About Next Exit

Next Exit Host Laurie Richards Bio
Laurie Richards, host of Next Exit is also Director of the Nebraska Film Office. She works with the Department of Economic Development to market Nebraska as a great location for everything from Hollywood films to commercials. Laurie has worked with Alexander Payne on his three feature films in Nebraska, including "Citizen Ruth" and "About Schmidt" which will be screened at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

Laurie grew up in Oakland, Nebraska. She attended a country school in Burt County -- not one room, but several, with a girl's and boy's restroom, and a basement for shuffle board and basketball! She graduated from UNL with a degree in Art History and Spanish.

Laurie's work takes her across Nebraska's vast and beautiful landscape meeting people and discovering Nebraska's hidden treasures. Her hobbies include music, golf, gardening, horses, movies, motorcycles, travel and photography. It helps, she admits, that she is married to "the greatest architect in the world and all around good guy," who likes to golf and travel. They have a cat named Princess Grace, with perrrrfect cat-like behavior. "All interaction is on the cat's terms," says Laurie. "She mostly ignores us."

"I love this state! I've traveled all over and keep coming back. I am so excited to be able to work with ETV and involved with Next Exit. Truly, it is a new way to see Nebraska and will have something for everyone to enjoy and ponder."