Showrunner

A showrunner is the top-level executive producer of a television series.[1][2][3][4] The position outranks other creative and management personnel, including episode directors, in contrast to feature films, in which the director has creative control over the production, and the executive producer's role is limited to investing.[5] In scripted comedy and drama TV shows, the showrunner also usually serves as the head writer (or its most prolific writer). The role of a showrunner is not present on all television series, especially outside the US; this article describes the nature of the role where it is present.

  1. ^ "What does a producer do? - Television Series". Producers Guild of America. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  2. ^ "Showrunning in the UK" (PDF). Writers' Guild of Great Britain. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 2, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  3. ^ D'Arminio, Aubry (October 10, 2016). "Gary Glasberg: 1966–2016", upTV Guide. p. 17.
  4. ^ MasterClass staff (September 10, 2021). "What is a Showrunner: Shonad Rhimes's Advice for Showrunners". MasterClass. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2022. para. 2: "He or she is… always an executive producer."
  5. ^ Littlejohn, Janice Rhoshalle (August 15, 2008). "TV's showrunners outrank directors". Variety. Retrieved January 8, 2024.