Craig Plestis is the President and CEO of Smart Dog Media, a reality programming production company. Plestis is an executive producer of ''

The Masked Singer ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' and ''

I Can See Your Voice ''I Can See Your Voice'' (abbreviated ''ICSYV'' and stylized as ''I Can See Your Voice — Mystery music game show'') () is an international television mystery music game show franchise that originated in South Korea. History In 2012, prod ...

''.

Career

NBC

Plestis was the executive producer behind the

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...

singing game show, ''

The Winner Is ''The Winner Is'' is an American vocal game show which aired on NBC. Hosted by Nick Lachey, the seven-episode series featured singers of all ages competing for a chance to win $1,000,000. The show premiered on June 10, 2013. The winner of the ser ...

'' hosted by Nick Lachey, in partnership with Talpa Media. Plestis was the creator and executive producer of approximately 70 episodes of the hit game show ''

Minute to Win It ''Minute to Win It'' is an international game show franchise where contestants take part in a series of 60-second challenges that use objects that are commonly available around the house. The first version of ''Minute to Win It'' to air was t ...

'', hosted by Guy Fieri, and winner of the International FRAPA Award for Best Studio Based Game Show. He also executive produced NBC's ''Who's Still Standing?'', a game show that featured contestants falling through trap doors after answering trivia questions incorrectly. As the NBC's former Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, Craig Plestis oversaw all alternative programming and development for the network, including the hit series ''

Deal or No Deal ''Deal or No Deal'' is the name of several closely related television game shows, the first of which (launching the format) was the Dutch ''Miljoenenjacht (Netherlands), Miljoenenjacht'' (''Hunt/Chase for Millions''). The centerpiece of this f ...

'', ''

The Biggest Loser ''The Biggest Loser'' is a reality television format which started with the American TV show ''The Biggest Loser'' in 2004. The show centers on overweight and obese contestants attempting to lose the most weight; the winner receives a cash prize. ...

'', ''

America's Got Talent ''America's Got Talent'' (often abbreviated as ''AGT'') is a televised American talent show competition, and is part of the global ''Got Talent'' franchise created by Simon Cowell. The program is produced by Fremantle (as well as distribut ...

'', ''

The Apprentice ''The Apprentice'' is a Reality competition, reality talent game show franchise originally aired in 2004 in the United States. Created by U.S.-based British producer Mark Burnett, the show depicts contestants from around the country with variou ...

'', '' The Singing Bee'', and ''

1 vs. 100 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1 ...

''. His responsibilities also included overseeing NBC's

Golden Globe Awards The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of t ...

Smart Dog Media

Smart Dog Media created ''

Robot Combat League ''Robot Combat League'' (''RCL'') is a television show on the Syfy network about robot fighting competitions. On the show, teams use exosuits to control fighting robots. The series is hosted by Chris Jericho, and premiered on February 26, 2013 a ...

'', the world's first giant fighting robot competition series for the Syfy Channel in 2013. Plestis created and executive produced the series. Craig also served as the executive producer of Syfy's game show ''

Exit Exit(s) may refer to: Architecture and engineering * Door * Portal (architecture), an opening in the walls of a structure * Emergency exit * Overwing exit, a type of emergency exit on an airplane * Exit ramp, a feature of a road interchange ...

'', based on a popular Japanese format. He also helped develop and sold the format for ''Opposite Worlds'', Syfy's English-language version of the popular Chilean format, ''Mundos Opuestos''. In 2021 he also developed the television series ''I Can See Your Voice''.

Food Network

Plestis has also worked extensively with the

Food Network Food Network is an American basic cable channel owned by Television Food Network, G.P., a joint venture and general partnership between Warner Bros. Discovery Networks (which holds a 69% ownership stake of the network) and Nexstar Media Group ...

. He was the executive producer for ''Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell'', initially launched as ''Chef Hunter''. He was also executive producer for ''

Extreme Chef ''Extreme Chef'' is a reality competition television program on Food Network. It first aired on June 26, 2011, and is hosted by Marsh Mokhtari Marsh Mokhtari is a British born, US based TV host, actor and producer. Career His TV credits inclu ...

'', which put chefs to the test in challenges in foreign locations, ran for two seasons. Additionally, Craig Plestis was the executive producer on two half-hour syndicated series ''Unsealed: Alien Files and Unsealed: Conspiracy Files''. Smart Dog Media also produced the mechanical challenge competition special, ''Unscrewed'' for the

History Channel History (formerly The History Channel from January 1, 1995 to February 15, 2008, stylized as HISTORY) is an American pay television network and flagship channel owned by A&E Networks, a joint venture between Hearst Communications and the Disney ...

in December 2012, with Craig executive producing.

Later projects

In March 2021, Plestis began working with Japan's

Tokyo Broadcasting System formerly is a Japanese media and licensed broadcasting holding company. It is the parent company of the television network and radio network . It has a 28-affiliate television network called JNN (Japan News Network), as well as a 34-affili ...

to develop unscripted formats for the U.S. and Global markets. In April 2021, he became executive producer for the new TV series ''

Unicorn Hunters ''Unicorn Hunters'' is a reality television series that debuted in 2021 on Amazon Prime. Series overview The series features a group of investors called the “Circle of Money” and groups of entrepreneurs that pitch their businesses to the gr ...

'', a business investment show.

References

External links

NBC Universal

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Plestis, Craig Living people American television producers Year of birth missing (living people)