Much as the director strongly influences how a film turns out, the showrunner exerts a great deal of creative control over the sprawling edifice of television production. The most successful showrunners tend to be those who know how to corral the writing team into creating a unified and coherent vision, whether it’s an original story or an adaptation of a pre-existing work, and coax great performances from their cast. Recent entertainment history is filled with examples of great showrunners, many of whom were actually able to produce more than one successful show.
When you binge-watch a show and get completely hooked, it’s easy to credit the actors or maybe even the director. But let’s peel back the curtain a little further. Behind every addicting plot twist, every perfect line of dialogue, and every unforgettable moment is a showrunner—the real MVP of television. So, who are these creative geniuses? Let’s dive into the world of TV’s greatest architects and explore the 20 showrunners who’ve defined, transformed, and revolutionized what we love to watch.
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Though the eighth season of Game of Thrones might have left a bitter taste in the mouths of many fans, it’s impossible to deny that showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss nevertheless managed to change the face of fantasy TV with their adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s works. For most of the show’s run, they successfully brought their vision to bear while also largely staying true to the spirit of the original A Song of Ice and Fire series. Since then, they have had success with the series 3 Body Problem, which is currently on Netflix.
Joey Soloway. Joey Soloway is perhaps most notable for creating and running the series Transparent, which was a true game-changer in terms of the representation of trans people in popular media. Even before they made a splash with Transparent, however, Soloway had already shown that they were a formidable writing talent thanks to their work on a variety of shows, including Six Feet Under and Grey’s Anatomy. For their work on Transparent, they received both popularity and significant critical praise, including several Emmys.
Liz Feldman. Liz Feldman has had a very productive relationship with Netflix, and she has been especially successful at crafting black comedies that are both very funny and poignant. Arguably, her greatest success was Dead to Me, which starred Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini, whose lives are brought together by grief. More recently, Feldman has returned to the black comedy genre in her most recent series, No Good Deed, which she also produced for Netflix and which also combines rich emotion with a lot of laughs.
The Powerhouses Behind TV’s Most Iconic Shows
Let’s break it down. From drama to comedy, from mind-bending sci-fi to razor-sharp satire—here are the 20 showrunners you should absolutely know.
1. Shonda Rhimes – Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, Bridgerton
Rhimes redefined what prime-time drama looks like. She’s the queen of emotional cliffhangers and jaw-dropping twists. Plus, she made diversity and representation central to mainstream TV.
2. Vince Gilligan – Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul
Meth labs and moral complexity? That’s Vince Gilligan’s lane. He created one of the greatest antiheroes in TV history and gave us a masterclass in character development.
3. Ryan Murphy – Glee, American Horror Story, Pose
Murphy is a genre-bending wizard. Whether it’s horror, musical drama, or historical storytelling, he brings flair, camp, and social commentary into every frame.
4. David Benioff & D.B. Weiss – Game of Thrones
Like them or hate them (especially after Season 8), these two brought George R.R. Martin’s world to life and turned it into a cultural phenomenon.
5. Tina Fey – 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Witty, sharp, and endlessly quotable—Tina Fey’s comedic brilliance changed the landscape of female-led humor on TV.
6. Dan Harmon – Community, Rick and Morty
Harmon is the godfather of meta-humor. His shows break the fourth wall, twist genres, and challenge traditional storytelling.
7. Jenji Kohan – Weeds, Orange Is the New Black
With a focus on flawed female protagonists, Kohan’s shows are bold, edgy, and never shy away from uncomfortable truths.
8. Greg Berlanti – Arrowverse, You
The man has 20+ shows under his belt. From superheroes to psychological thrillers, Berlanti’s empire is vast and unstoppable.
9. Matthew Weiner – Mad Men
A slow burn with stunning payoffs, Mad Men is all about subtlety and style—and Weiner’s vision made it a masterpiece.
10. Phoebe Waller-Bridge – Fleabag, Killing Eve
She’s smart, dark, and hilarious. Waller-Bridge brings emotional rawness and biting wit to everything she touches.
11. Damon Lindelof – Lost, The Leftovers, Watchmen
Complex timelines, deep symbolism, and philosophical overtones? That’s Lindelof’s playground. He challenges viewers to think—and re-think.
12. Mike Schur – The Office, Parks and Recreation, The Good Place
Schur doesn’t just create sitcoms. He creates shows that restore your faith in humanity—while making you laugh your face off.
13. Amy Sherman-Palladino – Gilmore Girls, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Fast dialogue, cultural references, and complex women? That’s Amy’s signature—and audiences eat it up.
14. Alan Ball – Six Feet Under, True Blood
Dark, daring, and often disturbing—Ball’s shows explore life, death, and everything in between with fearless honesty.
15. Joss Whedon – Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly
Whedon gave us strong female leads and cult-classic storytelling long before it was trendy.
16. Donald Glover – Atlanta
A genre-defying creative force, Glover mixes surrealism with sharp cultural critique. Atlanta is unlike anything else on TV.
17. Taylor Sheridan – Yellowstone
He turned a family ranch drama into a neo-Western epic that fans can’t stop watching. Sheridan knows how to make rugged compelling.
18. Noah Hawley – Fargo, Legion
Hawley crafts visually stunning, mind-bending stories that blend the bizarre with the beautiful. Every frame is a painting.
19. Issa Rae – Insecure
Rae brought an honest, hilarious, and heartfelt look at modern Black womanhood. Her voice is refreshing and unapologetically real.
20. Robert and Michelle King – The Good Wife, The Good Fight
This duo blends politics, law, and absurdity into razor-sharp commentary. Their shows are smart, fast, and thought-provoking.
