Craig Plestis is the President and CEO ofSmart Dog Media, a reality programming production company. Plestis is an executive producer ofThe Masked Singer[1] andI Can See Your Voice.[2][3]
Plestis was the executive producer behind theNBC singing game show,The Winner Is hosted by Nick Lachey, in partnership with Talpa Media.[4] Plestis was the creator and executive producer of approximately 70 episodes of the hit game showMinute to Win It, hosted by Guy Fieri,[5] and winner of the International FRAPA Award for Best Studio Based Game Show. He also executive produced NBC'sWho's Still Standing?, a game show that featured contestants falling through trap doors after answering trivia questions incorrectly.[6]
Smart Dog Media createdRobot Combat League, the world's first giant fighting robot competition series for the Syfy Channel in 2013. Plestis created and executive produced the series.[9] Craig also served as the executive producer of Syfy's game showExit, based on a popular Japanese format.[10] He also helped develop and sold the format forOpposite Worlds, Syfy's English-language version of the popular Chilean format,Mundos Opuestos.[11] In 2021 he also developed the television seriesI Can See Your Voice.[12]
Plestis has also worked extensively with theFood Network. He was the executive producer forChef Wanted with Anne Burrell, initially launched asChef Hunter.[13] He was also executive producer forExtreme Chef, which put chefs to the test in challenges in foreign locations, ran for two seasons.[14] Additionally, Craig Plestis was the executive producer on two half-hour syndicated seriesUnsealed: Alien Files and Unsealed: Conspiracy Files. Smart Dog Media also produced the mechanical challenge competition special,Unscrewed for theHistory Channel in December 2012, with Craig executive producing.[14]
In March 2021, Plestis began working with Japan'sTokyo Broadcasting System to develop unscripted formats for the U.S. and Global markets.[15] In April 2021, he became executive producer for the new TV seriesUnicorn Hunters, a business investment show.[16][17]
