Not every job on a TV set is obvious to those watching from home. Sure, we might have some idea of what a director does. We've seen them depicted with their ballcaps and neat chairs, bellowing directions, "Action!" "Cut!"

Actors are easy to understand, too, because they're who we see when we tune in. Nobody is watching an episode of The Andy Griffith Show and wondering "What does that Don Knotts guy do for the program, anyway?"

But the showrunner might not be as clear-cut a role as some of the other jobs on set. What does a showrunner do, anyway? Yes, obviously, they "run" the "show," but it's harder to envision their exact input. 

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Phil Rosenthal, creator and showrunner of the beloved sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, is looked at as one of the best in the field. So, when Rosenthal was showrunning on Raymond, what exactly was he doing? A 1999 interview with Raymond himself in the Nassau Newsday pointed out what skills Rosenthal brought to the table. 

Specifically, the title star praised the showrunner's "leadership on the floor and how to get what our vision is when we write it." 

"How to get that out of all the actors, that's what he's really brilliant at. I mean, he's great at writing it, but he's also great at getting it."

Romano spoke about how Rosenthal delivered notes to his cast after their scenes, ensuring each take brought the best out of the material he helped write. With Rosenthal's guidance, the actors were able to tackle each script with clarity and focus.

Oh... So that's what they do!