How to Cite a Recorded Program Using MLA Style

Television shows, specials and documentaries can help you get into the mood or atmosphere of your paper.

If you record a television show and then watch it as part of your research for a term paper or extended research project, you should include slightly different information about the show on your Works Cited page than if you were actually watching a live show. You can use recorded television programs or other types of programming to diversify your list of source materials and to help you get a better idea of how people thought about certain topics at a given point in time. When you are using MLA format, you will need to include certain information about the show and how you got the recording so that a reader can retrace your research should they wish to do so.

Things You'll Need

• Title of the episode
• Title of the series
• Director's name
• Writer's name
• Network
• Station
• Date
• City of origin
• Type of media
• Production company
• Year that the recording was released (if available)

Instructions

How to Cite a Recorded Program Using MLA Style

1. Start with the name of the episode, if it is available. If a program was a television special, then this information will not be available. The name should be in quotes and be followed by a period.

2. Underline the name of the series or the title if it was a television special. The title should be followed by a period. If you cannot underline words with your word processor, then use underscore symbols to indicate that the words should be underlined. For example, if the name of the program was "Lions Attacking Gazelles," then your citation should appear like this: _Lions Attacking Gazelles_.

3. List the writers. The list should be preceded by the abbreviation "Writ." and end with a period. For example, if Jolay Goodward and Lexi Gootch wrote the script, then your citation should now read:_Lions Attacking Gazelles_. Writ. Jolay Goodward and Lexi Gootch.

4. Add the directors to the list. Precede this list with the abbreviation "Dir." and end it with another period. For example, if the show was directed by Cassandra Lipley, then your citation should now read: _Lions Attacking Gazelles_. Writ. Jolay Goodward and Lexi Gootch. Dir. Cassandra Lipley.

5. List the network and the date of the show. The network can be abbreviated and followed by a period, while the date should be written "day month year" and the month can be abbreviated with the first three letters of the name and also followed by a period. For example, if you watched the show on TBS on January 4, 2003, your citation should read: _Lions Attacking Gazelles_. Writ. Jolay Goodward and Lexi Gootch. Dir. Cassandra Lipley. TBS. 4 Jan. 2003.

6. Finish with the production information if necessary and available. This includes the type of media on which you viewed the recording, the production company and the year that the recording was released. For example, if the production company was called Animals in Motion and you recorded it on a VHS tape in 2006 when it came on as a rerun, then your final citation should read: _Lions Attacking Gazelles_. Writ. Jolay Goodward and Lexi Gootch. Dir. Cassandra Lipley. TBS. 4 Jan. 2003. VHS. Animals in Motion, 2006.

Tips & Warnings

• It is very important to cite all your sources even if you do not quote them directly.