Template talk:Infobox television episode

Addition of "showrunner" in the template

"Showrunner" should be added in the template, and the entry should be listed above "Directed by," as the showrunner is responsible for all the creative and management responsibilities of that episode within the entire season. And remove the "producer" entry as the showunner(s) is typically credited as an executive producer. "Produced by" is inaccurately used here as that refers to the production facilities/logistics producer who facilitates the choreography, stunts, and other physical productions on set during live filming. 2600:1700:B331:50F0:C9F3:119E:1837:833 (talk) 18:21, 30 May 2024 (UTC)

This previously came up at Template talk:Infobox television#Alternatives to writer and director parameters and the outcome was to have a new discussion about whether to:

• replace the producer param with a showrunner param, since it is expected that the producer param be used for showrunners and we now have showrunner params at Infobox television and Infobox television season
• or just remove the producer param and have nowhere for the showrunner in this infobox

I think my preference would be to have no producer or showrunner params, as the showrunner doesn't change from episode to episode and the information that is in this infobox is intended to be episode-specific. That is why we don't re-list the main cast here, only guest cast for the episode, for example. - adamstom97 (talk) 18:54, 30 May 2024 (UTC)

But the showrunner is also above the authority of the episode's writer and director (if the showrunner didn't choose to write it themselves), and they oversee the casting, guest stars, hiring of crew, selecting hair, make up and set design. I personally call for replacing the "producer" entry with "showrunner" for this infobox. 2600:1700:B331:50F0:C9F3:119E:1837:833 (talk) 19:01, 30 May 2024 (UTC)

I agree something should be done with this. I can see both sides, in that showrunners are still likely credited each episode as EPs, even if they have no direct credit involvement for said episode (ie as the writer). But I can also see how that info isn't going to change episode to episode in a season, and is likely better left to the season and main article infoboxes. - Favre1fan93 (talk) 22:52, 30 May 2024 (UTC)

I agree that this would simply be duplicated information, and should be a parameter used only in the season and parent infoboxes. Guest cast, writers and directors can (and typically do) change between episodes; showrunners typically don't. The only example I can think of being otherwise would be Star Wars: Visions. -- Alex_21 _TALK 23:43, 30 May 2024 (UTC)

From a serialized series standpoint, yes |producer= is the only one that looks like it could be removed. However, as you noted Alex, how would that affect anthology/one off types of series where each episode is largely contained to itself? Taking your Visions example, I haven't looked at any recently, but I still feel in that instance there'd likely be common executive producers to not necessarily need this parameter. |module= does still exist here to add additional infobox items, should that be absolutely vital. I wonder if it would be helpful to start up a tracking category for the producer parameter to get an idea of how it is being used before proceeding with possibly depreciating it. - Favre1fan93 (talk) 00:06, 31 May 2024 (UTC)

I don't see how a showrunner per episode is helpful. Season level is important as a showrunner handles the season story arc, but per episode doesn't add anything. Gonnym (talk) 08:38, 31 May 2024 (UTC)

Sandbox has been updated to remove the producer parameter. - Favre1fan93 (talk) 15:34, 1 June 2024 (UTC)

Any thoughts on making this change in the live template? - adamstom97 (talk) 16:08, 3 August 2024 (UTC)

Forgot about this. I'm good with making it live. We'll just need some clean up work afterwards to remove the use of parameter. - Favre1fan93 (talk) 20:29, 3 August 2024 (UTC)

@Alex 21 and Gonnym: as the other commenters with the IP, any further comments or are you also both okay moving forward with this removal? - Favre1fan93 (talk) 23:05, 15 August 2024 (UTC)

Have no objection. I'm almost positive I've never seen an episode article mention the episode's producer. Gonnym (talk) 23:13, 15 August 2024 (UTC)

Agreed. -- Alex_21 _TALK 01:18, 16 August 2024 (UTC)

 Done. Now we'll just need some clean up to go through and remove it all from where it's being used. - Favre1fan93 (talk) 01:34, 16 August 2024 (UTC)

