Countdown to Katie: Meet the man who calls the shots on Katie's new talk show, Joe Terry

CLEVELAND - Who is Joe Terry? Well, you may not know his face but you've definitely seen his work. He directed The Oprah Show to success and now he hopes to do the same with Katie. Joe Terry brings experience and passion to his director role on the Katie show. He's the man that gets the job done.

Every crew member and staff person knows his voice. He calls the shots as he conducts Katie with an orchestra of lights, cameras, prompters, monitors, and oh yeah, Katie. So how is he feeling about his new gig?

"I feel great," Terry said. "Energetic, encouraged, all of those kinds of good vibes. We've been working really hard and we have been doing shows already. Katie is just a very special talent. She's just so smart and intelligent and it's what I love to do. I'm just very excited."

And he needs that positive energy to handle his many directorial duties. If you can see it, Terry is responsible for it.

"The different camera cuts, the graphics and all that," Terry says. " I think I'm a bit of an interpreter, so I'm always trying to let people know exactly what's going on on the stage."

He shared with me that his days starts early in the  morning, meeting with producers, going over their shows and then rehearsing the guests if necessary.

"It's very long days and a lot of work but I love what I do and particularly love the fact that everybody involved with this show is so enthusiastic and working so hard. So it's a great experience."

Joe's award-winning talent has garnered him numerous awards. But the man who started his career in the 1970s at  New York 's WABC had humble beginnings, with no idea of where his career would end up.

Terry said, "At Temple University is where I discovered communications and I just fell in love with television and I knew this is what I wanted to do. But I've been blessed and I had no idea I would find something that I love so much. I haven't felt like I've worked a day in my life."

And that is a great blessing.

Katie debuts on NewsChannel5 on Monday at 3 p.m.

If you'd like more information about the show go to www.katiecouric.com