Jeff Melvoin is the oracle and Yoda of showrunning, and this book demonstrates his decades of hard work and earned wisdom running award-winning one-hour drama series. Melvoin is also the founder of the Writers Guild Showrunner Training Program, now entering its 18th year, guiding hundreds of top showrunners through the unique challenges and rewards of becoming a successful showrunner. Each compact chapter offers his experiences in the trenches, along with practical advice on developing, pitching, selling, getting staffed in a writers room, and, ultimately, running a show—all with candor, nuance, humility, and humor.
Melvoin has done pretty much everything in this business. And, more fundamentally, thought about everything. I recommend this book for any writer, or aspiring writer.
I've spent the last 23 years of my life trying to understand all the tricks, nuances and pitfalls of being a television showrunner and Jeff Melvoin just goes and puts it all in a book for anyone to read? Where was this when I created my first show? Not only an indispensable guide to the mysterious art of creating, selling, staffing, casting, shooting and posting a television show, but also a humorous and humble journey of one man's Hollywood career through some of your favorite shows. For any aspiring television writer, this is just about the most affordable grad level education you can get.
There’s no one in the field who has mentored as many young writers and contributed more to this generation of showrunning than Jeff Melvoin. A powerful and necessary read.
For me, this was the best book on showrunning I've ever read. It's for anyone who wants to run shows or just know how they've been run across the years, even as the medium has changed greatly. It captures the many changes our business has gone through and the larger-than-life personalities and vast challenges one has to navigate and be successful at if you want the dream job of telling stories for TV.
Running the Show is as valuable to would-be showrunners as it is fascinating to veterans. Jeff Melvoin offers that rare combination: up-to-the-moment accuracy about a changing television landscape and an insightful historical perspective. There's great advice in every chapter.
What's it like being a showrunner?" "How do I break into writing television?" "What are writing staffs like?" Doesn't matter what the question is—from now on, anyone asks, I'm just giving them a copy of Jeff's book. All television is personal" according to Jeff, so I'll get personal. I always knew Jeff was a great teacher—the appendix alone is more valuable than any class I ever took. I also know he's a great drama writer—just look at his credits. I find it annoying that he's so funny. It pains me to say, but it's rare that a book this educational is so damn entertaining.
Whether you aspire to produce a television series or just want to know how it’s done, there’s finally a book with the answers. Invaluable! It’s rare that a “how-to” book is also a page-turner, but Melvoin has great stories to tell and invaluable skills to share. An essential book for anyone interested in the form. RUNNING THE SHOW is mandatory reading.
A wonderful ride through the raging waters of creating television. It’s a book full of sharp insights, great advice, and legitimate wisdom.
An insightful, entertaining, insider's look at the entire process of showrunning written by one of the foremost practitioners of the craft. Jeff Melvoin's book is a gift to anyone who's ever considered pursuing a career in television or wondered what a showrunner actually does!
"A must for readers interested in breaking into the business of writing or running a TV show. This entertaining guidebook gives straightforward, no-nonsense advice."—Library Journal
"A wonderful ride through the raging waters of creating television. It’s a book full of sharp insights, great advice, and legitimate wisdom."—J. J. Abrams
"Runningthe Show is as valuable to would-be showrunners as it is fascinating to veterans. Jeff Melvoin offers that rare combination: up-to-the-moment accuracy about a changing television landscape and an insightful historical perspective. There's great advice in every chapter."—Michelle and Robert King, creators of The Good Wife and The Good Fight
★ 09/15/2023
Veteran television writer/producer Melvoin offers a fascinating perspective on the entire process of creating a one-hour television production. The author draws on his own journey from staff writer to showrunner of such series as Remington Steele, Army Wives, and Killing Eve. He recalls both career lows (leading Picket Fences to its cancellation) and highlights (saving Early Edition and earning an Emmy nomination for Northern Exposure), Melvoin is honest about the pitfalls of the industry and the challenges of working in the chaotic era of broadcast and streaming productions. He candidly admits that it takes persistence, resilience, luck, and humor to survive in the industry. The book delves deeply into the tricks of successful writing, including when to find an agent and how to pitch script ideas and transition to showrunner. There are also lengthy lessons on everything from assembling a team (with a focus on an inclusive workplace for optimal creative output) to getting along with executives and even finding work-life balance. VERDICT A must for readers interested in breaking into the business of writing or running a TV show. This entertaining guidebook gives straightforward, no-nonsense advice.—Lisa Henry
