Am I Coming Back for Next Season? How Do I Ask?

The latest season of your series is coming to an end. The series has been picked up, but you haven’t heard whether they plan to bring you back as well. There’s never an easy time or way to ask that difficult question, but executive producer Matthew Miller—whose credits include and Lethal Weapon and Trial and Error—shares his thoughts.

Question: How and when do I ask my showrunner if I will be asked back for the next season? 

Matthew Miller: Well, if you’re anything like me, then slightly awkward or otherwise complicated conversations are something you like to avoid at all costs. That said, sometimes they need to happen. So, here’s my two cents.

Don't wait until the end of the season. That’s not to say you should ask two episodes in, “Hey, how am I looking for next year?” But rather, check in periodically with your showrunner about your role. Is there anything else they need from you? Of course, this is always showrunner-dependent, but I can’t imagine anyone being put off by a writer asking if they can do more work.

As the order winds down, keep in mind that you cannot be present for any discussions about future seasons if you’re not going to be a part of them. At least, formal discussions. If someone in the room suggests killing off the top three names on the call sheet and it gets bandied about for a few minutes, that’s certainly something you can weigh in on. But, if the room is assembled specifically to talk about next season and you are NOT going to be with the show moving forward, you cannot participate in those conversations if you are not going to be paid to be part of them. Ideally your showrunner is aware of this, but if not, you can always reach out to your reps or the Guild for guidance.

So, assuming you’ve checked in prior, and it’s nearing the end of the season, and you’re still not sure about your status moving forward, here are your two options:

1. Have your reps do it. They can always call the studio or showrunner to feel it out. This both avoids you having the difficult conversation and has the added benefit that the studio or showrunner might be more candid with a third party about your status. If it’s not an unequivocal yes, then maybe they could provide some insights and you can glean some constructive feedback. (You’re not participating enough in the room. Your draft wasn’t strong enough, etc.)

2. You summon the courage and talk to your showrunner directly. I don’t mean you corner your showrunner in the kitchen mid Pop-Tart and ask if you still have a gig. Make it official. Talk to their assistant, get some time in the books, and have a sit-down. Then, be honest and direct without being confrontational. Remember, you are putting them on the spot. You’ll have to find the language that’s comfortable for you, but the gist of it should include a few niceties about the show—how much you’ve learned, what a great experience it’s been—and then get to it: “Should I be looking for a new gig?”

Keep in mind that while this info is helpful to plan your next steps, unless you’re on a show that is definitely returning and you are 100 percent certain you are staying, you should always be looking for your next job.

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