# What is a "show runner"? (Simpsons DVD commentators) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 8, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-show-runner-simpsons-dvd-commentators/283782 "2005-01-08T20:32:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-show-runner-simpsons-dvd-commentators/283782/1 "2005-01-08T20:32:52Z")
Several of the people on the commentary tracks of the Simpsons on DVD are show runners. What do show runners do? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-show-runner-simpsons-dvd-commentators/283782/2 "2005-01-08T20:41:08Z")
You know, I just heard that term when I was watching the commentary on _Arrested Development_- but they actually explained it. 😉 Sounds like the show runner is basically in charge of the whole writing process, making sure different scripts are coming along, that kind of thing. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-show-runner-simpsons-dvd-commentators/283782/3 "2005-01-08T20:50:27Z")
FWIW: > **[Showrunner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Show_runner)** > > A showrunner is the leading producer of a television series. They are credited in the United States as an executive producer and in other countries, such as Canada or Britain, simply as a producer.\[citation needed\] A showrunner has creative and management responsibility of a television series production through combining the responsibilities of employer and, in comedy or dramas, typically also character creator, head writer, and script editor. In films, the director has creative control of a Tr... ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-show-runner-simpsons-dvd-commentators/283782/4 "2005-01-08T20:56:20Z")
Thanks!