My Alternate Emmy for Best Writing in a Drama Series Winners
This list contains my alternate choices for the Emmy Award for Best Writing in a Drama Series from 1990-2012. Some of the choices are personal favorites of mine, while others are series that time has shown to have been unfairly passed over. I also included 5 alternate nominees (in order to equate the current number of total nominees with the older number and in order to give myself greater ability to recognize ignored shows). For nominees: * indicates nominee and ** indicates winner. Some other information has also been included. Enjoy!
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- DirectorDavid LynchStarsKyle MacLachlanMichael OntkeanMädchen AmickThe small northwest town of Twin Peaks, Washington is shaken up when the body of the Homecoming Queen, Laura Palmer, is discovered washed up on a riverbank, wrapped in plastic.Year: 1990
Episode: Pilot
Writer(s): Mark Frost and David Lynch
Nominated, and if so, Won?: Yes; No
Nominees: *Twin Peaks--Rest in Pain (Harley Peyton) - DirectorMichael KatlemanStarsHarry HamlinSusan DeyCorbin BernsenKelsey and Sollers represent Suzanne Hamil, an obsessive woman charged with murdering her married lover, in which both her and Sollers resort to drastic measures to get their client acquitted by placing suspicion on the widow. Meanwhile, C.J. tries to defend a retiree accused of licking his Cane toad to get high. Also, McKenzie becomes a part-time arbitration judge to rule on a blues singer's lawsuit against his manager.Year: 1991
Episode: On the Toad Again
Writer(s): David E. Kelely
Nominated, and if so, Won?: Yes; Yes
Nominees: - DirectorJack BenderStarsRob MorrowBarry CorbinJanine TurnerIt's Christmas in Cicely and Maurice is approached by a Korean man who turns out to be his son.Year: 1992
Episode: Seoul Mates
Writer(s): Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider
Nominated, and if so, Won?: Yes; Yes
Nominees: - 1993–199946mTV-149.5 (506)TV EpisodeDirectorMartin CampbellStarsDaniel BaldwinRichard BelzerAndre BraugherBayliss has a new clue on his primary case and with Frank they interrogate a suspect who they believe to be the murderer of AdenaYear: 1993
Episode: Three Men and Adena
Writer(s): Tom Fontana
Nominated, and if so, Won?: Yes; Yes
Nominees: - DirectorFélix Enríquez AlcaláStarsDavid CarusoDennis FranzJames McDanielLt. Fancy insists to a reluctant Larson that he take a drug test and when it comes back positive of methamphetamine use, he is fired. One of Detective Mike Roberts' informants/girlfriends comes to the precinct and causes trouble for him, especially when she later turns up dead, and Roberts becomes a suspect. Although Roberts ends up being cleared, his reputation is ruined and he decides to quit the police force. Meanwhile, Sylvia has trouble getting through to Sipowicz to give their relationship another try. Also, Laura appeals to Kelly to help her re-examine a case she is prosecuting of the alleged murder of an abusive man by his wife, in which Martinez and Medavoy investigate one witness and discover some conflicting facts in the case.Year: 1994
Episode: Steroid Roy
Writer(s): Ann Biderman
Nominated, and if so, Won?: Yes; Yes
Nominees: - DirectorMimi LederStarsAnthony EdwardsGeorge ClooneySherry StringfieldDr. Benton has to deal with the aftermath of his mother's fall and crosses the line with the surgical attending when he insists on scrubbing in for her operation. Dr. Greene deals with Jodi O'Brien who is two weeks away from giving birth. With the obstetrics attending unavailable, he decides to try to deliver her baby in the ER, with tragic results.Year: 1995
Episode: Love's Labor Lost
Writer(s): Lance A. Gentile
Nominated, and if so, Won?: Yes; Yes
Nominees: - DirectorDavid NutterStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonPeter BoyleA grumpy old man with psychic powers that show him how someone will die assists the agents with the hunt for a crazed killer who targets psychics. He also cryptically reveals to Mulder and Scully their own ultimate fates.Year: 1996
Episode: Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose
