Atelevision show creator ortelevision program creator or television show maker is the person who developed a significant part of a TV show's format, concept, characters, and pilot script. They have sequel rights to the material as well.

Often, the creator is also theshowrunner or a producer. Sometimes it is a writer ofthe series bible, or writers' guidelines.^{[1][unreliable source?]} In the United States, aWriters Guild of America (WGA) screenwriting credit system governs credits. For example, theWriters Guild of America West provides specifications for creator credits that govern its members.^[2] TheProducers Guild of America's corresponding code for producers defines "Executive Producer" and similar roles but not an explicit "Creator" role.^{[3][4][failed verification]}

Creator is a specific credit given explicitly in many shows. However, it has not always been a prominent, explicit credit. For example,Sydney Newman, the accepted creator ofThe Avengers (1961–69), was never given an explicit credit as creator; Newman never thought to ask for one.^[5] The creator of a television show may retain rights to participate in profits, often to be paid by the production company as a percentage of fees that it receives from networks and distributors.^[6] In 2014, for prime-time network TV shows, the WGA-required royalty to be paid to a writer with "created by" credit is approximately $1,000 per episode or higher.^[7]Who merits creator credit is sometimes a matter of contention. In a 2013 legal case, a director sued a former writing partner for co-creator credit.^[8]

Notable examples of creators include:

