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A visual history · Emmys

The winners who defined Directing (Comedy).

66 ceremonies, 1959–2025. 51 different winners. The longest run belongs to Gene Reynolds, with 2 straight wins.

Who won most recently?
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg in 2025 for The Studio.
Who has won the most?
James Burrows, 5 wins (1980, 1981, 1983, 1991, 1994).
  1. The StudioSeth Rogen and Evan Goldberg
  2. The BearChristopher Storer
  3. The BearChristopher Storer
  4. Ted LassoMJ Delaney
  5. HacksLucia Aniello
  6. Schitt's CreekAndrew Cividino and Dan Levy
Years explored
1959–2025
Different winners
51
Category leader
James Burrows · 5
About this record

Directing for a Comedy Series was first awarded in 1959, so it does not run the full 1951–2025 window.

2000–2025

26 ceremonies

19592025

01 / The reigns

Todd Holland set the longest run.

The timeline turns the 2000–2025 record into a sequence of reigns. Longer bands reveal sustained runs; color shows the credited network.

  1. 01
    Christopher Storer2 wins
  2. 02
    Gail Mancuso2 wins
  3. 03
    Joey Soloway2 wins
  4. 04
    Todd Holland2 wins
Each band is one winner’s reign. Wider means a longer run. Colored by network; hover for details.
Todd Holland'00–'01×2
Michael Patrick King'02
Robert B. Weide'03
Anthony and Joe Russo'04
Charles McDougall'05
Marc Buckland'06
Richard Shepard'07
Barry Sonnenfeld'08
Jeffrey Blitz'09
Ryan Murphy'10
Michael Spiller'11
Steven Levitan'12
Gail Mancuso'13–'14×2
Joey Soloway'15–'16×2
Donald Glover'17
Amy Sherman-Palladino'18
Harry Bradbeer'19
Andrew Cividino and Dan Levy'20
Lucia Aniello'21
MJ Delaney'22
Christopher Storer'23–'24×2
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg'25

02 / The power map

Who stood behind the winners?

ABC leads the recorded network credits with 7 wins, 2000–2025. The full distribution shows whether power was concentrated or shared.

ABC7 wins
20th Century4 wins
Amazon4 wins
FX3 wins
HBO3 wins
Apple TV+2 wins
Wins by network
  1. ABC727%
  2. 20th Century415%
  3. Amazon415%
  4. FX312%
  5. HBO312%
  6. Apple TV+28%
  7. Other312%

03 / The near misses

The names that kept coming back without the ending they wanted.

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2025.

Most nominated, never won this award

  1. 01
    James Burrows
    8 noms
  2. 02
    Mike Judge
    5 noms
  3. 03
    Bill Hader
    4 noms
  4. 04
    Louis C.K.
    4 noms
  5. 05
    Beth McCarthy-Miller
    3 noms
  6. 06
    Julian Farino
    3 noms

Most losses in this category

  1. 01
    James Burrows
    8L · 0W
  2. 02
    Mike Judge
    5L · 0W
  3. 03
    Bill Hader
    4L · 0W
  4. 04
    Louis C.K.
    4L · 0W
  5. 05
    Robert B. Weide
    4L · 1W
  6. 06
    Amy Sherman-Palladino
    3L · 1W

04 / The archive

Every year.
Every winner.

The complete reference behind the story, showing 2000–2025. Open any year to see the rest of the field when nominee records are available.