Writer(s): Darin Morgan
Nominated, and if so, Won?: Yes; Yes
Nominees: - 1997–200343mTV-PG7.9 (5.3K)TV EpisodeDirectorCharles Martin SmithJoss WhedonStarsSarah Michelle GellarNicholas BrendonAlyson HanniganWhen teen vampire slayer Buffy tries to start a new life at Sunnydale High, she discovers that the school sits atop a demonic dimensional portal.Year: 1997
Episode: Welcome to the Hellmouth (Part 1)
Writer(s): Joss Whedon
Nominated, and if so, Won?: No
Nominees: Buffy the Vampire Slayer--Nightmares (Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt); Buffy the Vampire Slayer--Prophecy Girl (Joss Whedon) - DirectorMichael GershmanStarsSarah Michelle GellarNicholas BrendonAlyson HanniganAngel steps up his torment of Buffy and her friends as Jenny searches for a way to restore his soul.Year: 1998
Episode: Passion
Writer(s): Ty King
Nominated, and if so, Won?: No
Nominees: Buffy the Vampire Slayer--Innocence (Part 2) (Joss Whedon); Buffy the Vampire Slayer--Becoming, Parts 1 and 2 (Joss Whedon) - DirectorJoss WhedonStarsSarah Michelle GellarNicholas BrendonAlyson HanniganAs the Christmas holiday approaches, Angel is tormented by evil apparitions who want him to eliminate Buffy.Year: 1999
Episode: Amends
Writer(s): Joss Whedon
Nominated, and if so, Won?: No
Nominees: Buffy the Vampire Slayer--Doppelgangland (Joss Whedon); Buffy the Vampire Slayer--The Wish (Marti Noxon) - DirectorAlex GravesStarsRob LoweMoira KellyDulé HillWhen a homeless veteran dies on the National Mall and his body remains uncollected for hours, Toby becomes fixated on getting him a proper burial.Year: 2000
Episode: In Excelsis Deo
Writer(s): Aaron Sorkin and Rick Cleveland
Nominated, and if so, Won?: Yes; Yes
Nominees: *Buffy the Vampire Slayer--Hush (Joss Whedon); BUffy the Vampire Slayer--Restless (Joss Whedon); *The Sopranos--Funhouse (David Chase and Todd A. Kessler); *The Sopranos--The Knight in White Satin Armor (Mitchell Burgess and Robin Green); *The West Wing--Pilot (Aaron Sorkin) - DirectorJoss WhedonStarsSarah Michelle GellarNicholas BrendonAlyson HanniganBuffy, Dawn, and their friends deal with the aftermath of Joyce's death.Year: 2001
Episode: The Body
Writer(s): Joss Whedon
Nominated, and if so, Won?: No
Nominees: Buffy the Vampire Slayer--The Gift (Joss Whedon); **The Sopranos--Employee of the Month (Mitchell Burgess and Robin Green); *The Sopranos--Pine Barrens (Tim Van Patten and Terence Winter); *The West Wing--In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Parts I and II (Aaron Sorkin); The West Wing--Two Cathedrals (Aaron Sorkin) - 1997–200350mTV-PG9.7 (11K)TV EpisodeDirectorJoss WhedonStarsSarah Michelle GellarNicholas BrendonEmma Caulfield FordIn this musical extravaganza, Sunnydale residents find themselves bursting into song, and flame, when a demon attempts to make Dawn his bride.Year: 2002
Episode: Once More, with Feeling
Writer(s): Joss Whedon
Nominated, and if so, Won?: No
Nominees: Buffy the Vampire Slayer--Normal Again (Diego Gutierrez); *Alias--Truth Be Told (J.J. Abrams); *The Shield--Pilot (Shawn Ryan); **24--12:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m. (Robert Cochran and Joel Surnow); *The West Wing--Posse Comitatus (Aaron Sorkin) - DirectorChristopher MisianoStarsStockard ChanningDulé HillAllison JanneyIn the wake of his daughter's kidnapping, Bartlet must make a decision between being a father and being President.Year: 2003
Episode: Twenty Five
Writer(s): Aaron Sorkin
Nominated, and if so, Won?: Yes; No
Nominees: Buffy the Vampire Slayer--Chosen (Joss Whedon); Buffy the Vampire Slayer--Conversations with Dead People (Jane Espenson, Drew Goddard, Joss Whedon, and Marti Noxon); *Six Feet Under--Twilight (Craig Wright); **The Sopranos--Whitecaps (Mitchell Burgess, David Chase, and Robin Green); *The Sopranos--Whoever Did This (Mitchell Burgess and Robin Green) - DirectorTimothy Van PattenStarsJames GandolfiniEdie FalcoMichael ImperioliTony makes a request to Johnny Sack on behalf of his cousin, and Adriana makes a request to the FBI, followed by one to Chris.Year: 2004
Episode: Long Term Parking
Writer(s): Terence Winter
