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A television show creator or television program creator 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 the showrunner or a producer. Sometimes it is a writer of the series bible, or writers' guidelines.^{[1][unreliable source?]} In the United States, a Writers Guild of America (WGA) screenwriting credit system governs credits. For example, the Writers Guild of America West provides specifications for creator credits that govern its members.^[2] The Producers 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 of The 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 series Bee and Puppycat turned into a TV series on Netflix.^[9][10]
• Paul Abbott, created Shameless, and is also responsible for the creation of Reckless and Touching Evil for ITV, as well as Clocking Off and State of Play for the BBC.^[11][12]
• J. J. Abrams, co-created Felicity (1998–2002), created Alias (2001–2006), co-created Lost (2004–2010), Fringe (2008–2013), Undercovers (2010)
• Britt Allcroft created the children's television series Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (later re-titled Thomas & Friends), Shining Time Station (with Rick Siggelkow) and Magic Adventures of Mumfie
• Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson, co-creators of Thunderbirds (1965–66);^[13] Gerry Anderson also created Supercar (1961–62)^[14]
• Danny Antonucci, created The Brothers Grunt, Cartoon Sushi, and Ed, Edd n Eddy
• Meredith Averill, creator and executive producer of The CW science fiction teen drama Star-Crossed.^[15]
• Craig Bartlett, created Hey Arnold!, Dinosaur Train and Ready Jet Go!.
• Ben Bocquelet, created The Amazing World of Gumball.
• Donald P. Bellisario, co-created Magnum, P.I., created Airwolf, created Quantum Leap, created JAG, co-created NCIS.
• Maxwell Atoms, created Grim & Evil, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, and Evil Con Carne.
• Rick Berman, co-created Star Trek: Deep Space Nine with Michael Piller,^[16] co-created Star Trek: Voyager with Piller and Jeri Taylor, co-created Enterprise (retitled Star Trek: Enterprise in 2003) with Brannon Braga.^[17]
• Loren Bouchard, co-created Home Movies (with Brendon Small), and created Bob's Burgers and Lucy: The Daughter of the Devil and co-created Central Park (TV series)
• Ian Brennan, co-creator with Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk of Glee
• Marc Brown, created TV series Arthur
• Jamie Brittain, co-creator with Bryan Elsley of British teen drama Skins (2007–2013)^[18]
• Johnny Byrne, created Heartbeat and Noah's Ark (1997–98)
• Stephen J. Cannell, co-created The Rockford Files, created Baretta, created The Greatest American Hero, co-created The A-Team, co-created Hardcastle and McCormick, created Stingray, co-created Wiseguy, co-created 21 Jump Street, created Silk Stalkings, co-created The Commish, created Renegade.
• Gábor Csupó, created Rugrats, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Santo Bugito, The Wild Thornberrys, Rocket Power, All Grown Up!, and Rugrats Pre-School Daze.
• Michael Schur, co-created Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, created The Good Place.
• Mitch Schauer, created The Angry Beavers.
• David Crane, co-created Friends (with Marta Kauffman), co-created The Class with Jeffrey Klarik,^[19] and co-created Episodes for the BBC.^[20][21]
• Keith Chapman, created Bob the Builder, Fifi and the Flowertots, and PAW Patrol.
• Greg Daniels, co-created King of the Hill, developed The Office, co-created Parks and Recreation, created Upload, and co-created Space Force.
• John A. Davis, created The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
• Terrance Dicks, co-created the BBC science-fiction TV series Moonbase 3 (1973)
• C.H. Greenblatt, created Chowder, Harvey Beaks, and Jellystone!.
• John R. Dilworth, created Courage the Cowardly Dog
• David Feiss, created Cow and Chicken, I Am Weasel and YooHoo & Friends.
• Bryan Elsley, created Dates (2013–)^[22] and co-created the British teen drama Skins (2007–2013) with Jamie Brittain^[18]
• Brad Falchuk, co-creator with Murphy of American Horror Story,^[23] co-creator with Ian Brennan and Ryan Murphy of Glee
• Phil Ford, co-creator with Russell T Davies of Wizards vs Aliens
• C.H. Greenblatt, created Chowder, Harvey Beaks, and Jellystone!.
• Jorge Gutierrez, created El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera and Maya and the Three.
