Top Ten: Which dramas have been nominated for the most acting Emmys?
Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at 4:33PM 
Game of Thrones shocking showing at the Emmy nominations -- including 10 ACTING NOMINATIONS and 32 overall (a new record for overall in one single season beating NYPD Blue's previous mark) -- begs the question of how many shows the voting body actually watches on a regular basis. 32 nominations for a single shows seems more than a little excessive no matter how good a show is, given the hundreds of eligible competitors. Especially when it comes to acting.
So it made us curious. Is this normal and/or how abnormal is it? So we looked back through Emmy history which is not that easy to do -- the Emmys are actually much more like the Grammys than the Oscars in that they change their categories frequently and have 100s of them and it's harder to sift through their history analytically given that there's less accurate information compiled in any one place. To make this list simpler and also more far-ranging (wait-what?), we've devided this into the six drama series acting categories, rather than one collective list and we've also included how these lists are effected by the nominations this year. Hope you enjoy...
TEN SERIES WITH THE MOST ACTING NOMINATIONS FOR "LEAD ACTRESS"
01. [Tie] CAGNEY & LACEY and MURDER SHE WROTE
Cagney & Lacey received 12 nominations over the course of its seven seasons for either Tyne Daly or Sharon Gless and sometimes both of them at once. The series won a collective 6 Emmys in this category, Daly winning four times and Gless winning twice, which is double the amount of its nearest competitors for most wins in the lead actress category. Murder She Wrote also received 12 nominations, all for Angela Lansbury. Though Lansbury never won she was nominated for every season of the show.
03. THE SOPRANOS
The show took 9 nominations over the course of its six seasons. Edie Falco and Lorraine Bracco were both nominated at the same time for the first three seasons, and then it was just Falco three more times.
04. LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
8 nominations over the course of its twenty seasons thus far, all for Mariska Hargatay. The show is still running...
05. [Tie] E.R. and L.A. LAW
Each of the shows was nominated in this category 7 times during their fifteen and eight season runs respectively. Sherry Stringfield was nominated for the first three seasons and Juliana Marguiles was nominated for the third through seventh seasons, neither of them ever winning for these roles (within the lead category, since Marguiles won before she was promoted to lead). Susan Dey and Jill Eikenberry were nominated together 3 times for the first three years of L.A. Law, and Eikenberry was nominated once more therafter, neither of them ever winning.
07. [Tie] HOUSE OF CARDS, HILL STREET BLUES, THE LORETTA YOUNG SHOW, MAD MEN, and THE WALTONS
They all amassed six nominations within this category completing the top ten (which is actually a top 11). Loretta Young and Michael Learned won three times each for The Loretta Young Show and The Waltons, respectively and Barbara Babccock won once for Hill Street Blues (though most of that shows nominations in this category belonged to Veronica Hamel). Mad Men is the only show among these four to never win this prize which is insane. Sorry Elizabeth Moss & January Jones!
Game of Thrones has only been nominated once in this category, Emilia Clarke for the final season... and speaking of final seasons this new nomination for Robin Wright puts House of Cards on this top ten. No shows still running are anywhere close to upsetting this list unless Claire Danes miraculously rallies one final time next year for the final season of Homeland.
TEN SERIES WITH THE MOST NOMINATIONS FOR "LEAD ACTOR"
Dennis Franz is tied with Bryan Cranston for most wins ever in the Drama Series, Lead Actor category. They each won 4 times. Franz & Smits pictured above in "NYPD Blue"
01 NYPD BLUE
Far and away the leader in this category, the show received 14 nominations for its lead actors over the course of its twelve seasons. Those nominations were split amongst three men: Dennis Franz (8 times, winning half of them), Jimmy Smits (five times never winning), and David Caruso (once and he lost).
02 ST. ELSEWHERE
Nominated 10 times in this category
03 [tie] COLUMBO, LAW & ORDER, MAD MEN
Each of these shows were nominated 8 times in the lead actor category. Jon Hamm finally won his last time up for Mad Men which seems to be becoming a trend. See also Kyle Chandler for Friday Night Lights and Matthew Rhys for The Americans.
06 THE WEST WING
The White House drama was nominated 7 times. Martin Sheen was nominated 5 times for the show's seven seasons and Rob Lowe twice, but neither won.
07 [tie] 24, BREAKING BAD, ER, HOUSE, I SPY, THE SOPRANOS, and THIS IS US
Each of these shows were nominated six times in this category making it a top 14 rather than a top ten though This is Us seems likely to break this tie and possibly to best The West Wing, too, since the show is still going strong and gets two nominations a season.
Game of Thrones has only been nominated once in this category, Kit Harrington, promoted here for the final season. This is Us repeats its double-nomination hat-trick for the third consecutive year for its male leads. Bob Odenkirk would need two more nominations for Better Call Saul to bust into this top ten list.