Nominated, and if so, Won?: Yes; Yes
Nominees: *Deadwood--Pilot (David Milch); *The Sopranos--Irregular Around the Margins (Mitchell Burgess and Robin Green); *The Sopranos--Unidentified Black Males (Matthew Weiner and Terence Winter); *The Sopranos--Where's Johnny (Michael Caleo); The Wire--Port in a Storm (David Simon and Ed Burns) - DirectorJoe ChappelleStarsDominic WestJohn DomanIdris ElbaThe wire begins to yield information about the Barksdale organization. Stringer and Avon reminisce on how far they have come. McNulty finds the way to a key piece of the puzzle in an unlikely place. Awaiting his fate, Colvin works behind the scenes to shape the outcome of Amsterdam, while protecting his men from possible repercussions. Bubbles considers a new partner.Year: 2005
Episode: Middle Ground
Writer(s): George Pelecanos and David Simon
Nominated, and if so, Won?: Yes; No
Nominees: Battlestar Galactica--Kobol's Last Gleaming, Parts 1 and 2 (Ronald D. Moore and David Eick); Battlestar Galactica--33 (Ronald D. Moore); *Lost--Pilot (J.J. Abrams, Jeffrey Lieber, and Damon Lindelof); *Lost--Walkabout (David Fury) - DirectorMichael RymerStarsEdward James OlmosMary McDonnellKatee SackhoffGallactica meets Pegasus, and Adama's command is threatened when the captain of Pegasus outranks him. A joyous celebration turns sour at some of the secrets emerging out of the differences of the two crews, and Baltar meets a familiar Cylon prisoner aboard Pegasus.Year: 2006
Episode: Pegasus
Writer(s): Anne Cofell Saunders
Nominated, and if so, Won?: No
Nominees: Battlestar Galactica--Resurrection Ship, Parts 1 and 2 (Michael Rymer, Ronald D. Moore, and Anne Cofell Saunders); *Grey's Anatomy--It's the End of the World/(As We Know It); *Six Feet Under-Everyone's Waiting (Alan Ball); **The Sopranos--Members Only (Terence Winter); The West Wing--Tomorrow (John Wells) - DirectorSergio Mimica-GezzanStarsEdward James OlmosMary McDonnellKatee SackhoffThe Cylons have now been in control of New Caprica for over four months. Gaius Baltar is under their collective thumbs and essentially follows their orders. There is a resistance who set off bombs and do their best to disrupt Cylon activity. Col. Tigh is in prison and despite extensive torture, including the loss of an eye, has told them nothing. His wife Ellen will do anything to secure his release and is soon in a sexual relationship with one of the Cylons, John Cavil. There are mixed feelings among the survivors. Some feel the random acts of violence against their captors serves no useful purpose while others feel it is their duty to resist. Kara Thrace, Starbuck, is being kept prisoner in an apartment of sorts by Leoben Conoy. She too resists but every time she kills him, he is simply re-generated and reappears insisting he will continue to do so until he tells her she loves him. Back on Galactica, Admiral Adama takes his son Lee, Commander of the Battlestar Pegasus, to task for going soft.Note: Together with Precipice
Year: 2007
Episode: Occupation/Precipice
Writer(s): Ronald D. Moore
Nominated, and if so, Won?: Yes; No
Nominees: Doctor Who--Blink (Steven Moffat); Doctor Who--Gridlock (Russell T. Davies); Doctor Who--Human Nature/The Family of Blood (Paul Cornell); **The Sopranos--Made in America (David Chase); *The Sopranos--The Second Coming (Terence Winter) - DirectorSergio Mimica-GezzanStarsEdward James OlmosMary McDonnellKatee SackhoffAs a result of the most recent suicide bombings, some of the Cylons are now arguing that they need to retaliate. Laura Roslin, among others, is in custody and Gaius Baltar tries to get her to cooperate. Tigh however absolutely refuses to stop the suicide bombings. Nighttime raids also leads to Cally's arrest but they leave her baby alone. Sharon Valerii sees what she can do about it. John Cavil meanwhile tells Ellen Tigh she is to provide the date and location of the next meeting of the resistance commanders. Leoben Conoy is still holding Starbuck prisoner but introduces her to her daughter, Kacey, produced from eggs they harvested from her when she was on the Farm. On Galactica, Admiral Adama begins to plan for a massive rescue of everyone on New Caprica. He realizes they will have to obtain the launch keys for all of the ships on the planet's surface. The best way of infiltrating the Cylons is with another Cylon so Adama commissions Sharon Agathon as an officer.Note: Together with Occupation
