How Do You Cite A TV Show In MLA – Complete Guide

When it comes to academic writing, proper citations are really important to maintain integrity. This way, you can not only give credit to the original authors or creators but also allow your readers to verify your references, hence making them more credible.

From books and articles to even TV shows and poems, every piece of information taken from another source must be cited properly. Many students often forget to cite TV shows when referencing dialogues or events.

There are many different methods for citation, including Harvard, APA, and MLA. The MLA, or Modern Language Association, is one of the most widely used citation styles in the humanities. It is known for its simplicity. This blog will guide you on how do you cite a TV show in MLA. Let’s explore together.

MLA Format For Citing A TV Show

For citing a TV show in MLA format, you have to include important details to allow your readers to locate the source. Here is a basic structure for citing an entire series in MLA.

Basic Structure & Elements

Creator(s). Title of the show. Network, Year.

1. Creator(s) – Begin your citation with the name(s) of the primary creator(s) who are responsible for the TV show. This includes any producers, directors, or writers. If, for instance, there are multiple creators, you can list the main one followed by “et al.,” or you can list up to two or three for clarity.

If it is a long-running show or there are collaborative productions, listing the creator(s) is optional. You can start with the title (if the creator(s) are less relevant to your work.)

1. Title of the Show – Always italicise the title of the show and write it in the proper case (use capital letters for the first letter of major words). E.g., Breaking Bad.

1. Network – Here, you need to mention the channel or platform where the show was originally broadcast. This could be a traditional network like NBC, CBS, or ABC, or it could also be a streaming platform like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, or Amazon Prime Video.

1. Year – For a show that spans multiple seasons, like Friends (10 seasons) or The Big Bang Theory (12 seasons), include the range of years during which the show aired (e.g., 1994-2004 for Friends).

If the show only has one season, you only need to mention the starting year.

How Do You Cite A TV Show In MLA Examples

Here are some examples of citing a TV show in MLA citation style.

• Breaking Bad. AMC, 2008–2013.
• Stranger Things. Netflix, 2016–present.
• The Office. NBC, 2005–2013.
• Game of Thrones. HBO, 2011–2019.
• The Simpsons. Fox, 1989–present.
• Sherlock. BBC, 2010–2017.
• Parks and Recreation. NBC, 2009–2015.
• The Crown. Netflix, 2016–present.
• Black Mirror. Channel 4, 2011–2014; Netflix, 2016–present.
• Friends. NBC, 1994–2004.

How To Cite A Specific Episode Of TV Show In MLA

When you want to cite a specific episode of a TV show in MLA format, you need to include extra details like the episode title and episode number. Here is how you can do it.

Basic Structure & Elements

“Title of Episode.” Title of Show, created by Creator(s), Season #, Episode #, Network, Year.

For example: “The One with Ross’s Wedding.” Friends, created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, Season 4, Episode 23, NBC, 1998.

1. Season and Episode Number – You have to clearly indicate the season and episode number to help the reader identify which episode you are referencing.

Why Include These Details?

If the argument of your research focuses on a specific part of the series, citing proper episodes and seasons will give precise information about your source. This way, your citation will be clear and complete.

Special Considerations

For TV shows, there are some situations to keep in mind. Let’s take a look at them.

How Do You Cite A TV Show In MLA From Streaming Platforms

Nowadays, streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ are becoming popular for TV shows. When you have to cite a show from one of these platforms, you should always include the name of the service instead of a traditional network.

For example, Stranger Things. Netflix, 2016-present.

How Do You Cite A TV Show In MLA With Multiple Creators

There are certain TV shows that have more than one creator, or there might be multiple key contributors like actors or producers. In MLA format, you have to list the most important creator(s) only. If there are more than three creators, you can use “et al.” after the name of the first creator.

For example, Game of Thrones, created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, HBO, 2011-2019.

If you want to highlight contributors like directors or actors, you can mention them in the citation if they are relevant to your work. Although, it is not always necessary.

How Do You Cite A TV Show In MLA With No Official Title

Sometimes, a show may not have an official title or the creators for it may be anonymous. In such cases, you should describe the title of the show as best as you can or use a generic title like Untitled. For anonymous creators, you can begin with the title of the show and omit the creator section.

For example, Untitled Series. HBO, 2020.

If the show has unknown creators, the citation might look like this: The Mystery Show. 2020.

Common Mistakes To Avoid In Citing TV Shows In MLA

It is easy to make small mistakes in MLA citations of a TV show. Some common errors include the following.

1. Do not mix up the formatting of the title of the show and episode. The title of the show must be in italics (Stranger Things), while the episode title needs to be in quotation marks (“The Vanishing of Will Buyers”).
2. Re-read after writing so that you do not forget to include key details like the episode number.
3. Do not list the release year of the entire series when you are citing a specific episode. Use the exact year when the specific episode aired.
4. Use proper rules for capitalisation.

In-Text Citation MLA For TV Shows

For in-text citation MLA for TV shows, you have to add the title of the show, and if relevant, a timestamp or episode title.

To cite the entire show, use the title of the show in italics. (Friends)

For citing a specific episode, use quotation marks for the episode title and add the show title in italics. (“The One Where Everyone Finds Out,” Friends)

If there are direct references to a particular scene, include the timestamp. (Breaking Bad, 00:45:30-00:46:15)

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