showrunner

noun

show·​run·​ner ˈshō-ˌrə-nər 

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

Lyle and Bart Nickerson created the series and serve as showrunners with Jonathan Lisco. —Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025

Yu created, executive produced and served as showrunner of Interior Chinatown based on his novel of the same name, winner of the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction, for Hulu and 20th Television. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2025

Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss are executive producers and showrunners for White Cherry Entertainment. —Paul Grein, Billboard, 24 Apr. 2025

While making new series Étoile, showrunner and co-creator Amy Sherman-Palladino had to ask actors to slow down their dialogue. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1989, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for showrunner

• forerunner
• brunner
• gunnar
• gunner
• runner
• tonner