showrunner

noun

show·​run·​ner ˈshō-ˌrə-nər How to pronounce showrunner (audio)
variants or less commonly show-runner or show runner
plural showrunners also show-runners or show runners
: a person who oversees the writing and production of each episode of a television series and has ultimate managerial and creative control over the series
A showrunner is more than just a producer. He or she is the creator or co-creator of a show and is a writer as well. These people are the guiding lights for a production. They are making decisions about casting, story arcs, as well as the day-to-day issues of getting a show done and ready for air.G. Michael Dobbs

Examples of showrunner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The British showrunner of that blisteringly cynical drama spent five years and 39 episodes giving us a portrait of filthy rich people pulling strings and behaving badly. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 31 May 2025 Following a relatively lackluster run under head writer Chris Chibnall, the BBC sought to revive interest in the franchise by bringing back Davies as showrunner. Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025 Even with an obsessive showrunner at the helm, this series would’ve gone nowhere without the outsized talents of our writers’ room. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 30 May 2025 Such a talented cast, a really talented showrunner and some great directors. Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for showrunner

Word History

First Known Use

1989, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of showrunner was in 1989

Cite this Entry

“Showrunner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/showrunner. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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