LIZ PLONKA NAMED DIRECTOR OF NBC'S NEW PRIMETIME "THE JAY LENO SHOW"

New Comedy Series "The Jay Leno Show" premieres Monday, September 14

BURBANK, Calif. - July 23, 2009 - NBC announced today that Liz Plonka will begin directing duties on NBC's new "The Jay Leno Show" (Monday - Friday 10-11 p.m. ET) when Leno moves from late night to primetime on September 14.

"We are excited to be launching 'The Jay Leno Show' with Liz at the helm," said Executive Producer Debbie Vickers, "She is an accomplished director and is a perfect fit for the new show."

Plonka began her career in film and television in New York as a production secretary and then moved onto becoming a script supervisor. After relocating to Los Angeles, she quickly assumed the position of associate director working with top directors on high-profile series and specials. In 1990, she began directing network television as well as programs for HBO and other cable networks.

In 1995, Plonka returned to New York City to assume the direction of NBC's "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" for seven years. In 2002, she returned to Los Angeles and won an Emmy Award for directing "The Wayne Brady Show."

Since then, Plonka has been a director for both series and specials, primarily in the comedy genre. Her credits include: "The Showbiz Show with David Spade," "Talkshow with Spike Feresten," and "Mind of Mencia," as well as filling in at "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

Plonka is repped by Evan Warner at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment.

"The Jay Leno Show" will be the first-ever entertainment program to be stripped across primetime on broadcast network television and will showcase many of the features that have made Leno America's late-night leader for more than a dozen years.

"The Jay Leno Show" is from Big Dog Productions in association with Universal Media Studios. Debbie Vickers is the executive producer.