YearWinnerNetwork
2025Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (The Studio) — "The Oner"
beat 4 others
  • Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) — "Napkins"
  • Lucia Aniello (Hacks) — "A Slippery Slope"
  • James Burrows (Mid-Century Modern) — "Here's to You, Mrs. Schneiderman"
  • Nathan Fielder (The Rehearsal) — "Pilot's Code"
Apple TV+
2024Christopher Storer (The Bear) — "Fishes"repeat
beat 5 others
  • Randall Einhorn (Abbott Elementary) — "Party"
  • Ramy Youssef (The Bear) — "Honeydew"
  • Guy Ritchie (The Gentlemen) — "Refined Aggression"
  • Lucia Aniello (Hacks) — "Bulletproof"
  • Mary Lou Belli (The Ms. Pat Show) — "I'm the Pappy"
FX
2023Christopher Storer (The Bear) — "Review"
beat 5 others
  • Bill Hader (Barry) — "wow"
  • Amy Sherman-Palladino (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) — "Four Minutes"
  • Mary Lou Belli (The Ms. Pat Show) — "Don't Touch My Hair"
  • Declan Lowney (Ted Lasso) — "So Long, Farewell"
  • Tim Burton (Wednesday) — "Wednesday's Child Is Full of Woe"
FX
2022MJ Delaney (Ted Lasso) — "No Weddings and a Funeral"
beat 6 others
  • Hiro Murai (Atlanta) — "New Jazz"
  • Bill Hader (Barry) — "710N"
  • Lucia Aniello (Hacks) — "There Will Be Blood"
  • Mary Lou Belli (The Ms. Pat Show) — "Baby Daddy Groundhog Day"
  • Cherien Dabis (Only Murders in the Building) — "The Boy from 6B"
  • Jamie Babbit (Only Murders in the Building) — "True Crime"
Apple TV+
2021Lucia Aniello (Hacks) — "There Is No Line"
beat 6 others
  • James Burrows (B Positive) — "Pilot"
  • James Widdoes (Mom) — "Scooby-Doo Checks and Salisbury Steak"
  • Susanna Fogel (The Flight Attendant) — "In Case of Emergency"
  • Zach Braff (Ted Lasso) — "Biscuits"
  • MJ Delaney (Ted Lasso) — "The Hope That Kills You"
  • Declan Lowney (Ted Lasso) — "Make Rebecca Great Again"
HBO Max
2020Andrew Cividino and Dan Levy (Schitt's Creek) — "Happy Ending"
beat 6 others
  • Matt Shakman (The Great) — "The Great"
  • Ramy Youssef (Ramy) — "Miakhalifa.mov"
  • Amy Sherman-Palladino (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) — "It's Comedy or Cabbage"
  • Daniel Palladino (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) — "Marvelous Radio"
  • Gail Mancuso (Modern Family) — "Finale, Part 2"
  • James Burrows (Will & Grace) — "We Love Lucy"
Pop TV
2019Harry Bradbeer (Fleabag) — "Episode 201"
beat 5 others
  • Alec Berg (Barry) — "The Audition"
  • Bill Hader (Barry) — "ronny/lily"
  • Mark Cendrowski (The Big Bang Theory) — "The Stockholm Syndrome"
  • Amy Sherman-Palladino (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) — "All Alone"
  • Daniel Palladino (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) — "We're Going to the Catskills!"
Amazon
2018Amy Sherman-Palladino (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) — "Pilot"
beat 6 others
  • Donald Glover (Atlanta) — "FUBU"
  • Hiro Murai (Atlanta) — "Teddy Perkins"
  • Bill Hader (Barry) — "Chapter One: Make Your Mark"
  • Mark Cendrowski (The Big Bang Theory) — "The Bow Tie Asymmetry"
  • Jesse Peretz (GLOW) — "Pilot"
  • Mike Judge (Silicon Valley) — "Initial Coin Offering"
Amazon
2017Donald Glover (Atlanta) — "B.A.N."
beat 5 others
  • Jamie Babbit (Silicon Valley) — "Intellectual Property"
  • Mike Judge (Silicon Valley) — "Server Error"
  • Morgan Sackett (Veep) — "Blurb"
  • David Mandel (Veep) — "Groundbreaking"
  • Dale Stern (Veep) — "Justice"
FX
2016Joey Soloway (Transparent) — "Man on the Land"repeat
beat 6 others
  • Aziz Ansari (Master of None) — "Parents"
  • Alec Berg (Silicon Valley) — "Daily Active Users"
  • Mike Judge (Silicon Valley) — "Founder Friendly"
  • David Mandel (Veep) — "Kissing Your Sister"
  • Chris Addison (Veep) — "Morning After"
  • Dale Stern (Veep) — "Mother"
Amazon
2015Joey Soloway (Transparent) — "Best New Girl"
beat 4 others
  • Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (The Last Man on Earth) — "Alive in Tucson"
  • Louis C.K. (Louie) — "Sleepover"
  • Mike Judge (Silicon Valley) — "Sand Hill Shuffle"
  • Armando Iannucci (Veep) — "Testimony"
Amazon
2014Gail Mancuso (Modern Family) — "Las Vegas"repeat
beat 5 others
  • Iain B. MacDonald (Episodes) — "Episode 309"
  • Paris Barclay (Glee) — "100"
  • Louis C.K. (Louie) — "Elevator, Part 6"
  • Jodie Foster (Orange Is the New Black) — "Lesbian Request Denied"