TEN SERIES WITH THE MOST NOMINATIONS FOR "SUPPORTING ACTRESS"
Game of Thrones hogs 66% of the Supporting Actress category this year
01 HILL STREET BLUES
The influential cop drama received 13 nominations in this category, winning the category twice consecutively (via Alfre Woodard in a role that would now be ineligible for it since it was a guest starring role before that category was invented, and Betty Thomas). Betty Thomas, who later became a director, winning a second Emmy in that profession, was nominated seven times for this show. Barbara Bosson was nominated five times but never won.
02 [tie] GAME OF THRONES
The show that has won the most Emmys of all time (when you include all categories) is second place here in terms of nominations with a total of 12, including an astounding 66% of the category this year which we believe is a record (for this category but not for supporting actor, which... more in a minute)! Which is insane, but Emmys are gonna Emmy. The nominations have been split amongst Lena Heady (five times), Emilia Clarke (thrice), Maisie Williams (twice), and, finally, Sophie Turner and Gwendoline Christie (both nominated for the first time for the show's farewell season). The show has never won in this category despite those dozen chances... unless one of the four women manage to win this year.
03 [tie] LOU GRANT and THE WEST WING
Both shows received 11 nominations for supporting actress. Allison Janney won on her first two nominations for The West Wing (but was promoted to the lead category thereafter) while Stockard Channing was nominated six times in supporting, winning once. Janel Moloney (twice) and Mary Louise-Parker (once) were also nominated for the show in this category. As for Lou Grant, Nancy Marchand (5 nominations, 3 wins), Linda Kelsey (5 nominations), and Nina Foch (once for a guest role) split those nominations.
05 [tie] GREY'S ANATOMY, L.A. LAW, NYPD BLUE, and ST ELSEWHERE
They each received 10 nominations in this category. Grey's Anatomy, remarkably still on the air though Emmy hasn't cared for about 10 years now, split its supporting nominations between Sandra Oh (5 times) and Chandra Wilson (4 nominations) who were nominated together almost every time, while Katherine Heigl swept in once while they were both nominated (a 50% category share for Grey's in 2007) and won it.
09 THE GOOD WIFE
The legal drama received 9 nominations in this category, six of those were for Christine Baranski (who never won) and the others were for Archie Panjabi (3 nominations and 1 win),
10 E.R
The long running hospital drama was in this category 8 times.
The only show currently on the air that is anywhere close to these numbers is The Handmaid's Tale which is still pretty far away with 5 total nominations here. If that show has a spectacular 3rd and 4th seasons it could break in but otherwise this list is not likely to change anytime soon.
TEN SERIES WITH THE MOST NOMINATIONS FOR "SUPPORTING ACTOR"
"Let's be careful out there," Michael Conrad's famous phrase in Hill Street Blue's episodes
01 HILL STREET BLUES
The influential cop drama received 16 nominations in this category over its seven seasons... which is a pretty incredible feat. In fact, in one single year (1982) every single supporting actor drama nominee was from Hill Street Blues. They owned 100% of the category. Shocking. There were less shows on the air then of course, but still... Hill Street Blues won this category three time for Michael Conrad (twice) and Bruce Weitz (once).
02 L.A. LAW
The legal drama received 15 nominations here over its eight seasons, shared by Jimmy Smits, Michael Tucker, Alan Rachins, Richard Dysart, and Larry Drake.
03 THE WEST WING
The political drama nabbed 14 nominations over its seven season run, shared by Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford, John Spencer, and Alan Alda (who all won once) plus a nomination for Dulé Hill.
04 GAME OF THRONES
The show received 12 nominations in this category over its eight seasons. Peter Dinklage was nominated all 8 seasons (winning thrice...thus far), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau was nominated twice, Alfie Allen once, and Kit Harrington was nominated once in this category before his promotion to lead. If Peter Dinklage wins a fourth time this year he becomes the all time most winning actor in this category. He's currently in a tie in that regard with three other men (Art Carney, Don Knotts, and Aaron Paul) since they've all won thrice.
05 THE SOPRANOS
The mob drama received 9 nominations in this category for its six seasons split amongst Michael Imperioli (five times, winning once), Dominic Chianese (twice), Joe Pantoliano (nominated and winning once), and Steve Buscemi (once).
06 [tie] ER and LOST
They each received 8 nominations in this category. E.R.'s nominations went to Eriq LaSalle (3 times) and Noah Wyle (5 times) though it never won the category. Lost split its nominations among Michael Emerson (4 times, winning once), Terry O'Quinn (3 times, winning once), and Naveen Andrews (once).
08 [tie] BREAKING BAD and ST ELSEWHERE
They each received 7 nominations in this category. Interestingly enough St Elsewhere only one once, for guest actor (who would be ineligible now given that newer category) James Coco. The other six nominations were for Ed Begley Jr who never won. Breaking Bad hogged wins in this category with 3 alone for Aaron Paul but his costars Jonathan Banks and Giancarlo Esposito were also nominated.
