The Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series is one of the annual Directors Guild of America Awards given by the Directors Guild of America. It was first presented at the 24th Directors Guild of America Awards in 1972. The current eligibility period is the calendar year.
Winners and nominees
1970s Year Program Episode Winners and nominees Network 1971(24th) The Man and the City "Hands of Love" Daniel Petrie ABCBirdbath–Lamont JohnsonPBSSamuel Beckett's Beginning to EndLewis Freedman 1972(25th) The Waltons "Dust Bowl Cousins" Robert Butler CBSHawaii Five-O"V for Fashion"Charles S. DubinCBSMarcus Welby, M.D."Love is When They Say They Need You"Marc DanielsABC 1973(26th) Kojak "Knockover" Charles S. Dubin CBSKung Fu"Eye for an Eye"Jerry ThorpeABCThe Waltons"The Journey"Harry HarrisCBS 1974(27th) Kojak "Cross Your Heart, Hope to Die" David Friedkin CBSThe Streets of San Francisco"Cry Help"Corey AllenABC"Mask of Death"Harry Falk 1975(28th) Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill James Cellan Jones PBSCarl Sandburg's LincolnGeorge SchaeferNBCKojak"How Cruel The Frost, How Bright The Stars"David FriedkinCBS 1976(29th) Family "Rites of Friendship" Glenn Jordan ABCThe Adams Chronicles"Chapter III: John Adams, Diplomat"James Cellan JonesPBSRich Man, Poor Man Book II"Chapter III"Bill BixbyABC 1977(30th) Roots "Part II" John Erman ABCFamily"Acts of Love: Part 1" & "Acts of Love: Part 2"E. W. SwackhamerABCJames at 15"Friends"Joseph HardyNBC 1978(31st) Lou Grant "Prisoner" Gene Reynolds CBSLaurence Olivier Presents"The Collection"Michael AptedPBSThe Paper Chase"Pilot"Joseph HardyCBS 1979(32nd) Lou Grant "Cop" Roger Young CBSLou Grant"Bomb"Gene ReynoldsCBSThe White Shadow"Pregnant Pause"Jackie Cooper
1980s Year Program Episode Winners and nominees Network 1980(33rd) Lou Grant "Lou" Roger Young CBSDallas"House Divided"Irving MooreCBSLou Grant"Nightside"Gene Reynolds 1981(34th) Hill Street Blues "Hill Street Station" Robert Butler NBCHill Street Blues"The Last White Man on East Ferry"David AnspaughNBC"Up in Arms"Georg Stanford Brown 1982(35th) Hill Street Blues "Personal Foul" David Anspaugh NBCAmerican Playhouse"Weekend"Paul BogartPBSFame"And the Winner Is"Marc DanielsNBC 1983(36th) Hill Street Blues "Life in the Minors" Jeff Bleckner NBCHill Street Blues"Goodbye, Mr. Scripps"Corey AllenNBC"Here's Adventure, Here's Romance"Christian Nyby 1984(37th) Hill Street Blues "The Rise and Fall of Paul the Wall" Thomas Carter NBCSt. Elsewhere"Fade to White"David AnspaughNBC"Sweet Dreams"Mark Tinker 1985(38th) Moonlighting "My Fair David" Will Mackenzie ABCCagney & Lacey"Who Said it's Fair? (Part 2)"Ray DantonCBSMiami Vice"Smuggler's Blues"Paul Michael GlaserNBC 1986(39th) Moonlighting "Atomic Shakespeare" Will Mackenzie ABCL.A. Law"The Venus Butterfly"Donald PetrieNBCSt. Elsewhere"Afterlife"Mark Tinker 1987(40th) thirtysomething "Pilot" Marshall Herskovitz ABCCagney & Lacey"Turn, Turn, Turn (Part 1)"Sharron MillerCBSSt. Elsewhere"Weigh In, Weigh Out"Mark TinkerNBC 1988(41st) thirtysomething "Therapy" Marshall Herskovitz ABCSt. Elsewhere"The Last One"Mark TinkerNBCthirtysomething"Accounts Receivable, Michael's Brother"Edward ZwickABC 1989(42nd) L.A. Law "I'm in the Nude for Love" Eric Laneuville NBCL.A. Law"Lie Down and Deliver"Gabrielle BeaumontNBC"To Live and Diet in L.A."John Pasquinthirtysomething"Love & Sex"Marshall HerskovitzABC