  • Mike Judge (Silicon Valley) — "Minimum Viable Product"
ABC
2013Gail Mancuso (Modern Family) — "Arrested"
beat 4 others
  • Lena Dunham (Girls) — "On All Fours"
  • Paris Barclay (Glee) — "Diva"
  • Louis C.K. (Louie) — "New Year's Eve"
  • Beth McCarthy-Miller (30 Rock) — "Hogcock! & Last Lunch"
ABC
2012Steven Levitan (Modern Family) — "Baby on Board"
beat 5 others
  • Robert B. Weide (Curb Your Enthusiasm) — "Palestinian Chicken"
  • Lena Dunham (Girls) — "She Did"
  • Louis C.K. (Louie) — "Duckling"
  • Jason Winer (Modern Family) — "Virgin Territory"
  • Jake Kasdan (New Girl) — "Pilot"
ABC
2011Michael Spiller (Modern Family) — "Halloween"
beat 4 others
  • Pamela Fryman (How I Met Your Mother) — "Subway Wars"
  • Steven Levitan (Modern Family) — "See You Next Fall"
  • Gail Mancuso (Modern Family) — "Slow Down Your Neighbors"
  • Beth McCarthy-Miller (30 Rock) — "Live Show"
ABC
2010Ryan Murphy (Glee) — "Pilot"
beat 4 others
  • Paris Barclay (Glee) — "Wheels"
  • Jason Winer (Modern Family) — "Pilot"
  • Allen Coulter (Nurse Jackie) — "Pilot"
  • Don Scardino (30 Rock) — "I Do Do"
Fox
2009Jeffrey Blitz (The Office) — "Stress Relief"
beat 5 others
  • Julian Farino (Entourage) — "Tree Trippers"
  • James Bobin (Flight of the Conchords) — "The Tough Brets"
  • Millicent Shelton (30 Rock) — "Apollo, Apollo"
  • Todd Holland (30 Rock) — "Generalissimo"
  • Beth McCarthy-Miller (30 Rock) — "Reunion"
NBC
2008Barry Sonnenfeld (Pushing Daisies) — "Pie-lette"
beat 5 others
  • Daniel Attias (Entourage) — "No Cannes Do"
  • James Bobin (Flight of the Conchords) — "Sally Returns"
  • Paul Feig (The Office) — "Goodbye, Toby"
  • Paul Lieberstein (The Office) — "Money"
  • Michael Engler (30 Rock) — "Rosemary's Baby"
ABC
2007Richard Shepard (Ugly Betty) — "Pilot"
beat 5 others
  • Julian Farino (Entourage) — "One Day in the Valley"
  • Stephen Merchant & Ricky Gervais (Extras) — "Orlando Bloom"
  • Ken Kwapis (The Office) — "Gay Witch Hunt"
  • Will Mackenzie (Scrubs) — "My Musical"
  • Scott Ellis (30 Rock) — "The Break-Up"
ABC
2006Marc Buckland (My Name Is Earl) — "Pilot"
beat 5 others
  • Michael Patrick King (The Comeback) — "Valerie Does Another Classic Leno"
  • Robert B. Weide (Curb Your Enthusiasm) — "The Christ Nail"
  • Daniel Attias (Entourage) — "Oh, Mandy"
  • Julian Farino (Entourage) — "Sundance Kids"
  • Craig Zisk (Weeds) — "Good Shit Lollipop"
NBC
2005Charles McDougall (Desperate Housewives) — "Pilot"
beat 4 others
  • David Frankel (Entourage) — "Pilot"
  • Gary Halvorson (Everybody Loves Raymond) — "The Finale"
  • Randall Zisk (Monk) — "Mr. Monk Takes His Medicine"
  • James Burrows (Will & Grace) — "It's a Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad World"
ABC
2004Anthony and Joe Russo (Arrested Development) — "Pilot"
beat 4 others
  • Bryan Gordon (Curb Your Enthusiasm) — "The 5 Wood"
  • Robert B. Weide (Curb Your Enthusiasm) — "The Car Pool Lane"
  • Larry Charles (Curb Your Enthusiasm) — "The Survivor"
  • Tim Van Patten (Sex and the City) — "An American Girl in Paris: Part Deux"
Fox
2003Robert B. Weide (Curb Your Enthusiasm) — "Krazee-Eyez Killa"
beat 5 others
  • David Steinberg (Curb Your Enthusiasm) — "Mary, Joseph, and Larry"
  • Larry Charles (Curb Your Enthusiasm) — "The Nanny from Hell"
  • Bryan Gordon (Curb Your Enthusiasm) — "The Special Section"
  • Michael Engler (Sex and the City) — "I Love a Charade"
  • James Burrows (Will & Grace) — "24"
HBO
2002Michael Patrick King (Sex and the City) — "The Real Me"
beat 4 others
  • Robert B. Weide (Curb Your Enthusiasm) — "The Doll"
  • Jeffrey Melman (Malcolm in the Middle) — "Christmas"
  • Marc Buckland (Scrubs) — "My Old Lady"
  • James Burrows (Will & Grace) — "A Chorus Lie"
HBO
2001Todd Holland (Malcolm in the Middle) — "Bowling"repeat
beat 4 others
  • James Frawley (Ed) — "Pilot"
  • Jeffrey Melman (Malcolm in the Middle) — "Flashback"
  • Charles McDougall (Sex and the City) — "Easy Come, Easy Go"
  • James Burrows (Will & Grace) — "Lows in the Mid-Eighties"
Fox
2000Todd Holland (Malcolm in the Middle) — "Pilot"
beat 5 others
  • Bill D'Elia (Ally McBeal) — "Ally McBeal: The Musical, Almost"
  • Will Mackenzie (Everybody Loves Raymond) — "The Christmas Picture"
  • Michael Lembeck (Friends) — "The One That Could Have Been"
  • Thomas Schlamme (Sports Night) — "Quo Vadimus"
  • James Burrows (Will & Grace) — "Homo for the Holidays"
Fox