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. … 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

Check out all of The Hollywood Reporter‘s Love Story coverage here, including our premiere launch piece with the cast and crew as well as more interviews with Sarah Pidgeon, Paul Anthony Kelly, Dree Hemingway, Alessandro Nivola, showrunner Connor Hines and production designer Alex DiGerlando. —Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026

Through it all, the showrunner mentored him on all aspects of getting those episodes done. —Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026

And especially for me, as a first-time creator and showrunner. —Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026

The cast of Virgin River has been pretty stable, with few departures and only one new series regular cast addition since Smith joined as showrunner after Season 4, Kandyse McClure as Kaia in Season 5. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1989, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for showrunner

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