The Conversation

From Donald Glover to Phoebe Waller-Bridge: what exactly does a showrunner do?

Author: Darren Paul Fisher, Head of Directing, Department of Film, Screen and Creative Media, Bond University

Donald Glover is the showrunner on Atlanta, 'perhaps the most curious credit in the history of the small screen'. imdb/FX Networks

What do J.J. Abrams, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Shonda Rhimes, David Lynch, Aaron Sorkin, Donald Glover, Jenji Kohan, Jordan Peele, Tina Fey, and Joss Whedon have in common?

They are all television showrunners - not that you...

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