10 [tie] BOSTON LEGAL, LOU GRANT, THE ROCKFORD FILES, and THE WALTONS have all been up 6 times in this category.
Of the shows currently running only Better Call Saul is nearing this list. So the order won't change for some time though Better Call Saul might join it.
TEN SERIES WITH THE MOST NOMINATIONS FOR "GUEST ACTRESS"
01 LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT (14 times)
02 [tie] E.R. and GREY'S ANATOMY (8 times each)
04 [tie] SIX FEET UNDER and ST ELSEWHERE (6 times each)
06 [tie] THE AMERICANS, GAME OF THRONES, THE PRACTICE, THE HANDMAID'S TALE, and ROAD TO AVONLEA (5 times each)
*The Handmaid's Tale and Game of Thrones are both nominated again this year (for Cherry Jones and Carice van Houten respectively) putting those shows in the top ten. How to Get Away with Murder (also nominated this year for Cicely Tyson) is just outside the top ten so could upset the list or join it next year. No other shows currently still running regularly show up here. The Handmaid's Tale has dominated this category for the past two years so if Cherry Jones wins this year it'll have a third consecutive win.
TEN SERIES WITH THE MOST NOMINATIONS FOR "GUEST ACTOR"
01 E.R. (14 times)
02 THE PRACTICE (11 times)
David E Kelley's legal drama also has the most wins in this category with 6 (5 of those were consecutive, too)
03 THE GOOD WIFE (10 times)
04 [tie] MAD MEN, THIS IS US, and THE WEST WING (7 times each)
07 ST ELSEWHERE (6 times)
08 [tie] CHICAGO HOPE, HOUSE OF CARDS, and PICKET FENCES (5 times each)
* This is Us is rapidly moving up this chart and has two nominees this year with Michael Angaro and Ron Cephas Jones again (who won last year). No other currently running show regularly scores in this category.
Reader Comments (14)
This is great, but some of it is off.
Martin Sheen was nominated six times and Rob Lowe was nominated once for the West Wing. And, Marguiles won an Emmy for her role, but never in the lead category. John Spencer also won in 2002 for The West Wing.
Joe -- thank you, fixed. I knew WEST WING and E.R. were going to screw me up since they both kept having their actors switch categories.
[SPOILERS!!!!] I think Jaime Lannister should have left Brienne every previous season so Gwendoline Christie could be a multiple Emmy nominee [SPOILERS!!!!]
I wish I had the time to rewatch Hill Street Blues or St. Elsewhere.
Worth noting that the Emmys recently instituted an unusual voting process where voters are able to vote for as many nominees as they want rather than just picking five. This was meant to allow shows with large ensemble casts to submit everyone instead of picking and choosing certain actors to favor and to prevent co-stars from splitting the vote within series at the nominations phase. Not a terrible idea but it backfired a little this time because a Game of Thrones superfan could vote for every single member of the cast on the ballot and if enough people did that they could sort of dominate the category. Same thing probably happened to some extent with When They See Us.
For such a masculine, seemingly 'boys club' type of show, THE SOPRANOS offered such rich parts to its women and they always delivered gold.
Edie Falco – she’d prob get my vote for Best Actress In a Drama Series OF ALL TIME
Lorraine Bracco
Nancy Marchand
Drea de Matteo
Annabella Sciorra
Aida Turturro
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Oksana Lada
The record of Angela Lansbury reminds me an opposite case of comedy: Jane Kaczmarek who was nominated for every season of Malcolm in the Middle but never won. What a shame.
Wow this is great Nathaniel. How in the world did you put it all together with all the series and years there have been plus (as you mentioned) how messy The Emmys are?!
JD - the episode in which she goes to the old psychiatrist and he slams her is a masterpiece of acting. It's a thrilling, brilliant, breathtaking performance. And that one in which she says she wants to leave Tony - it`s a hell of an episode, a rollercoaster. Falco was as brilliant as Gandolfini.
Ed -- lmao.
Cal -- is that the "white caps" episode? I remember there being writing that they would both win Oscars had it been a movie... this was back when TV acting was seen as "lesser" than movie acting so it was quite a feeling to have stated by some big critic, i forget who.
Jase -- i have my ways. lol. mostly i am too obsessive for my own good when it comes to awardage and have lots of long drafts of such things, some which never come to light -- wikipedia and imdb and official sites help too.
It's also noteworthy that SVU dominated the Guest Actress in a Drama category for a stretch starting in the mid-2000s, with performers winning five out of six years between 2005 and 2010. I don't think any other series has come close to that.
james coco won for st elsewhere, not hill street blues
par - correct. fixed. I just read the name of the show wrong in a list. The numbers are still the same. thanks
NATHANIEL R - yes, the whitecaps. edie falco is such an abrasive actress. love her