991
Image Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock Front, from left, Richard Dysart, Michele Greene, Michael Tucker, Jill Eikenberry; center, from left, Susan Dey, Harry Hamlin, Larry Drake, Susan Ruttan; back, from left, Alan Rachins, Jimmy Smits, Blair Underwood, Corbin Bernsen
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Cagney & Lacey (CBS) – 1985, 1986
Image Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock Clockwise from top left: Sidney Clute, Martin Kove, John Karlen, Carl Lumbly, Al Waxman, Sharon Gless & Tyne Daly
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Hill Street Blues (NBC) – 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984
Image Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock Daniel J. Trevanti, right
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Lou Grant (CBS)- 1979, 1980
Image Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock From left: Linda Kelsey, XX, Lou Asner, Mason Adams (seated), Robert Walden & Daryl Anderson
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The Rockford Files (NBC) – 1978
James Garner & Jackie Cooper
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Upstairs, Downstairs (PBS) – 1974, 1975, 1977
Image Credit: Everett Collection Top, from left: Lesley-Anne Down, David Langton, Hannah Gordon, Simon Williams; bottom, from left: Anne Yarker &Â Jonathan Seeley
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Police Story (NBC) – 1976
Image Credit: Everett Collection Don Meredith & Tony Lo Bianco
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The Waltons (CBS) – 1973
Image Credit: Everett Collection Top, from left: Ralph Waite, Michael Learned, John Walmsley, Judy Norton-Taylor, Richard Thomas; (bottom, from left): Mary Beth McDonough, Kami Cotler, Will Geer, Ellen Corby, Eric Scott & David Harper
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Elizabeth R (PBS) – 1972
Image Credit: BBC/Courtesy Everett Collection Glenda Jackson
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The Bold Ones: The Senator (NBC) – 1971
Image Credit: Everett Collection Hal Holbrook
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Marcus Welby, M.D. (ABC) – 1970
Image Credit: Everett Collection Robert Young
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NET Playhouse (NET) – 1969
Image Credit: Everett Collection Judi Dench & Maurice Denham
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Mission: Impossible (CBS) – 1967, 1968
Image Credit: Christa / TV Guide / Courtesy Everett Collection Fromleft: Steven Hill, Barbara Bain & Martin Landau
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The Fugitive (ABC) – 1966
Image Credit: Everett Collection Barry Morse & David Janssen
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Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Magnificent Yankee (NBC) – 1965
Image Credit: Everett Collection Alfred Lunt & Lynn Fontanne
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The Defenders (CBS) – 1962, 1963, 1964
Image Credit: Curt Gunther / TV Guide / courtesy Everett Collection From left: Tsai Chin, Shirl Conway, Zohra Lampert, Eva Gabor, E.G. Marshall, Julie Newmar and Gloria deHaven
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Hallmark Hall of Fame (NBC) – 1961
Image Credit: Everett Collection Julie Harris
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Playhouse 90 (CBS) – 1960
Image Credit: Everett Collection Kim Stanley & Richard Boone.