1990s Year Program Episode Winners and nominees Network 1990(43rd) Quantum Leap "The Leap Home (Part 2)" Michael Zinberg NBCthirtysomething"The Go-Between"Scott WinantABCTwin Peaks"Episode 5"Lesli Linka Glatter 1991(44th) I'll Fly Away "All God's Children" Eric Laneuville NBCNorthern Exposure"Goodbye to All That"Stuart MargolinCBS"Jules & Joel"James Hayman 1992(45th) Northern Exposure "Cicely" Rob Thompson CBSI'll Fly Away"The Way Things Are"Roy Campanella IINBCNorthern Exposure"Thanksgiving"Michael FrescoCBS 1993(46th) NYPD Blue "Pilot" Gregory Hoblit ABCHomicide: Life on the Street"Gone for Goode"Barry LevinsonNBCNYPD Blue"From Hare to Eternity"Eric LaneuvilleABC"True Confessions"Charles HaidPicket Fences"The Dancing Bandit"Lou AntonioCBS 1994(47th) ER "Into That Good Night" Charles Haid NBCChicago Hope"Pilot"Michael PressmanCBSER"Blizzard"Mimi LederNBC"The Gift"Félix Enríquez AlcaláNYPD Blue"Simon Says"Gregory HoblitABC 1995(48th) ER "Hell and High Water" Christopher Chulack NBCER"Do One, Teach One, Kill One"Félix Enríquez AlcaláNBC"Love's Labor Lost"Mimi LederMurder One"Pilot"Charles HaidABCThe X-Files"The List"Chris CarterFox 1996(49th) ER "Fear of Flying" Christopher Chulack NBCER"Ask Me No Questions, I'll Tell You No Lies"Paris BarclayNBC"The Healers"Mimi LederNYPD Blue"A Death in the Family"Mark TinkerABC"These Old Bones"Donna Deitch 1997(50th) Homicide: Life on the Street "The Documentary" Barbara Kopple NBCAlly McBeal"Pilot"James FrawleyFoxBrooklyn South"Pilot"Mark TinkerCBSER"Fathers and Sons"Christopher ChulackNBCThe X-Files"The Post-Modern Prometheus"Chris CarterFox 1998(51st) NYPD Blue "Hearts and Souls" Paris Barclay ABCHomicide: Life on the Street"Finnegan's Wake"Steve BuscemiNBCLaw & Order"Under the Influence"Adam DavidsonNYPD Blue"Danny Boy"Mark TinkerABCThe X-Files"Triangle"Chris CarterFox 1999(52nd) The Sopranos "Pilot" David Chase HBOThe Sopranos"46 Long"Daniel AttiasHBO"College"Allen Coulter"Nobody Knows Anything"Henry J. BronchteinThe West Wing"Pilot"Thomas SchlammeNBC
2000s Year Program Episode Winners and nominees Network 2000(53rd) The West Wing "Noël" Thomas Schlamme NBCThe Sopranos"From Where to Eternity"Henry J. BronchteinHBO"Funhouse"John Patterson"The Knight in White Satin Armor"Allen CoulterThe West Wing"The Portland Trip"Paris BarclayNBC 2001(54th) Six Feet Under "Pilot" Alan Ball HBO24"12:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m."Stephen HopkinsFoxThe Sopranos"Pine Barrens"Steve BuscemiHBOThe West Wing"The Indians in the Lobby"Paris BarclayNBC"Two Cathedrals"Thomas Schlamme 2002(55th) The Sopranos "Whitecaps" John Patterson HBOSix Feet Under"Back to the Garden"Daniel AttiasHBOThe