Prestigious writer-producer to discuss race and media at third annual Newhouse event

Prestigious writer-producer to discuss race and media at third annual Newhouse eventFebruary 17, 2004Amy Schmitzaemehrin@syr.edu

Nationally renowned television writer and producer Ralph Farquhar will join Newhouse professor Richard Dubin for Syracuse University’s third annual “Conversation on Race and Television,” Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in Studio A, Newhouse II. The event is free and open to the public.

Dubin, who organizes the events, says these conversations “are rare and important opportunities for everyone – SU students, staff, faculty and members of the Syracuse community – to come together and talk about the ecology of race and television with Hollywood insiders; to have a dialogue that goes beneath surface appearances and explore how television, our culture’s central nervous system, impacts the pressing national challenge posed by racial divides.”

With sitcoms like the Will Smith/Jada Pinkett-created “All of Us” and “The Sinbad Show” to his credit, Farquhar began his career as a staff writer on the classic ABC television series “Happy Days.” He quickly advanced into producing ranks as the supervising producer of Fox’s “Married With Children” and from there moved on to become co-creator and executive producer of the Fox series “South Central” and UPN’s hit comedies “Moesha” and “The Parkers.” Farquhar is currently executive producing “The Proud Family,” a NAACP Image Award-winning prime time animated series for the Disney Channel. He is also executive producing and writing “The Proud Family” feature film. Farquhar is also credited with writing the cult classic hip-hop movie “Krush Groove,” based on the life of Russell Simmons.

Farquhar recently partnered with Claude Brooks to form Hat to the Back Productions, a Paramount-affiliated television and film production company, which recently wrapped principal photography on their first feature film, “Gas.” Hat to the Back is also developing two half-hour sitcoms for the Disney Channel: “Wushu Kenny” and “Roxanne, Roxanne.” In addition, Hat to the Back is producing the syndicated dance show “Dance 360” which will debut in fall of 2004.

A native of Chicago, Farquhar attended the United States Military Academy at West Point before graduating from the University of Illinois with a degree in communications. He is a recipient of the Minorities in Broadcasting Training Program’s (MIBTP) “Striving for Excellence Award,” which recognizes corporate, broadcast and entertainment professionals who strive to make a difference in their communities.