| | 1980-1981: Isabel Sanford, The Jeffersons (CBS) |
| | 1981-1982: Carol Kane, Taxi (ABC) |
| | 1982-1983: Shelley Long, Cheers (NBC) |
| | 1983-1984: Jane Curtin, Kate & Allie (CBS) |
| | 1984-1985: Jane Curtin, Kate & Allie (CBS) |
| | 1985-1986: Betty White, The Golden Girls (NBC) |
| | 1986-1987: Rue McClanahan, The Golden Girls (NBC) |
| | 1987-1988: Bea Arthur, The Golden Girls (NBC) |
| | 1988-1989: Candice Bergen, Murphy Brown (CBS) |
| | 1989-1990: Candice Bergen, Murphy Brown (CBS) |
| | 1990-1991: Kirstie Alley, Cheers (NBC) |
| | 1991-1992: Candice Bergen, Murphy Brown (CBS) |
| | 1992-1993: Roseanne Arnold, Roseanne (ABC) |
| | 1993-1994: Candice Bergen, Murphy Brown (CBS) |
| | 1994-1995: Candice Bergen, Murphy Brown (CBS) |
| | 1995-1996: Helen Hunt, Mad About You (NBC) |
| | 1996-1997: Helen Hunt, Mad About You (NBC) |
| | 1997-1998: Helen Hunt, Mad About You (NBC) |
| | 1998-1999: Helen Hunt, Mad About You (NBC) |
| | 1999-2000: Patricia Heaton, Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS) |
| | 2000-2001: Patricia Heaton, Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS) |
| | 2001-2002: Jennifer Aniston, Friends (NBC) |
| | 2002-2003: Debra Messing, Will & Grace (NBC) |
| | 2003-2004: Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City (HBO) |
| | 2004-2005: Felicity Huffman, Desperate Housewives (ABC) |
| | 2005-2006: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS) |