What is a Showrunner? The Pros weigh-in

Serving as showrunner of a series remains the “brass ring” for television producers, providing immense creative rewards… and more than any one producer’s share of hurdles, hitches and headaches. Here’s the good news: While the process remains intensely competitive, the success of new paradigms in cable and streaming series has resulted in networks and companies pouring resources into scripted programming like never before. Dealing with high-profile cast members, meeting the competing needs of the network and the writers room, striving to keep a series fresh after multiple seasons… these are the problems you want to have. Our panel of experienced showrunners is here to share how they juggle the demands of this high-wire job.
Speakers
Barbara Hall
Madam Secretary, Homeland
Robert and Michelle King
The Good Wife, BrainDead, In Justice
Clyde Phillips
Broke, Nurse Jackie, Dexter
Darren Star
Younger, Sex and the City
Joe Weisberg
The Americans, Falling Skies
Moderator
Lori McCreary
Invictus, Madam Secretary; CEO, Revelations Entertainment; President, Producers Guild of America
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The Producers Guild of America protects and promotes the interests of all members of the producing team in film, television and new media.
The PGA has over 7,000 members who work together to protect and improve their careers, the industry and community by facilitating members health benefits, encouraging enforcement of workplace labor laws, the creation of fair and impartial standards for the awarding of producing credits, as well as other education and advocacy efforts.
www.producersguild.org
www.producersguildawards.com
www.producedbyconference.com
/ pga
/ producersguild
/ producersguild
The Producing Team consists of all those whose interdependency and support of each other are necessary for the creation of motion pictures and television programs.
Executive Producers
Producers
Co-Executive Producers
Supervising Producers
Senior Producers
Line Producers
Co-Producers
Associate Producers
Segment Producers
Field Producers
Story Producers
Production Managers
Visual Effects Producers, Supervisors, & Coordinators
Post-Production Supervisors & Managers
Production & Post-Production Coordinators

[@angelaroman131]

Everytime I see this kind of videos, I wish with all my heart be in the real conferences, be part of a writer's team, assistant of some showrunner, and whatever, whatever that allow me learn, much, so much, about this art, work, of being a screenwriter. It's inspirent. Thank you so much.

[@sincereiam]

It’s possible!

[@MasonPapenbrock-my4gl]

5 years later, just checking to see if you pursued this at all and if so how it went?

[@kilgoretrout321]

I heard about this job, and noticed that all my favorite shows had great showrunners, and some of my favorites that went bad lost their showrunners right around the time they went bad.

[@eliallen3860]

They forgot to mention that the showrunner is the only EP involved in hiring the cast and crew as well. 😂

[@dragunov815]

Wow.

[@siewheilou399]

How is a showrunner different from a producer? Is it a real job title?

[@Perktube1]

So this is what Kathleen Kennedy was dreaming about being as she poured each cup of Folgers for George and the boys. 😉

[@Alreadygone-qg5qw]

making a cartoon

[@IdalisisPR]

So much diversity here. /S

[@TheFuck6666]

Okay, so what the fuck is a showrunner?

[@Helminthis]

The CEO of a TV show