531: EXEC PRODUCER SARA FINNEY JOHNSON

In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host TV comedy writer Myles Warden sat down in a super fun conversation with icon comedy/drama writer SARA FINNEY JOHNSON (co-creator on the ICONIC television series’ Moesha and The Parkers) and who has worked on many one hour dramas (Queen Sugar, Games People Play, etc) that make her invaluable in the room, on set, and in production!

HIGHLIGHTS: Growing up in Los Angeles, working as a PA to writer during the Norman Lear hey-day, coming up in the writers’ room in the height of UPN network, co-creating the ICONIC television series’ Moesha and The Parkers (with Ralph Farquhar and Vida Spears), becoming a showrunner and being ready for it, running the Parkers, how to write projects based on real people, the importance of Spec Scripts today and so much more!

BIO: Sara was born in Mobile, Alabama and raised in South Central L.A.’s Leimert Park neighborhood.  She credits her southern roots and West Coast upbringing for providing the inspiration and passion for many of the stories she writes about. 
 
After graduating from the University of Southern California with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, Sara began her television career as a P.A. and Writer’s Assistant at Norman Lear’s production company, Tandem/TAT.  Shortly afterwards, she got her start as a Writer on several classic television comedies including: The Jeffersons, The Facts of Life, Married with Children and 227.  She later worked as a Producer on Family Matters and The Parenthood.  Sara was Co-Creator, Executive Producer/Showrunner on the groundbreaking UPN hit comedy, Moesha -- inspired by her growing up in Leimert Park and its equally successful spin-off, The Parkers. She was a Consulting Producer the first two seasons on the popular BET dramedy, The Game and the hit BET drama, The Quad.  She was also Co-Executive Producer on BET’s American Soul and Games People Play before landing as Consulting Producer on Ava DuVernay’s award winning OWN series, Queen Sugar.  She was Co-Executive Producer on the seventh and final season of Queen Sugar.  
 
She’s also a playwright and has produced numerous plays over the years, including: Mens, which was nominated for an NAACP Theater Award.  She is also the co-founder of Los Angeles Black Playwrights, which was based at the Mark Taper Forum and produced plays throughout the Los Angeles area.
 
She’s proud to have been an Artist In Residence at Mara Brock Akil’s amazing creative space, The Writers’ Colony. While at the Colony she worked on her first feature which she’s developing with a production company.
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