How to Cite a TV Show in APA

• Hannah Berry (Ph.D.)
• Published on 02/01/2025

Citing TV shows and their episodes in APA format requires careful attention to detail. This guide outlines how to properly cite individual TV show episodes and entire TV series in APA Style, ensuring clarity and accuracy in your references.

CITING AN EPISODE OF A TV SHOW

When citing an individual episode of a TV show, the reference entry should provide details about the writers, directors, episode title, season and episode number, executive producers, production companies, and the release date. Below is a detailed explanation of how to construct such citations.

• Include the Writers and Directors: Always include the writers and directors for the episode and specify their roles in parentheses after their names.
• Multiple Roles: If one person performed multiple roles, combine the roles using an ampersand. For example: (Writer & Director).
• Episode Title Formatting: The episode title should be in sentence case.
• Season and Episode Number: Provide the season and episode number in parentheses after the episode title. Use the format: (Season X, Episode X).
• TV Series Episode Label: Always include the label “[TV series episode]” after the season and episode number.
• Series Title Formatting: The TV series title should be in italics and in sentence case.
• Executive Producers: List all executive producers in the source element, followed by “(Executive Producers).”
• Production Companies: Provide the production companies in the source element. Use a semicolon to separate multiple production companies.

CITING A TV SERIES

When citing an entire TV series, the focus shifts to the executive producer(s) and the series as a whole. The reference includes the executive producer(s), the series title, the years of airing, and the production companies.

• Executive Producers: Provide the executive producer(s) in the author element of the reference. For one producer, use “(Executive Producer).” For multiple producers, list all names followed by “(Executive Producers).”
• Years of Airing: Include the years during which the series aired in the date element. Use the format: (Start Year–End Year). If the series is still airing, replace the end year with “present.” For example: (2017–present).
• Series Title Formatting: The TV series title should be in italics and in sentence case.
• TV Series Label: Always include the label “[TV series]” after the series title.
• Production Companies: List the production companies in the source element, separated by semicolons.

Consult Original Episode Credits: Double-check the episode’s credits to confirm the exact roles of writers, directors, and producers. Accurate identification ensures precise citation. Specify Streaming Platforms (if Necessary): If the TV show is exclusively available on a specific platform, such as Netflix or Hulu, consider mentioning it in the narrative discussion (though it is not required in the reference). Use Proper Italics for Titles: Ensure that the series title is italicized while the episode title remains in plain text. This distinction is vital in APA style. Verify Release Dates from Reliable Sources: If you are unsure about the release date, consult trusted databases like IMDb or the production company’s official website for verification.