Choosing whether to use italics or not when citing a TV show in formal writing can be difficult. This page explains how to write a TV show in a paper and provides examples for you to see the different style formats.
Are TV Shows Italicized?
If you are citing a TV show in an essay that follows APA, MLA, or Chicago Style formatting, the names of TV shows should be in italics. For MLA and Chicago styles, the episodes are in quotation marks. Furthermore, in AP Style, TV shows appear in quotation marks, not italics.
For MLA and Chicago styles, when making an in-text citation, you should mention the name of the TV show. As shown in the examples below:
Chicago Style
- The TV series Black Mirror first aired in 2011, and the first episode was about a member of the British Royal family being kidnapped (“The National Anthem” 2011).
MLA Style
- The TV series Black Mirror first aired in 2011, and the first episode was about a member of the British Royal family being kidnapped (“The National Anthem”).
For APA Style, you should list the writer of the show rather than the show itself for an in-text citation.
- The TV series Black Mirror first aired in 2011, and the first episode was written and conceived by former journalist Charlie Brooker (Brooker, 2011).
For AP Style, you should use quotation marks instead of italics.
- The TV series “Black Mirror” first aired in 2011 and is about to enter its sixth season.
Are TV Shows Quoted?
When citing TV shows in formal writing, you do not need to use quotation marks for APA, MLA, or Chicago styles for the primary name of the show. However, in MLA and Chicago, the individual episodes of a TV series are in quotation marks.
Also, in AP Style, the name of the show or the individual episodes should be in quotation marks.
Here are some examples of TV show in-text citations:
AP Style
- The TV series “Black Mirror”, created by Charlie Brooker, has been bought by Netflix.
- “Bandersnatch” was an episode of “Black Mirror” in which viewers could choose from different scenarios.
Are TV Shows Italicized in APA Style?
When citing a TV show in APA Style, the show’s main title should be in italics, and the individual episodes should be in quotation marks.
Also, when making an in-text citation, you should list the author rather than the show, which would be listed in the references.
Here are some examples of APA Style citations for TV shows:
- In-text – The second episode of Black Mirror, “15 Million Merits”, highlighted the materialistic nature of modern-day society (Brooker & Huq, 2011).
- Reference: “15 Million Merits.” Black Mirror, created by Charlie Brooker, season 1, episode 2, Zeppotron, 2011.
Are TV Shows Italicized in AP Style?
In AP Style, it is not common practice to use italics for any part of the text, and instead, quotation marks are used for works such as films and TV shows.
Quotation marks should be used when mentioning the main title of the series and the episodes in AP Style.
As shown in the examples below:
- Charlie Brooker was the sole writer of the second series of “Black Mirror.”
- The Christmas special of Black Mirror, which aired in 2014, was called “White Christmas.”
Are TV Shows Italicized in Chicago Style?
In Chicago Style, it is necessary to use italics for the main title of TV shows, and any specific episodes should appear in quotation marks.
Also, when making an in-text citation, you can list the whole show and date if that is what you are referring to, or you can list the individual episode if that is more suitable.
Here are some examples of citations for a TV show in Chicago Style:
- In-text – Some TV shows try to highlight the dangers of social media and technology to society (Black Mirror, 2011).
- In-text – The concept of a system where people rate each other based on their looks and actions, first popularized in the TV Black Mirror, is not a million miles away from reality (“Nosedive”, 2014).
- Reference: Black Mirror, “Nosedive,” Netflix video, 63m, October 21st 2016, https://www.netflix.com/watch/80104627?trackId=255824129
Are TV Shows Italicized in MLA Style?
In MLA Style, you should use italics for citing TV shows and quotation marks for individual episodes.
It is not necessary to insert the date for an in-text reference. Also, you can either include the TV show as a whole, or individual episodes, as shown in the examples below:
- In-text – Channel 4 in the UK has always been a leader in promoting new and innovative shows that deal with societal issues (Black Mirror).
- In-text – The concept of a system where people rate each other based on their behaviour, now being actioned in China, is frighteningly similar to an episode of Black Mirror (“Nosedive”).
- Reference – “Nosedive.” Black Mirror, created by Charlie Brooker, Rashida Jones, & Michael Schur, season 3, episode 1, House of Tomorrow, 2014.
Final Thoughts
When inserting a TV show reference into formal writing, you should use italics in MLA, APA, and Chicago styles. The show’s episodes should be in quotes for Chicago and MLA, and for AP Style, the TV show and the episodes are both in quotation marks instead of italics.