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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Some Americans’ favorite television programs such as “Homeland” and “Allegiance” trace their start to Israel. Israeli television producer and novelist Ron Leshem will discuss how the country has emerged as a global power in TV production and the exporting of such shows April 9 at the University of Louisville.

Leshem, also a novelist and journalist, will discuss “Israel as #1 Exporter of TV Shows to the U.S.” during the 1:30-3 p.m. event in Chao Auditorium, Ekstrom Library.

The UofL Jewish studies program in the comparative humanities department offers the Naamani Memorial Lecture, which honors the memory of former UofL political scientist Israel Naamani in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Although the talk and reception afterward are free and public, reservations are recommended at shari.gater@louisville.edu.

As head of programming and content for the major commercial network Keshet Broadcasting, Leshem worked on several popular Israeli television programs, including “Arab Labor” and “Traffic Light.” He was a producer of the successful show “Chatufim,” which later was adapted into the hit Showtime series “Homeland,” and he also was an executive producer of NBC’s “Allegiance.” He also created and co-wrote the drama series “M.I.C.E.” and “Euphoria.”  

Leshem won Israel’s top literary award, the Sapir Prize, for his first novel, “Beaufort,” which has been translated into 20 languages. He also co-wrote the film version, which was nominated for the Academy Award for best foreign language film. His second book, “The Underground Bazaar,” also was translated into several languages.

He formerly was deputy chief editor for Ma’ariv daily newspaper and head of news at Yediot Ahronot newspaper, for which he also was a military affairs analyst and a reporter in the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza.

For more information, contact Ranen Omer-Sherman at 502-852-6842 or ranen.omersherman@louisvillle.edu.

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