# What does one do to get listed in the credits of a TV show as "creator''? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 2, 2014, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-one-do-to-get-listed-in-the-credits-of-a-tv-show-as-creator/687543 "2014-05-02T22:34:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-one-do-to-get-listed-in-the-credits-of-a-tv-show-as-creator/687543/1 "2014-05-02T22:34:32Z")
For example Craig Ferguson is listed among the ‘‘Creators’’ of _Doc Martin_. What would he have done to get this listing? Is he getting paid for having his name there? ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-one-do-to-get-listed-in-the-credits-of-a-tv-show-as-creator/687543/2 "2014-05-02T22:37:45Z")
My guess is he collaborated on the original idea and story-line, maybe helped write it. I’m sure he’s getting paid. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-one-do-to-get-listed-in-the-credits-of-a-tv-show-as-creator/687543/3 "2014-05-02T22:41:38Z")
It’s decided by contract. He may even be credited in lieu of pay. I don’t know, but it’s possible he’s due royalties from reruns under union regs because of the credit. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-one-do-to-get-listed-in-the-credits-of-a-tv-show-as-creator/687543/4 "2014-05-03T00:34:08Z")
You have to be able to ceate. Not many people even know what that is, let alone how to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-one-do-to-get-listed-in-the-credits-of-a-tv-show-as-creator/687543/5 "2014-05-03T01:20:48Z")
Craig Ferguson wrote the screenplay for the movie Amazing Grace, which introduced the character of Doc Martin. Ferguson also has writing credit for the two Doc Martin TV movies, which predate the series. It sounds like he has a pretty decent claim to the title “creator.” ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-one-do-to-get-listed-in-the-credits-of-a-tv-show-as-creator/687543/6 "2014-05-03T01:42:59Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > You have to be able to ceate. Not many people even know what that is, let alone how to do it. Are you about that? Sounds more like a marine biologist to me. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-one-do-to-get-listed-in-the-credits-of-a-tv-show-as-creator/687543/7 "2014-05-03T03:56:08Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > You have to be able to ceate. Not many people even know what that is, let alone how to do it. Changed the “ceator” in the thread title to the intended “creator.” ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-one-do-to-get-listed-in-the-credits-of-a-tv-show-as-creator/687543/8 "2014-05-03T13:18:31Z")
In US TV, the creator usully writes the “bible” for the show, which describes all the characters and the setup. They also usually write the pilot. The creator gets a payment whenever the show is aired. These days, the creator is also the executive producer. There are exceptions. Alan Dean Foster wrote the bible for **Star Trek: the Next Generation** , but was not given creator credit (though he knew this when he was hired). ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-one-do-to-get-listed-in-the-credits-of-a-tv-show-as-creator/687543/9 "2014-05-03T13:36:49Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Changed the “ceator” in the thread title to the intended “creator.” Well, you’re no fun! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-one-do-to-get-listed-in-the-credits-of-a-tv-show-as-creator/687543/10 "2014-05-03T13:53:01Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Craig Ferguson wrote the screenplay for the movie Amazing Grace, which introduced the character of Doc Martin. Saving Grace, not Amazing Grace.