Year: 2007
Episode: Occupation/Precipice
Writer(s): Ronald D. Moore
Nominated, and if so, Won?: Yes; No
Nominees: Doctor Who--Blink (Steven Moffat); Doctor Who--Gridlock (Russell T. Davies); Doctor Who--Human Nature/The Family of Blood (Paul Cornell); **The Sopranos--Made in America (David Chase); *The Sopranos--The Second Coming (Terence Winter) - DirectorClark JohnsonStarsDominic WestReg E. CatheyJohn DomanCarcetti maps out a damage-control scenario with the police brass in the wake of a startling revelation from Pearlman and Daniels. Their choice: clean up the mess...or hide the dirt.Year: 2008
Episode: -30-
Writer(s): David Simon and Ed Burns
Nominated, and if so, Won?: Yes; No
Nominees: *Damages--Get Me a Lawyer (Glenn Kessler, Todd A. Kessler, and Daniel Zelman); Doctor Who--Midnight (Russell T. Davies); Doctor Who--Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead (Steven Moffat); **Mad Men--Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (Matthew Weiner); *Mad Men--The Wheel (Robin Veith and Matthew Weiner) - DirectorPhil AbrahamStarsJon HammElisabeth MossVincent KartheiserDon blows off the convention in Los Angeles when he meets a beautiful, exotic woman. Back at Sterling Cooper, a member of the creative staff comes out of the closet, and Duck falls off the wagon and initiates his power play.Year: 2009
Episode: The Jet Set
Writer(s): Matthew Weiner
Nominated, and if so, Won?: Yes; No
Nominees: Battlestar Galactica--Revelations (Bradley Thompson and David Weddle); *Lost--The Incident (Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof); **Mad Men--Meditations in an Emergency (Kater Gordon and Matthew Weiner); *Mad Men--A Night to Remember (Robin Veith and Matthew Weiner); *Mad Men--Six Month Leave (Andre and Maria Jacquemetton and Matthew Weiner) - DirectorMatthew WeinerStarsJon HammElisabeth MossVincent KartheiserWith another sale on the horizon, Sterling, Cooper, and Draper convince Lane Pryce to fire them and then join them as they start up a new advertising firm. At home, Betty follows through with her plans to divorce Don.Year: 2010
Episode: Shut the Door. Have a Seat.
Writer(s): Erin Levy and Matthew Weiner
Nominated, and if so, Won?: Yes; Yes
Nominees: Doctor Who--The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang (Steven Moffat); Doctor Who--The Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone (Steven Moffat); *Friday Night Lights--The Son (Rolin Jones); *Lost--The End (Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof); *Mad Men--Guy Walks into an Advertising Agency (Robin Veith and Matthew Weiner) - DirectorJennifer GetzingerStarsJon HammElisabeth MossVincent KartheiserDon deliberately delays returning an important call from California, because he knows it's bad news about Anna. Instead, he keeps himself occupied by forcing Peggy to miss her birthday dinner to pull an all-nighter with him for a client.Year: 2011
Episode: The Suitcase
Writer(s): Matthew Weiner
Nominated, and if so, Won?: Yes; No
Nominees: **Friday Night Lights--Always (Jason Katims); *Game of Thrones--Baelor (David Benioff and D.B. Weiss); Game of Thrones--Winter Is Coming (David Benioff and D.B. Weiss); *The Killing--Pilot (Veena Sud); *Mad Men--Blowing Smoke (Andre and Maria Jacquemetton) - CreatorJulian FellowesStarsHugh BonnevillePhyllis LoganElizabeth McGovernA chronicle of the lives of the British aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the early twentieth century.Year: 2012
Episode: Episode 7
Writer(s): Julian Fellowes
Nominated, and if so, Won?: Yes; No
Nominees: Doctor Who--The Doctor's Wife (Neil Gaiman); Doctor Who--The Girl Who Waited (Tom MacRae); **Homeland--Pilot (Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon, and Gideon Raff); *Mad Men--Commissions and Fees (Andre and Maria Jacquemetton); *Mad Men--The Other Woman (Matthew Weiner and Semi Chellas)