They can do nothing, they can finance, they can be writers, bookers, assistants, execs, etc.

It's basically like the equivalent of an "associate" or a "manager" or a "vp" at a normal company.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4007798&forum_id=2#36288730)

The 20-something "producers" you saw have a similar role but at a smaller level. In TV news, for instance, a "producer" helps produce individual news segments. They get in contact with the guest, prepare them and the host for the segment, arrange for video or special camera crews if necessary, etc. They help produce individual episodes of a show. A more senior role is "field producer," who is in charge of preparing news segments that are outside a normal studio environment. So if a news crew goes on the road for an interview, a debate, or just some on-location business, a field producer will go in advance and get everything ready. There are also other producer roles that have jobs like preparing every graphic that appears on screen and controlling when it is put up on-air.

Above all the normal producers is an executive producer, who is basically the person in charge of a specific show and all its aspects. So, for example, a show like Hannity or The Rachel Maddow Show will have an executive producer existing alongside the host (who technically is some kind of independent contractor).

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4007798&forum_id=2#36288802)

or tucker carlson or lou dobbs or tucker carlson

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4007798&forum_id=2#36289004)