Bourne’s Jessica Smart to Appear on TV During Tonight’s Celtics Telecast as a FSN New England FanCaster

BURLINGTON, MA – For the third consecutive season, FSN New England is hosting an open casting call for its FanCaster program and the regional sports network is happy to announce that it has selected Bourne High School student Jessica Smart as a FanCaster for its 25th Celtics season.

Prior to the Celtics home game against the New Orleans Hornets on January 23, Smart, 17, will tape an introduction to the Celtics “Heroes Among Us” presentation on the legendary parquet floor. FSN New England will show Smart’s on-camera introduction and video of the Hero Award presentation during the Celtics Post-Game Show.

FSN New England uses the FanCaster program to help educate TV viewers about the Celtics Heroes Among Us Program. The Hero Award is presented to an individual or individuals who have made exceptional and lasting contributions to our community. At each home game, the Celtics and their fans salute the exemplary efforts of these citizens during a special in-game, center court presentation.

“Students from around the region enter the FanCaster program in hopes of landing one of 41 spots. Jessica submitted an excellent audition tape and we are proud to select her as a FSN New England FanCaster,” said Nancy Larkin, FSN New England vice president of marketing and development. “During her FanCaster experience, Jessica will see how our game day production is put together and learn about all the unique careers inside the media industry.”

In addition to appearing on TV during the telecast, Smart’s FanCaster experience will also feature a tour of the FSN high definition production truck; an opportunity to meet the FSN New England telecast team of Mike Gorman, Tommy Heinsohn and Greg Dickerson; and a behind the scenes look at how FSN New England prepares for a telecast during its 25th season of Boston Celtics basketball.

Over the previous two seasons, FSN New England has selected 60 FanCasters from more than 400 entries. FSN New England’s FanCaster is open to students, age 13-18, who are interested in a career in the media and entertainment.

To enter, each student must send an entry form and a videotape of him or herself reading an audition script to FSN. FanCasters will be selected based on their TV presence and the quality of the video. Students and media teachers can find a FanCaster tool kit, including the entry form, the script and rules at www.FSNNewEngland.com.

The VHS ONLY tape must be labeled with the student’s name, age, school, home phone number and address, and sent along with the entry form to:

FSN New England FanCaster
42 Third Avenue

Burlington MA, 01803

Media teachers and students without web access can also obtain information at (781) 270-7252 or (781) 270-7251. FSN New England will select 41 FanCasters during the season. To ensure that all students get a chance to enter, FSN New England has a rolling deadline for submissions. Entries should be sent immediately, but must be received by April 1, 2006.

FSN New England reaches more than 3.7 million households in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. FSN New England’s programming includes Boston Celtics, Mohegan Sun’s New England Sports Tonight, Mohegan Sun’s New England Tailgate, New England Revolution, The Best Damn Sports Show Period, The Sports List, and Beyond the Glory. FSN New England is owned and managed by Rainbow Sports Networks. Visit www.fsnnewengland.com for more information.

Press Contacts

  • Skip Perham
    781-270-7252
    aeperham@fsnnewengland.com