• Bruce Geller, created the television series Mission: Impossible (1966–73)
• Chris Gifford, created Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go! and Dora and Friends: Into the City
• Vince Gilligan, created Breaking Bad and co-created Better Call Saul
• Bryan Elsley, created Dates (2013–)^[24] and co-created the British teen drama Skins (2007–2013) with Jamie Brittain^[18]
• David Greenwalt, co-created Angel, co-created Profit, and co-created NBC drama Grimm
• David E. Kelley, created Picket Fences, Chicago Hope, The Practice, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Boston Legal, and Harry's Law
• Matt Groening, created The Simpsons,^[25] Futurama and Disenchantment.
• Stephen Hillenburg, created SpongeBob SquarePants.
• Susan Harris, created Soap, Benson, The Golden Girls, Empty Nest, Nurses and The Golden Palace.
• Chris Kratt and Martin Kratt, co-created the children's TV series Kratts' Creatures, Zoboomafoo, Be the Creature, and Wild Kratts
• Jeffrey Klarik, co-created Episodes and co-created The Class with David Crane^[26]
• Glen A. Larson, created The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, created Battlestar Galactica, co-created B. J. and the Bear, created Galactica 1980, co-created Magnum, P.I., created The Fall Guy, created Knight Rider, created Automan.
• Norman Lear, created All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, Maude and Good Times
• Butch Hartman, created The Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom, T.U.F.F. Puppy, Bunsen is a Beast
• Mike Judge, created Beavis and Butt-Head, and co-created King of the Hill, The Goode Family, Silicon Valley, and Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus
• Emily Kapnek, created As Told by Ginger, Suburgatory, and Selfie
• Roberta Leigh, created puppet TV series Sara and Hoppity, Torchy the Battery Boy, Wonder Boy and Tiger and Send for Dithers, as well as created Space Patrol, (US title: Planet Patrol)^[27]
• Steven Levitan, co-creator with Christopher Lloyd of Modern Family^[28]
• Christopher Lloyd, co-creator with Steven Levitan of Modern Family^[28]
• Craig McCracken, created The Powerpuff Girls, Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends, Wander Over Yonder, Kid Cosmic
• Patrick McGoohan, creator^[29] or co-creator^[30] of The Prisoner
• Carol Mendelsohn, co-creator and executive producer of CSI: Miami and CSI: NY
• Lorne Michaels, best known for creating and producing Saturday Night Live
• Ryan Murphy, co-created Glee (with Ian Brennan and Brad Falchuk) and co-created American Horror Story^[23]
• Joe Murray, created Rocko's Modern Life, Camp Lazlo, Let's Go Luna
• Mic Neumann created Kung Faux
• Sydney Newman, created The Avengers^[31] and Doctor Who^[32]
• Jonathan Nolan, created Person of Interest
• Steve Oedekerk, created Back at the Barnyard and co-created Planet Sheen
• Van Partible, created Johnny Bravo.
• Michael Piller, co-created Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and of Star Trek: Voyager
• J.G. Quintel, created Regular Show and Close Enough
• Paul Reiser, co-created Mad About You (1992–99)
• Rob Renzetti, created My Life as a Teenage Robot
• Shonda Rhimes, created Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, and Scandal
• Sol Saks, most known as created Bewitched (1964–72)^[33]
• Chris Savino, created The Loud House.
• Adi Shankar, created The Guardians of Justice.
• Sidney Sheldon, created The Patty Duke Show (1963–66), I Dream of Jeannie (1965–70) and Hart to Hart (1979–84)
• Mr. Warburton, created Codename: Kids Next Door.
• Jhonen Vasquez, created Invader Zim
• Genndy Tartakovsky, created Dexter's Laboratory and Samurai Jack, developed Star Wars: Clone Wars, co-created Sym-Bionic Titan and created Primal
• Pendleton Ward, created Adventure Time, Bravest Warriors and The Midnight Gospel.
• Alex Hirsch, created Gravity Falls
• D.B Weiss and David Benioff, co-created Game of Thrones (2011)
• Joss Whedon, created Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003), Angel (1999–2004), Firefly (2002–03), Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008), Dollhouse (2009–10) and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020).^[34]
• Tom Wheeler, created The Cape (2011)^[35]
• Toby Whithouse, created Being Human^[36]
• Dick Wolf, created Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, Law & Order: LA, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: UK.,^[37] and created Crime & Punishment
• Justin Zackham, created FX drama series Lights Out
• Anthony E. Zuiker, created the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation franchise of several TV series,^[38]

• Showrunner