When you watch the credits of a TV show, it’s hard to keep track of all the many producers, and co producers, and executive producers etc. Why are there so many and what does it all mean?
Unlike film, the highest credit you can receive as a producer is Executive Producer. To make this more confusing, this is also the title given to the highest level writers on the show as well as (in some cases) the lead actor. For example, on the last season of BREAKING BAD, Vince Gilligan (the head writer/ showrunner), Mark Johnson (the non-writing producer who packaged the project and sold it), and Bryan Cranston (the lead actor) all received Executive Producer credit. Sometimes, even the manager of the lead actor or head writer will also get Executive Producer credit.
When it comes to the writers of the show, each writer is designated a credit based on their past experience and seniority on the show. Here’s the hierarchy for the writing staff:
Upper Level
Executive Producer
Co-Executive Producer
Mid-Level
Supervising Producer
Producer
Co-Producer
Lower Level
Story Editor
Staff Writer