There's 3,800+ articles that use the parameter, many of which are empty. -- Alex_21 _TALK 01:42, 16 August 2024 (UTC)

I think a bot/AWB can go through pretty easily to get rid of those empty ones, and for ones with use likely the same. - Favre1fan93 (talk) 02:18, 16 August 2024 (UTC)

@Primefac can your bot help with the removal of this parameter? Gonnym (talk) 10:55, 3 September 2024 (UTC)

Are populated |producer= parameters being converted or removed? Primefac (talk) 14:17, 3 September 2024 (UTC)

Outright removed. - Favre1fan93 (talk) 16:04, 3 September 2024 (UTC)

Can probably get to it this weekend. Primefac (talk) 15:07, 4 September 2024 (UTC)

Featured music

I'm curious about this template's |music= parameter. The documentation states to "only include the most notable" songs, but I can't think of any television episode where a song is so notable it demands a listing in the infobox alongside the director, writer, etc.; if it's important, it should be mentioned in the article alongside production information, but the infobox seems like overkill to me (and, more often than not, just becomes a dumping ground for every featured song). I'm interested to know what others think. – Rhain ☔ (he/him) 13:00, 13 May 2026 (UTC)

I think it makes sense if there is an original song created for that episode, i.e. "A Little Song and Dance", or if there is particular attention in reviews/coverage to how an existing song is used. In shows that use lots of songs I think it is a misuse of the parameter to try list them all. - adamstom97 (talk) 14:06, 13 May 2026 (UTC)

That's a good point but I wonder if, in instances like that, a mention in the lead is more appropriate than the infobox—here's an example that takes that approach (though I'm sure you're familiar). – Rhain ☔ (he/him) 22:30, 13 May 2026 (UTC)

A lot of time we are stuck with issues we inherited from past editors. This is one of them. if it's important, it should be mentioned in the article alongside production information - everything listed in the infobox should be mentioned in the article and referenced. To be honest, I really doubt any song for a television episode is that important to the summarize of the show that it needs mentioned in the infobox. It seems to me more trivia than useful. Gonnym (talk) 17:20, 13 May 2026 (UTC)

To clarify, my point was that if the song is important, it should be mentioned in the article instead of the infobox. I agree that it seems more like trivia; even in notable instances, as above, a mention in the lead is probably more appropriate. I can't seem to find any discussions about the parameter since it was added 18 years ago, but I'd be curious to know if others feel strongly about its inclusion; otherwise, I'd likely support its removal. – Rhain ☔ (he/him) 22:30, 13 May 2026 (UTC)

I'd support it's removal. It bloats the infobox when it's more appropriate/better to discuss that stuff in article anyways. - Favre1fan93 (talk) 18:45, 14 May 2026 (UTC)

I've updated the sandbox to remove |music=. Seems like there's mostly support here; do we need a wider consensus for this change? – Rhain ☔ ^he
_him 23:10, 25 May 2026 (UTC)

I'd make a post at WT:TV if you haven't already. If that doesn't yield any additional comments, then we should be go to proceed. - Favre1fan93 (talk) 14:47, 28 May 2026 (UTC)

I posted there a couple weeks ago, though I just added a follow-up. – Rhain ☔ ^he
_him 21:10, 28 May 2026 (UTC)

I'd give it through the weekend maybe, and then we can move ahead with the removal after that. - Favre1fan93 (talk) 21:18, 28 May 2026 (UTC)

Image sizes have been modified. See centralized discussion

Centralized discussion at Template talk:Infobox film#Image size. Gonnym (talk) 10:44, 22 May 2026 (UTC)

Proposal to rename release_date to released

With the recent standardization of a parameter names, is there any opposition to renaming |release_date= to |released= to match the other infoboxes ({{Infobox television}}, {{Infobox television season}}, {{Infobox film}}) Gonnym (talk) 12:11, 11 June 2026 (UTC)