# New term: "Show Runner" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 7, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513 "2015-05-07T20:23:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513/1 "2015-05-07T20:23:28Z")
In the last few months, I’ve come across the term “show runner,” in online articles, referring, I presume, to the person who makes a TV show go. Today Terry Gross\* used it in reference to Matthew Weiner, the “show runner” of \*Mad Men. \* Was it an industry term that has just emerged into popular usage? I’ve been watching and reading about TV directors, writers, creators, producers, etc., since I was a kid in the 1950s and never heard the term “show runner” until recently. Did I miss it or did it really just turn up? \*Good interview, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513/2 "2015-05-07T20:28:05Z")
The earliest citation in the OED for the term used in a TV production context is from 1989: > [@](#): > > 1. Television. The executive producer having overall creative authority and management responsibility for a television programme. > > 1989 Wall St. Jrnl. 2 Aug. b6/6 The riskiest part of Universal’s gamble is that Mr. Marlens and Ms. Black haven’t yet proved themselves as ‘show-runners’. Mr. Marlens lasted only a handful of episodes on ‘Growing Pains’ before departing. > 1995 N.Y. Times 1/1 Day to day, a show runner makes all important decisions about the series’ scripts, tone, attitude, look and direction. > 2001 Dreamwatch Oct. 7/3 Straczynski will serve as the project’s showrunner and executive producer. > 2010 K. Richardson Television Dramatic Dialogue iv. 67 The vision of the show as a whole does not come from the freelance or even the staff writer, but from the showrunner. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513/3 "2015-05-07T20:32:46Z")
It probably came about when people finally got tired of not knowing what the various titles mean and who ranks who in the show’s hierarchy. When a show has 5 “Executive Producers,” who is actually calling the shots can be a bit…confused. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513/4 "2015-05-07T20:35:53Z")
Executive Producers on TV shows generally tend to be the writers of said show, which is why there are usually a half dozen. ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513/5 "2015-05-07T20:40:41Z")
It was a good \*Fresh Air \*interview – I listened to it today as well. I can’t remember the first time I heard the term “showrunner,” but the first time I took notice of it was when Frank Darabont was relieved of his duties (never did find out whether he was fired or left on his own terms) as showrunner of _The Walking Dead_. As I understand it, it’s a term that used to describe a person who has both creative writing and producing responsibilities, with the ability to hire and fire those who report to him/her. It does seem to have gained some prominence in this Golden Age of television (the last 6-8 years), when there are some truly great shows being written and produced by some extremely talented writers and producers – and sometimes those writers and producers are the same person, and they want as much control over the show as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513/6 "2015-05-07T20:43:13Z")
> [@Gordon\_Urquhart](#): > > I can’t remember the first time I heard the term “showrunner,” I’m pretty sure I first heard it in the commentary on Simpsons DVDs. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513/7 "2015-05-07T20:48:08Z")
Sometimes the Executive producers are also actors on the show. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513/8 "2015-05-07T21:10:49Z")
It seems like a relatively new(ly commonplace) term to me as well. I first heard it with regard to Dan Harmon during his brouhaha with NBC over _Community_. I suppose, though, that I must have heard it on _30 Rock_ (the main character is a show runner) without paying it any mind. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513/9 "2015-05-07T21:19:50Z")
It sounds better then “helmmer” which I’ve been reading for the last couple of years. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513/10 "2015-05-07T21:30:15Z")
> [@Gordon\_Urquhart](#): > > Frank Darabont was relieved of his duties (never did find out whether he was fired or left on his own terms) as showrunner of _The Walking Dead_. Shouldn’t his title have been “showwalker”? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513/11 "2015-05-07T22:21:26Z")
> [@Gordon\_Urquhart](#): > > It was a good \*Fresh Air \*interview – I listened to it today as well. > > … That stuff about Weiner’s grandfather the furrier watching nature specials and remarking on the fur/pelts of various endangered species was gruesome and hilarious. And petting people’s dogs with a knowledgeable hand… _\_ ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513/12 "2015-05-07T22:36:59Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > I’m pretty sure I first heard it in the commentary on Simpsons DVDs. Same here. Probably 10-12 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513/13 "2015-05-07T23:55:33Z")
> [@Gordon\_Urquhart](#): > > It does seem to have gained some prominence in this Golden Age of television (the last 6-8 years), when there are some truly great shows being written and produced by some extremely talented writers and producers – and sometimes those writers and producers are the same person, and they want as much control over the show as possible. I think its the related trend towards TV shows with long, season or show long story arcs that has increased the usefulness of the term. Twenty years ago there were only a few shows that had plots that went for longer than an episode or two\*, so having one person plan out how a show and its characters would develop across a season or its entire run wasn’t really important. \*(remember when plots that spanned more than an episode used to have to use “…to be continued” at the end so the audience know what was up?) ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513/14 "2015-05-08T00:50:25Z")
I’m not sure how you would miss if it you regularly consume entertainment articles or read fan discussions. It’s a common term. I think I first heard it back in the early '00s, referring to David Chase and the Sopranos back when it was still airing. I’m sure it’s older still. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513/15 "2015-05-08T00:57:15Z")
> [@Max\_the\_Immortal](#): > > It seems like a relatively new(ly commonplace) term to me as well. I first heard it with regard to Dan Harmon during his brouhaha with NBC over _Community_. I suppose, though, that I must have heard it on _30 Rock_ (the main character is a show runner) without paying it any mind. This is when I first heard it. Well, this is when I first _recall_ having heard it. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513/16 "2015-05-08T01:10:02Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Sometimes the Executive producers are also actors on the show. Which is, I think, why we have the term. The show runner is the EP that runs the show, as opposed to all the other people that have the title for various reasons. I’ve heard the term for a couple of decades, but in recent years it seems some have become their own brand, like JJ Abrams, Sorkin, and Kelley a while back. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513/17 "2015-05-08T01:16:14Z")
I first read it in reference to Russel T. Davies of _Doctor Who_, so for a long time I thought it was a British term. I just in the last year or so heard American producers referred to that way. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513/18 "2015-05-08T01:41:41Z")
When you have a series that brings on multiple writers, multiple directors, and may have an unusually complicated plot with multiple simultaneous threads criss-crossing over each other, you need someone who is looking after everything to make it feel consistent and on track. I believe that is the showrunner’s primary role. They will adjust or rewrite scripts, oversee editing, and make plot arc decisions, to maintain a show’s style. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513/19 "2015-05-08T02:16:50Z")
I’ve only began to notice it in probably the last couple of years, maybe a little longer. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513/20 "2015-05-08T03:11:58Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > I’m not sure how you would miss if it you regularly consume entertainment articles or read fan discussions. It’s a common term. I think I first heard it back in the early '00s, referring to David Chase and the Sopranos back when it was still airing. I’m sure it’s older still. I think I first heard it with reference to Chase and the Sopranos. I’m in the middle of going back through Breaking Bad and watching the commentaries (which I didn’t the first time through) and it comes up in reference to Vince Gilligan. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-term-show-runner/719513.md?page=2)