system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: What does it mean for an actor to be executive producer on a tv show?

What kind of direction do they give? How does this affect the production?
gpt
Sometimes nothing.  For a popular show, when the lead actor(s) renegotiate their contracts, they may ask for an Executive Producer credit as a sign of their status, or because it gives them a small portion of the profits.  

Sometimes they may actually have a larger role in determining the direction of the show and the writing, or may even choose to direct an episode - see Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad.

Sometimes they may have lent their name and status to helping a show get made, but have little to do with it afterwards.  See Martin Scorsese and Boardwalk Empire - he directed the pilot and was involved in developing the show, but didn't have much of a hands on role after that.