A showrunner manages the day-to-day operations of a TV series, ensuring shows are delivered on time and in budget. They are often writer-producers and liaise with the network or studio. Showrunners must have tight control over everything happening, and many start out as writers or producers.
A showrunner is a person who manages the day-to-day operations of a television series. He or she is accountable to the network that owns the series, ensuring shows are delivered on time and in accordance with budget restrictions. Showrunners are also known as “hyphens,” a reference to the fact that most of them are writer-producers and many of them are executive producers as well. A showrunner’s job is incredibly diverse and often stressful as well.
The people who work in this aspect of television production are incredibly diverse. Not only are the showrunners creatively talented, but they are also skilled managers, able to be versatile in their day-to-day work. A showrunner might spend a few days, for example, working on a script while discussing the nuances of the show with the network, and then turn to managing a production’s cast and crew while actively filming. They also liaise with the network or studio that owns the production, ensuring that everyone at the studio is satisfied.
Many showrunners start out as creators or co-creators of a show. Joss Whedon, for example, is a well-known showrunner who came up with the creative ideas behind shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and then proceeded to handle day-to-day operations. Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice’s Shonda Rimes is another notable showrunner, and some other well-known names in the field include Aaron Sorkin, David X. Cohen, Lynn Marie Latham, and Seth MacFarlane.
In a long-running show, it’s not uncommon for control of the show to pass through several showrunners, and a change of showrunner can be cause for comment among critics and fans. This is especially true when a showrunner takes over from an original creator, as fans are often concerned that the showrunner won’t stay true to the creator’s artistic vision. For people who are working on multiple creative projects at once, the use of a showrunner is imperative or else the creator will be overworked.
As an operations manager, a showrunner must have very tight control over everything that’s happening, especially since TV shows have limited shooting time, requiring cast and crew to work efficiently and well together. Showrunners have a great deal of creative control, which can be important for long-running shows to ensure the show stays consistent. The showrunners also aren’t afraid to step in wherever and whenever help is needed.
Many showrunners learn on the job, often starting out as writers, creators, or producers and gaining their skills through experience. Some training is also available for people interested in working as showrunners, with such training typically offered to people who are already working in some facet of the television industry.
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