Best Drama - 1980s

1980

Winner:  Lou Grant  CBS

Other Nominees:

Dallas  CBS

Family  ABC

The Rockford Files  NBC

The White Shadow  CBS

1981

Winner:  Hill Street Blues  NBC
Other Nominees:

Dallas    CBS

Lou Grant  CBS
Quincy, M.E.  NBC

The White Shadow  CBS

1982

Winner:  Hill Street Blues  NBC

Other Nominees:

Dynasty  ABC

Fame  NBC

Lou Grant  CBS

Magnum, P.I.  CBS

1983

Winner:  Hill Street Blues  NBC
Other Nominees:

Cagney & Lacey  CBS

Fame  NBC
Magnum, P.I.  CBS

St. Elsewhere  NBC

1984

Winner:  Hill Street Blues  NBC
Other Nominees:

Cagney & Lacey  CBS

Fame  NBC
Magnum, P.I.  CBS

St. Elsewhere  NBC

1985

Winner:  Cagney & Lacey  CBS
Other Nominees:

Hill Street Blues  NBC

Miami Vice  NBC
Murder, She Wrote  CBS

St. Elsewhere  NBC

1986

Winner:  Cagney & Lacey  CBS
Other Nominees:

Hill Street Blues  NBC

Moonlighting  ABC
Murder, She Wrote  CBS

St. Elsewhere  NBC

1987

Winner:  L.A. Law  NBC
Other Nominees:

Cagney & Lacey  CBS

Moonlighting  ABC
Murder, She Wrote  CBS

St. Elsewhere  NBC

1988

Winner:  Thirtysomething  ABC
Other Nominees:

Beauty and the Beast  CBS

L.A. Law  NBC
Rumpole of the Bailey  PBS

St. Elsewhere  NBC

1989

Winner:  L.A. Law  NBC
Other Nominees:

Beauty and the Beast  CBS

China Beach  ABC
Thirtysomething  ABC

Wiseguy  CBS​

Hill Street Blues won an Emmy for Best Drama 4 years in a row during the 1980's