Coral Von Zumwalt

What does it take for a television show without dragons, zombies or Sterling K. Brown to get a little attention?

More than 400 U.S. scripted series are set to air in 2017 — thanks for the sobering stats, John Landgraf — and getting lost in the logjam is the new normal. So in highlighting the most impactful writer-producers working in TV right now, THR focused on a few key factors.

These 50 power showrunners rise above the churn with unprecedented deals (ka-ching, Shonda Rhimes), surging output, cultural cachet and legit "hits."

Most have paid their dues (witness the reunions of two pairs of past collaborators), a few struck gold early (hear from Stranger Things' Duffer brothers ahead of their sure-to-be-scrutinized sophomore season) and all have a few choice words to say about the challenges of making TV today.

METHODOLOGY Eligible showrunners had at least one current scripted (not animated) series air new episodes between August 2016 and July 2017 (sorry, Seth MacFarlane!).

A version of this story first appeared in the Oct. 4 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.