Citing a TV show
Published January 29, 2021. Updated November 20, 2021.
To create a TV show reference or citation, you will need to know the contributor details, the TV show title, the production details, and the year.
The templates and examples below will show you how to cite a TV show in MLA style, APA style, Chicago style, and Harvard referencing style.
Easily cite a TV show in the style of your choice using the Chegg Writing citation generator.
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Citing a TV show in MLA style
The title of the TV show should be in title case and italicized.
In-text citation template and example:
(“Title of episode”)
(“The original”)
Works cited entry template and example:
“Title of Episode in Title Case.” Title of Series in Title Case, created by First Name Surname, season number, episode number, Distributor, Date.
“The Original.” Westworld, created by Jonathan Nolan, season 1, episode 1, HBO Entertainment, 2 Oct. 2016.
For more examples and information, view our citing a tv show in MLA guide.
Citing a TV show in APA style
The title of the TV show is set in sentence case and italicized.
In-text citation template and example:
(Contributor Surname, Year of broadcast)
(Jones & Brooker, 2018)
Reference list entry template and example:
Contributor Surname, F. M. (Contributor detail). (Year of broadcast). Title of the TV show in sentence case [TV series]. Production Company.
Jones, A., & Brooker, C. (Executive Producers). (2011–2019). Black mirror [TV series]. Endemol Shine UK.
For more examples and information, view our citing a tv show in APA guide.
Citing a TV show in Chicago style, notes-bibliography
The title of the TV show is set in title case and italicized.
Footnotes template and example:
Note
Contributor Full Name, dir., Title of Series in Title Case, Season season number, episode episode number, “Title of Episode in Title case,” Channel, Year of broadcast.
One Foot in the Grave, episode 1, “Alive and Buried,” directed by Susan Belbin, written by David Renwick, aired January 4, 1990.
Shortened note
3. Surname, “Episode Title.”
4. Belbin, “Alive and Buried.”
Bibliography entry template and example:
Contributor Surname, F. M., dir. Title of Series in Title Case. Season season number, episode episode number, “Title of Episode in Title case.” Year of broadcast.
Belbin, Susan, dir. One Foot in the Grave. Season 1, episode 1, “Alive and Buried.” Aired January 4, 1990.
For more examples and information, view our citing a tv show in Chicago Style guide.
Citing a TV show in Chicago style, author-date
The TV show title should be in title case and italicized.
In-text citation template and example:
(Surname Year of broadcast)
(Harris 1994)
Reference list entry template and example:
Contributor Surname, F. M., dir. Year of broadcast. Title of Series in Title Case. Season season number, episode episode number, “Title of Episode in Title case.” Channel.
Battersby, Roy, dir. 1994. A Touch of Frost. Season 2, episode 2, “Widows and Orphans.” Aired January 16, 1994.
For more examples and information, view our citing a tv show in Chicago Style guide.
Citing a TV show in Harvard referencing style
The title of the episode should be in sentence case and enclosed in single quotation marks.
In-text citation template and example:
(‘Episode title’, Year of broadcast)
(‘Prisoners of love’, 2010)
Reference list entry template and example:
‘Title of episode in sentence case’ (Year of broadcast) Title of Series, Series number, episode number. Channel, Day Month of broadcast, time of broadcast.
‘Prisoners of love’ (2010) Adventure Time, Series 1, episode 3. Cartoon Network, 12 April, 18:00.
For more examples and information, view our citing a tv show in Harvard Referencing Style guide.
Writing a paper? Don’t forget to include a bibliography.
Citation Examples
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To in-text cite a TV show, you need to include the name(s) of executive producer(s) and year(s) the show aired. The below example shows how an in-text citation is included for a TV show in APA.
In-text citation template and example:
(First Executive Producer’s Surname et al., Year–Year)
(Etten et al., 2011–2017)
Note
If a show is still airing, replace the second year in the range with the word “present.”
To cite a documentary in APA, the core elements required are the name(s) of the director(s), date, title of the documentary, production company, and/or URL. The below table shows how the in-text citation and the reference list entry are included for a documentary in APA.
In-text citation template & example:
(Director’s Surname, year)
(Ehrlich & Reed, 2020)
Reference list entry template & example:
Director’s Surname, F. M. (Director). (Date). Title of the documentary [Description]. Production Company. URL (if applicable)
Ehrlich, P., & Reed, J. (Directors). (2020). My octopus teacher [Documentary]. Netflix.
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