Clay's Television Bio
Clay Jacobsen
can bring to your production a talent that encompasses nearly all
formats of television production. This unique quality coupled with his
hard-working, yet easy going personality can turn your next project
into a pleasurable quality experience.
Clay was born in 1956 on a grape ranch in the San
Joaquin Valley of California. In his high school years he attended the
taping of an ABC game show in Hollywood. He was so captivated by the
production, he decided to pursue the dream of becoming a television
director. With that in mind, he chose to enroll at Oral Roberts
University, knowing that students there were chosen to be the crew and
staff for the nationally syndicated television ministry. Upon
graduation in 1978, Clay not only had a degree in telecommunications
with a minor in business administration holding a 3.8 grade average,
but he also walked away possessing a resume with 4 years of technical
experience. That year Clay started a free-lance career based in Las
Vegas working as a camera operator for a brief period before
predominately technical directing television productions throughout the
country.
Some of his TD credits from 1978-1989 include: Musical/Variety (Solid
Gold, David Copperfield, New Year's Rockin' Eve), Specials (People's
Choice Awards, Diana Ross, Kenny Rogers, Chicago, Wayne Newton,
Alabama, Frank Sinatra), Talk Shows (Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas, John
Davidson, Arsenio Hall), Game Shows (The Hollywood Squares, Gambit,
Jeopardy, The Newlywed Game), Beauty Pageants (Miss Teen USA, Mrs.
America, Mrs. World), Telethons (Jerry Lewis MDA, Easter Seals, March
of Dimes), Situation Comedies (Alf, Full House, The Cavanaughs),
News/Entertainment (Entertainment Tonight, Value Television), and all
kinds of Sports.
Throughout this time Clay began laying the groundwork for his directing
career. He directed award winning commercials in the Las Vegas market,
industrial projects, sporting events and local telethons. His
background in such a wide variety of productions allowed him the
opportunity to work with most of the great television directors of our
time. Clay gained valuable experience from this, and now he brings that
experience to the job with him. In 1987 Clay received the opportunity
to join the Director's Guild of America when he directed the final two
seasons of "The All New Dating Game". It wasn't long after "The Dating
Game" wrapped up production that Jerry Lewis called and asked Clay to
take over the direction of his National MDA Telethon. He gladly
accepted the invitation, having been involved with the telethon since
1978, and directed it from 1991-1996.
Clay went on to direct projects for Paramount, NBC, ABC, Buena Vista
Productions, Dick Clark Productions, Fox and many other companies.
After directing the TNN nightly talk/variety show, Prime Time Country
with Gary Chapman in Nashville through 2000, Clay and his family moved
back to Southern California.
Another talent Clay brings to the production is a musical background.
He is an accomplished pianist, guitarist, and a fine musical arranger.
He has produced and performed on three contemporary Christian albums.
This background allows him to direct with a musicians eye and also
gives him a unique ability to relate to the musician.
Clay is also a published author. 1998 saw the release of his first
fiction book, The Lasko Interview, published by Broadman & Holman,
a behind the scenes of Hollywood murder/mystery. That has been followed
by three other novels along with one non-fiction book. He has been
married for 23 years and has two daughters, fifteen and ten years old.