GSN Partners With Comcast Communications in Dallas to Conduct the First-Ever Contestant Search for LINGO Contestants

GSN Partners With Comcast Communications in Dallas to Conduct the First-Ever Contestant Search for LINGO Contestants

Co-Host Shandi Finnessey Travels to Stonebriar Centre to Host the Event Saturday, May 13 From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- GSN, the network for games, is partnering with Comcast in Dallas to find contestants for the weeknight hit game show LINGO. Co-host Shandi Finnessey (Miss USA 2004) will host the contestant search on Saturday, May 13 at the Stonebriar Centre Center Court from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Co-sponsored by Nestle Purina's Friskies brand cat food, Finnessey will be looking for the two best five-letter word solvers in town.

As the host, Finnessey will interview participants in order to find the two best competitors who will each receive a trip to Los Angeles and an opportunity to become actual contestants on the series' sixth season. She will also sign autographs and take photos with the attendees. Finnessey works her LINGO magic alongside legendary game show host Chuck Woolery.

"LINGO is a fun, addictive word game whether people are watching or playing at home. Now we want to give fans around the country a chance to test their smarts for a chance to compete on the next season of LINGO in the first local contestant search in Dallas," said Dena Kaplan, Senior Vice President, Marketing, GSN.

"We are also very pleased to be working with our national presenting sponsor, Purina's Friskies and co-branding the event with Comcast," continued Kaplan. GSN is seen on channel 86 in Dallas and Mesquite, channel 52 in Plano and Richardson, and channel 63 in the rest of the Metroplex communities.

The contestant search audition process includes taking a timed LINGO word test and answering specific questions for an on-camera interview.

At the event, GSN will distribute Friskies cat food samples and LINGO premium items such as LINGO stress balls, hats, T-shirts and other fun items. Comcast representatives will also be on hand at the event to greet customers and discuss Comcast's Digital Cable and High-Speed Internet services. "Comcast is proud to support GSN in bringing exciting, family-friendly events like this to the Metroplex, and we look forward to meeting the contestants," said Comcast's Area Vice President Troy Fitzhugh.

For those residents who are unable to attend the event, but want to be a contestant, another opportunity is being presented nationwide to all eligible participants playing the online LINGO Grand Prize Tournament. Beginning April 3 through May 28, the top scoring player in each week's online LINGO tournament will win a trip to Los Angeles and an opportunity to compete on the show during the next season. GSN will give away eight Los Angeles prize packages in total.

"We are very excited to provide another opportunity for fans to be on the show through our national SkillJam online LINGO Grand Prize Tournament," commented Kaplan.

Finnessey, originally from St. Louis, has a degree in psychology and has written a children's book, "The Furrtails," as part of her goal to integrate developmentally-challenged children into regular classrooms. She is also currently at work on her second book, "Suzanna the Banana."

For further information concerning GSN's LINGO Contestant Search and Grand Prize Tournament, please log onto GSN.com/LINGO.

Co-Hosts Chuck and Finnessey are excited about LINGO's fifth season premiere on Monday, April 3. The show airs Monday through Friday 7:30-8:00 PM, ET/PT. New to this season is a progressive LINGO jackpot, which is won every time a winning team gets "LINGO" on the first ball. The jackpot starts at $10,000 and grows by $1,000 each time it's not won.

To coincide with the new season, the network has created new LINGO premium items that can be purchased through GSN.com/LINGO. Also, GSN's affinity program, GSN Rewards, is promoting the new season with special merchandise and prizes for those who are playing along with the network's interactive offerings.

Stonebriar Centre is located at 2601 Preston Road, Frisco, TX (972-668-6255). The event will take place in the Center Court area.

GSN, the Network for Games, is the only U.S. television network dedicated to game-related programming and interactive game playing. The network features game shows, reality series, documentaries, alternative sports programs and casino games. As the industry leader in interactivity, GSN features over 100 hours per week of interactive programming, which allows viewers a chance to win prizes by playing along with GSN's televised games via GSN.com. Reaching 58 million Nielsen homes, GSN is distributed in the U.S. through all major cable systems and satellite providers. The network is jointly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Liberty Media Corporation. For further media information, visit GSN's press website at corp.gsn.com.

About Friskies

Friskies brand cat food offers a complete line of great-tasting and 100% complete and balanced nutritional foods that deliver more choices than any other cat food brand, including over 60 wet, dry and treat varieties. Friskies is manufactured by Nestle Purina PetCare Company, one of the leading global players in the pet care industry. Nestle Purina PetCare Company promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. The North American headquarters for Nestle Purina PetCare Company is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Missouri. The company is part of Swiss-based Nestle S.A. -- the world's largest food company.

For more information about Friskies brand cat food, log onto www.friskies.com.

About Comcast

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Comcast Cable is a division of Comcast Corporation, the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 21.4 million cable customers, 8.5 million high-speed Internet customers and 1.3 million voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable networks and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast's Eastern Division currently serves more than 5.6 million customers along the New York to DC corridor, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia, along with parts of California and Texas. The Eastern Division also founded and manages CN8, The Comcast Network, one of the nation's largest and most honored regional 24-hour diversified television networks, seen by more than seven million homes on the East Coast. The division is based in Oaks, Pennsylvania.

Must be legal resident of the U.S. 18 years of age or older to audition for LINGO. GSN will select up to two (2) people per event to appear on LINGO. Persons who have previously appeared on LINGO or who have appeared on any other game show, contest show or reality show within one year of 1/17/06 are ineligible to participate. Selection decisions will be made by GSN in its sole discretion and shall be final and binding and not subject to appeal. Appearance opportunity includes airfare to Los Angeles and hotel accommodations. If GSN elects not to produce any additional episodes of LINGO selected participants will get something other than the trip. See Participation Agreement at GSN.com/LINGO for additional eligibility restrictions, travel descriptions/restrictions and complete details. Void where prohibited.

Source: GSN

CONTACT: Jessica Hasson of GSN, +1-310-255-6934, jhasson@gsn.com

Web site: http://www.gsn.com/
http://www.friskies.com/
http://gsn.com/LINGO

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