20 of the most prolific showrunners in TV history

JC Olivera/WireImage // Getty Images Television is undoubtedly a collaborative medium. However, there’s no denying showrunners have played an indelible role in shaping the art form. These creatives are forces in their own right, overseeing every aspect of production to bring each show to the screen and captivate an audience. The term “showrunner” was likely popularized in the late 1980s in order to describe the people on set making final creative decisions amidst other producers. As television evolved into a more plot-driven medium, showrunners played a vital role in shaping the TV landscape. Take Rod Serling, who used his hit science-fiction anthology series “The Twilight Zone” to legitimize the dramatic storytelling potential of TV, or Norman Lear, whose ’70s shows weren’t afraid to incorporate political and social themes into the sitcom formula. As we progress through this modern age of streaming TV, exciting voices like Mindy Kaling and Phoebe Waller-Bridge have found their footing across platforms and series. But with so many skilled showrunners in television, both past and present, which ones should viewers know? To help you get started, Casino Bonus CA compiled a list of 20 of the most prolific showrunners in television history using a variety of sources, including news articles and TV archives. So read on and learn a bit more about television history and the people behind it. Aaron Sorkin