Sopranos"Whoever Did This"Tim Van PattenThe West Wing"Debate Camp"Paris BarclayNBC"Posse Comitatus"Alex Graves 2003(56th) The West Wing "Twenty Five" Christopher Misiano NBC24"Day 2: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m."Jon CassarFoxSix Feet Under"I'm Sorry, I'm Lost"Alan BallHBO"Nobody Sleeps"Alan Poul"Twilight"Kathy Bates 2004(57th) Deadwood "Deadwood" Walter Hill HBOER"Time of Death"Christopher ChulackNBCLost"Pilot (Part 1)"J. J. AbramsABCThe Sopranos"All Due Respect"John PattersonHBO"Long Term Parking"Tim Van Patten 2005(58th) Rome "The Stolen Eagle" Michael Apted HBOGrey's Anatomy"A Hard Day's Night"Peter HortonABC"Into You Like a Train"Jeff MelmanHouse"Three Stories"Paris BarclayFoxSix Feet Under"Everyone's Waiting"Alan BallHBO 2006(59th) 24 "Day 5: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m." Jon Cassar FoxGrey's Anatomy"It's the End of the World" & "As We Know It"Peter HortonABCThe Sopranos"Join the Club"David NutterHBO"Members Only"Tim Van PattenStudio 60 on the Sunset Strip"Pilot"Thomas SchlammeNBC 2007(60th) Mad Men "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" Alan Taylor AMCLost"The Brig"Eric LaneuvilleABC"Through the Looking Glass"Jack BenderThe Sopranos"Made in America" David ChaseHBO"Soprano Home Movies"Tim Van Patten 2008(61st) The Wire "Transitions" Dan Attias HBOIn Treatment"Week 8: Alex"Paris BarclayHBOLost"The Constant"Jack BenderABCMad Men"Meditations in an Emergency"Matthew WeinerAMC"The Mountain King"Alan Taylor 2009(62nd) Mad Men "Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency" Lesli Linka Glatter AMCIn Treatment"Week 4: Gina"Paris BarclayHBOLost"The Incident"Jack BenderABCMad Men"The Gypsy and the Hobo"Jennifer GetzingerAMC"Shut the Door. Have a Seat."Matthew Weiner
2010s Year Program Episode Winners and nominees Network 2010(63rd) Boardwalk Empire "Boardwalk Empire" Martin Scorsese HBOBoardwalk Empire"Paris Green"Allen CoulterHBOLost"The End"Jack BenderABCMad Men"The Suitcase"Jennifer GetzingerAMCThe Walking Dead"Days Gone Bye"Frank Darabont 2011(64th) The Killing "Pilot" Patty Jenkins AMCBreaking Bad"Face Off"Vince GilliganAMCFriday Night Lights"Always"Michael WaxmanThe 101 Network / NBCGame of Thrones"Winter Is Coming"Tim Van PattenHBOHomeland"Pilot"Michael CuestaShowtime 2012(65th) Breaking Bad "Fifty-One" Rian Johnson AMCHomeland"The Choice"Michael CuestaShowtime"Q&A"Lesli Linka GlatterMad Men"A Little Kiss"Jennifer GetzingerAMCThe Newsroom"We Just Decided To"Greg MottolaHBO 2013(66th) Breaking Bad "Felina" Vince Gilligan AMCBreaking Bad"Blood Money"Bryan CranstonAMCGame of Thrones"The Rains of Castamere"David NutterHBOHomeland"The Star"Lesli Linka GlatterShowtimeHouse of Cards"Chapter 1"David FincherNetflix 2014(67th) Homeland "From A to B and Back Again" Lesli Linka Glatter ShowtimeGame of Thrones"The Children" Alex GravesHBOHomeland"13 Hours in Islamabad"Dan AttiasShowtimeHouse of Cards"Chapter 22"Jodie FosterNetflixTrue Detective"Who Goes There"Cary Joji FukunagaHBO 2015(68th) Game of Thrones "Mother's Mercy" David Nutter HBODownton Abbey"Episode Eight"Michael EnglerPBSHomeland"The Tradition of Hospitality"Lesli Linka GlatterShowtimeThe Knick"Williams and Walker"Steven SoderberghCinemaxMad Men"Person to Person"Matthew WeinerAMC 2016(69th)Game of Thrones"Battle of the Bastards"Miguel SapochnikHBOThe People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story"From the Ashes of Tragedy"Ryan MurphyFX"The Race Card"John SingletonStranger Things"Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers"The Duffer BrothersNetflixWestworld"The Original"Jonathan NolanHBO 2017(70th)The Handmaid's Tale"Offred"Reed MoranoHuluGame of Thrones"Beyond the Wall"Alan TaylorHBO"The Dragon and the Wolf"Jeremy Podeswa"The Spoils of War"Matt ShakmanStranger Things"Chapter Nine: The Gate"The Duffer BrothersNetflix 2018(71st)Succession"Celebration"Adam McKayHBOThe Americans"START"Chris LongFXThe Handmaid's Tale"Holly"Daina ReidHuluHomeland"Paean to the People"Lesli Linka GlatterShowtimeOzark"Reparations"Jason BatemanNetflix 2019(72nd)Watchmen"It's Summer and We're Running Out of Ice"Nicole KassellHBOGame of Thrones"The Last of the Starks"David NutterHBO"The Long Night"Miguel SapochnikSuccession"This Is Not for Tears"Mark MylodWatchmen"This Extraordinary Being"Stephen Williams
2020s Year Program Episode Winners and nominees Network 2020(73rd) Homeland "Prisoners of War" Lesli Linka Glatter ShowtimeBetter Call Saul "Bagman"Vince GilliganAMCBridgerton"Diamond of the First Water"Julie Anne RobinsonNetflixThe Mandalorian"Chapter 9: The Marshal"Jon FavreauDisney+Ozark"Wartime"Jason Bateman Netflix 2021(74th) Succession "All the Bells Say" Mark Mylod HBOSuccession"Retired Janitors of Idaho"Kevin BrayHBO"What It Takes"Andrij Parekh"Lion in the Meadow"Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman"Too Much Birthday"Lorene Scafaria 2022(75th) Euphoria "Stand Still Like the Hummingbird" Sam Levinson HBOBetter Call Saul"Waterworks"Vince GilliganAMCOzark"A Hard Way To Go"Jason Bateman Netflix Severance "Hide and Seek" Aoife McArdleApple TV+"The We We Are"Ben Stiller 2023(76th)The Last of Us"Long, Long Time"Peter HoarHBOSuccession"Rehearsal"Becky Martin HBO"Connor's Wedding"Mark Mylod"America Decides"Andrij Parekh"Tailgate Party"Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman 2024(77th)Shōgun"Crimson Sky"Frederick E. O. ToyeFXThe Diplomat"Dreadnought"Alex Graves NetflixShōgun"Anjin"Jonathan Van TullekenFX"Ladies of the Willow World"Hiromi Kamata True Detective "Part 6"Issa LópezHBO 2025(78th)The Pitt"6:00 P.M."Amanda MarsalisHBO MaxThe Diplomat"Amagansett"Liza Johnson NetflixAndor"Who Are You?"Janus Metz PedersenDisney+Severance"Cold Harbor"Ben StillerApple TVThe Pitt"7:00 A.M."John WellsHBO Max
Programs with multiple wins
4 wins Hill Street Blues (NBC)
3 wins ER (NBC) Lou Grant (CBS)
2 wins Breaking Bad (AMC) Game of Thrones (HBO) Homeland (Showtime) Kojak (CBS) Mad Men (AMC) Moonlighting (ABC) NYPD Blue (ABC) The Sopranos (HBO) Succession (HBO) thirtysomething (ABC) The West Wing (NBC)