# Tag (TV) > A short closing scene after an episode's final act — often one last joke in a comedy, or a quiet beat or hook in a drama — labeled TAG in act-broken TV scripts. Also known as: TV tag, tag scene ## In practice A tag lands after the episode's main question is answered. In a sitcom it is often one last gag; in a drama it can be a small character moment or a hook into the next episode. It works because the pressure is off: the audience gets a beat with the characters that the plot no longer needs. On the page, an act-broken script treats the tag like an act. The final act closes — with END OF ACT if the template uses it — and the tag opens at the top of a new page under a centered TAG heading. In a script without printed act breaks, the closing scene simply follows the others and there is no label to add. Keep it short and make it earn its place. A tag that restates the episode's lesson reads as an epilogue nobody asked for; one that turns a running gag or pays off a small plant sends the audience out on a laugh or a question. ## See it formatted - [How to format cold opens, act breaks, and tags in a TV script](https://www.inkwell.software/resources/screenplay-formatting/episodic-act-structure): Match the target show's current template: some episodic scripts label every commercial act, while many streaming specs use feature-style flow without printed breaks. ## Official sources & context Sources reviewed Sep 22, 2026 - [Final Draft — A simple guide to formatting television scripts](https://www.finaldraft.com/blog/how-to-format-television-scripts) ## Common questions ### What goes in a TV tag? One last beat after the story is resolved. In a comedy it is often a final joke or a running gag paid off; in a drama, a small character moment or a hook into the next episode. ### What is the difference between a tag and a cold open? They bookend the episode. The cold open comes before Act One to hook the audience; the tag comes after the final act to send them out. ### Does every episode need a tag? No. It is a story tool, not a requirement. Use one when a final beat earns its place; many episodes end on the last act. ## Related terms - [Cold open](https://www.inkwell.software/glossary/cold-open): A teaser before titles — common in TV pilots and episodes — that hooks the audience before the episode’s formal act structure begins. - [Act break](https://www.inkwell.software/glossary/act-break): The turn that ends an act — a cliffhanger or reversal in TV, a major structural shift in features — that re-aims the story’s pressure. - [Pilot](https://www.inkwell.software/glossary/pilot): The first episode of a series — the script that proves characters, tone, and the engine that can run for seasons. Often the draft a room or network judges hardest. - [Plant and payoff](https://www.inkwell.software/glossary/plant-and-payoff): A setup early in the story (the plant) that returns later with new meaning or consequence (the payoff). The audience feels clever -- and the turn feels earned -- when both halves connect. --- Canonical page: