NBC's 'The Apprentice' nominated for "Program of the Year" by television critics

The Hollywood Reporter reports that the Television Critics Association has nominated NBC's reality-competition hit The Apprentice as one of the five finalists for its 2004 "Program of the Year" award. The other four finalists are Fox's Arrested Development and three cable shows: HBO's The Sopranos and Angels in America and Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (the only repeat nominee from 2003).


Were The Apprentice to win, it would mark the second straight year that a reality show earned the award, since Fox's American Idol was last year's "Program of the Year." However, since the TCA Awards tend to focus on "overlooked" shows, we think Arrested Development may well become the third straight Fox winner, joining Idol and 24, the 2002 winner.

Winners will be selected by the TCA's approximately 200 members. The awards ceremony will take place July 17 at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City (a district of L.A., for those of you not familiar with the Southland), with Bill Maher slated to host.