• Natasha Allegri, created the web seriesBee and Puppycat turned into a TV series onNetflix.^[9][10]
• Paul Abbott, createdShameless, and is also responsible for the creation ofReckless andTouching Evil for ITV, as well asClocking Off andState of Play for the BBC.^[11][12]
• J. J. Abrams, co-createdFelicity (1998–2002), createdAlias (2001–2006), co-createdLost (2004–2010),Fringe (2008–2013),Undercovers (2010)
• Britt Allcroft created the children's television seriesThomas the Tank Engine & Friends (later re-titledThomas & Friends),Shining Time Station (with Rick Siggelkow) andMagic Adventures of Mumfie
• Gerry Anderson andSylvia Anderson, co-creators ofThunderbirds (1965–66);^{[citation needed]} Gerry Anderson also createdSupercar (1961–62).^{[citation needed]}
• Danny Antonucci, createdThe Brothers Grunt,Cartoon Sushi, andEd, Edd n Eddy
• Meredith Averill, creator and executive producer ofThe CW science fiction teen dramaStar-Crossed.^[13]
• Craig Bartlett, createdHey Arnold!,Dinosaur Train andReady Jet Go!.
• Ben Bocquelet, createdThe Amazing World of Gumball.
• Donald P. Bellisario, co-createdMagnum, P.I., createdAirwolf, createdQuantum Leap, createdJAG, co-createdNCIS.
• Maxwell Atoms, createdGrim & Evil,The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, andEvil Con Carne.
• Rick Berman, co-createdStar Trek: Deep Space Nine withMichael Piller,^[14] co-createdStar Trek: Voyager with Piller andJeri Taylor, co-createdEnterprise (retitledStar Trek: Enterprise in 2003) withBrannon Braga.^[15]
• Loren Bouchard, co-createdHome Movies (withBrendon Small), and createdBob's Burgers andLucy: The Daughter of the Devil and co-createdCentral Park
• Ian Brennan, co-creator withRyan Murphy andBrad Falchuk ofGlee
• Marc Brown, created TV seriesArthur
• Jamie Brittain, co-creator withBryan Elsley of British teen dramaSkins (2007–2013)^{[citation needed]}
• Johnny Byrne, createdHeartbeat andNoah's Ark (1997–98)
• Stephen J. Cannell, co-createdThe Rockford Files, createdBaretta, createdThe Greatest American Hero, co-createdThe A-Team, co-createdHardcastle and McCormick, createdStingray, co-createdWiseguy, co-created21 Jump Street, createdSilk Stalkings, co-createdThe Commish, createdRenegade.
• Gábor Csupó, createdRugrats,Aaahh!!! Real Monsters,Santo Bugito,The Wild Thornberrys,Rocket Power,All Grown Up!, andRugrats Pre-School Daze.
• Michael Schur, co-createdParks and Recreation,Brooklyn Nine-Nine, createdThe Good Place.
• Mitch Schauer, createdThe Angry Beavers.
• David Crane, co-createdFriends (withMarta Kauffman), co-createdThe Class withJeffrey Klarik,^[16] and co-createdEpisodes for theBBC.^[17][18]
• Keith Chapman, createdBob the Builder,Fifi and the Flowertots, andPaw Patrol.
• Greg Daniels, co-createdKing of the Hill, developedThe Office, co-createdParks and Recreation, createdUpload, and co-createdSpace Force.
• John A. Davis, createdThe Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
• Terrance Dicks, co-created the BBC science-fiction TV seriesMoonbase 3 (1973)
• John R. Dilworth, createdCourage the Cowardly Dog
• David Feiss, createdCow and Chicken,I Am Weasel andYooHoo & Friends.
• Bryan Elsley, createdDates (2013–) and co-created the British teen dramaSkins (2007–2013) withJamie Brittain.^{[citation needed]}
• Brad Falchuk, co-creator with Murphy ofAmerican Horror Story,^[19] co-creator withIan Brennan andRyan Murphy ofGlee
• Phil Ford, co-creator withRussell T Davies ofWizards vs Aliens
• C. H. Greenblatt, createdChowder,Harvey Beaks, andJellystone!.
• Jorge Gutierrez, createdEl Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera andMaya and the Three.
• Bruce Geller, created the television seriesMission: Impossible (1966–73)
• Chris Gifford, createdDora the Explorer,Go, Diego, Go! andDora and Friends: Into the City
• Vince Gilligan, createdBreaking Bad and co-createdBetter Call Saul
• Bryan Elsley, createdDates (2013–) and co-created the British teen dramaSkins (2007–2013) withJamie Brittain.^{[citation needed]}
• David Greenwalt, co-createdAngel, co-createdProfit, and co-created NBC dramaGrimm
• David E. Kelley, createdPicket Fences,Chicago Hope,The Practice,Ally McBeal,Boston Public,Boston Legal, andHarry's Law
• Matt Groening, createdThe Simpsons,^{[citation needed]}Futurama andDisenchantment.
• Stephen Hillenburg, createdSpongeBob SquarePants.
• Susan Harris, createdSoap,Benson,The Golden Girls,Empty Nest,Nurses andThe Golden Palace.
• Chris Kratt andMartin Kratt, co-created the children's TV seriesKratts' Creatures,Zoboomafoo,Be the Creature, andWild Kratts
• Jeffrey Klarik, co-createdEpisodes and co-createdThe Class withDavid Crane^[20]
• Glen A. Larson, createdThe Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, createdBattlestar Galactica, co-createdB. J. and the Bear, createdGalactica 1980, co-createdMagnum, P.I., createdThe Fall Guy, createdKnight Rider, createdAutoman.
• Norman Lear, createdAll in the Family,The Jeffersons,Sanford and Son,One Day at a Time,Maude andGood Times
• Butch Hartman, createdThe Fairly OddParents,Danny Phantom,T.U.F.F. Puppy,Bunsen Is a Beast
• Mike Judge, createdBeavis and Butt-Head, and co-createdKing of the Hill,The Goode Family,Silicon Valley, andMike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus
• Emily Kapnek, createdAs Told by Ginger,Suburgatory, andSelfie
• Roberta Leigh, created puppet TV seriesSara and Hoppity,Torchy the Battery Boy,Wonder Boy and Tiger andSend for Dithers, as well as createdSpace Patrol, (American title:Planet Patrol)^{[citation needed]}
• Steven Levitan, co-creator withChristopher Lloyd ofModern Family^{[citation needed]}
• Christopher Lloyd, co-creator withSteven Levitan ofModern Family^{[citation needed]}
• Craig McCracken, createdThe Powerpuff Girls,Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends,Wander Over Yonder,Kid Cosmic
• Patrick McGoohan, creator^[21] or co-creator ofThe Prisoner
• Carol Mendelsohn, co-creator and executive producer ofCSI: Miami andCSI: NY
• Lorne Michaels, best known for creating and producingSaturday Night Live
• Ryan Murphy, co-createdGlee (withIan Brennan andBrad Falchuk) and co-createdAmerican Horror Story^[19]
• Joe Murray, createdRocko's Modern Life,Camp Lazlo,Let's Go Luna
• Mic Neumann createdKung Faux
• Sydney Newman, createdThe Avengers^[22] andDoctor Who^{[citation needed]}
• Jonathan Nolan, createdPerson of Interest
• Steve Oedekerk, createdBack at the Barnyard and co-createdPlanet Sheen
• Van Partible, createdJohnny Bravo.
• Michael Piller, co-createdStar Trek: Deep Space Nine and ofStar Trek: Voyager
• J. G. Quintel, createdRegular Show andClose Enough
• Paul Reiser, co-createdMad About You (1992–99)
• Rob Renzetti, createdMy Life as a Teenage Robot
• Shonda Rhimes, createdGrey's Anatomy,Private Practice, andScandal
• Sol Saks, most known as createdBewitched (1964–72)^{[citation needed]}
• Chris Savino, createdThe Loud House.
• Adi Shankar, createdThe Guardians of Justice.
• Sidney Sheldon, createdThe Patty Duke Show (1963–66),I Dream of Jeannie (1965–70) andHart to Hart (1979–84)
• Mr. Warburton, createdCodename: Kids Next Door.
• Jhonen Vasquez, createdInvader Zim
• Genndy Tartakovsky, createdDexter's Laboratory andSamurai Jack, developedStar Wars: Clone Wars, co-createdSym-Bionic Titan and createdPrimal
• Pendleton Ward, createdAdventure Time,Bravest Warriors andThe Midnight Gospel.
• Alex Hirsch, createdGravity Falls
• D. B. Weiss andDavid Benioff, co-createdGame of Thrones (2011)
• Joss Whedon, createdBuffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003),Angel (1999–2004),Firefly (2002–03),Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008),Dollhouse (2009–10) andAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020).^[23]
• Tom Wheeler, createdThe Cape (2011)^[24]
• Toby Whithouse, createdBeing Human^{[citation needed]}
• Dick Wolf, createdLaw & Order: Criminal Intent,Law & Order: Trial by Jury,Law & Order: LA,Law & Order: Special Victims Unit andLaw & Order: UK.,^[25] and createdCrime & Punishment
• Justin Zackham, created FX drama seriesLights Out
• Anthony E. Zuiker, created theCSI: Crime Scene Investigation franchise of several TV series,^[26]

• Showrunner

• Television terminology
• Mass media occupations
• Television show creators
• Lists of people by filmmaking occupation

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from November 2024
• All articles lacking reliable references
• Articles lacking reliable references from June 2014
• All articles with failed verification
• Articles with failed verification from June 2014
• All articles with unsourced statements
• Articles with unsourced statements from January 2026