or


[05/30/06 - 12:00 AM]
Viewers Chose Three-Time U.S. Women's Ice Hockey Olympian and Harvard Graduate Angela Ruggiero in NBC's "Apprentice" Online Casting Competition

[via press release from NBC]

VIEWERS CHOSE THREE-TIME U.S. WOMEN'S ICE HOCKEY OLYMPIAN AND HARVARD GRADUATE ANGELA RUGGIERO IN NBC'S "APPRENTICE" ONLINE CASTING COMPETITION

VIEWERS CHOSE THREE-TIME U.S. WOMEN'S ICE HOCKEY OLYMPIAN AND HARVARD GRADUATE ANGELA RUGGIERO IN NBC'S "APPRENTICE" ONLINE CASTING COMPETITION

Ruggiero Selected By Viewers in First-Ever Online Vote To Become A Candidate On Season Six of "The Apprentice"

"We'll see if Angela can ice the competition as we take the boardroom to the West Coast," said Donald Trump

NEW YORK � May 30, 2006 � NBC and Mark Burnett Productions announced today that 1998 gold medalist and three-time U.S. Women's Ice Hockey Olympian and Harvard Graduate Angela Ruggiero will join 17 other candidates selected to 'interview' for the title of "The Apprentice" during season six of the hit show. NBC's "The Apprentice" hosted by Donald Trump returns in January on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT with new twists, new geography � shot exclusively in Southern California � new boardrooms and 18 new candidates.

This past February, Mark Burnett, creator and executive producer, opened "Apprentice" casting to the viewers to choose one of 12 U.S. Olympic athletes competing in the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. During NBC's 17-day broadcast from Torino, viewers were given the chance to vote interactively on www.NBCOlympics.com for one of the 12 U.S. Olympians to become a candidate on season six of "The Apprentice."

Ruggiero out-skated her fellow competitors, which included: Olympians Allison Baver (short track speedskating/Reading, Pa.); Travis Cabral (freestyle skiing moguls/South Lake Tahoe, Calif.); Casey FitzRandolph (long track speedskating/Verona, Wis.); Todd Hays (bobsled/Del Rio, Texas); Chad Hedrick (long track speedskating/Spring, Texas); Danny Kass (snowboard/halfpipe/ Greenwich, Conn.); Joe Pack (freestyle skiing/aerials/Park City, Utah); Jeret "Speedy" Peterson (freestyle skiing/aerials/Boise, Idaho); Katie Uhlaender (skeleton/Breckenridge, Colo.); Seth Wescott (snowboard/snowboardcross/Carrabassett Valley, Maine) and Chris Witty (long track speedskating/West Allis, Wis.).

"The results are in and I'm thrilled with the viewers decision," said Trump, executive producer, "The Apprentice." "We'll see if Angela can ice the competition as we take the boardroom to the West Coast."

"It's an honor to have been selected by America � I'll definitely be bringing my Olympic spirit and competitive edge to the game," said Ruggiero.

"I'm delighted to have an Olympian in our cast, especially one who went to Harvard," said Burnett, executive producer, "The Apprentice." "It's a unique hiring opportunity for Donald Trump if she's lucky enough to win. But in order to win, she'll need to be the best of the best as she battles against many motivated and talented job applicants."

The current season of "The Apprentice" concludes this Monday, June 5 with a 90-minute live broadcast from Los Angeles' Orpheum Theatre where either Lee or Sean will be told "You're Hired."

In 1998, Ruggiero became the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic Team that won the first Olympic gold medal ever awarded in women's ice hockey at the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. She subsequently was a member of the U.S. Olympic team that won a silver medal in Salt Lake City in the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and most recently, she and her teammates took home a bronze medal in Torino in 2006. Ruggiero is a recognized team leader and is widely regarded as the top female defenseman in the world. At the 2005 International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship in Sweden, Ruggiero scored the shootout game-winner to lead Team USA to its first-ever World Championship gold medal.

Ruggiero was chosen to be one of eight athletes to carry the tattered World Trade Center flag into the Opening Ceremony of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games. On the ice in Salt Lake, Ruggiero notched a goal and three assists in five games, leading the U.S. to the gold-medal game against Canada. Canada won, 3-2, to claim gold. Ruggiero was given the IIHF Directorate Award as the tournament's top defenseman.

On Jan. 8, 2005, Ruggiero made history when she became the first female non-goaltender to play significant minutes in a U.S. men's professional hockey game. She joined her brother, goaltender Bill Ruggiero, playing for the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League. She had one assist in 13 minutes of ice time. After the game, the Hockey Hall of Fame requested Angela's and Bill's sweaters, because they became the first brother and sister to play together in a North American professional game.

Ruggiero graduated cum laude from Harvard University with a B.A. in government in 2004. She was a four-time All-American and four-time finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, presented annually by USA Hockey to the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey. She won the award her senior year and was named one of the top 16 female athletes in the world by ESPN.com in 2004. She finished her collegiate career with 243 points (91 goals, 152 assists) in 127 games. For the 2000-01 and 2001-02 school years, she took a leave of absence from Harvard to concentrate on the Olympics.

Ruggiero is active in Right to Play, a non-governmental organization that aims to enrich the lives of children through sport. She traveled to Uganda for three weeks in 2004 for Right to Play, observing and helping to educate children at play around the country. For one week each summer, she teaches at her All-American Girls Hockey School at the St. Clair Shores Civic Arena in St. Clair, Mich. She started the school in 2002 to encourage girls to participate in ice hockey. Ruggiero also helped launch the website and raise funds for Teams of Angels and momsteam.com, charities that focus on creating a safer youth sports experience. In November 2005, she released her autobiography, "Breaking the Ice."

The hit reality show "The Apprentice," hosted and executive produced by Trump and created by Mark Burnett Productions, made famous the now infamous phrase, "You're Fired." Candidates selected to be on the show vie for a yearlong $250,000 "apprenticeship" and a chance to work in one of Trump's organizations. Each week the two teams are given a task � the winning team earns a reward and stands a week closer to becoming "The Apprentice," while the losing team faces Trump in the boardroom where someone gets fired. The multi-week interview continues to the final boardroom where Trump tells one lucky candidate, "You're Hired!"

"The Apprentice" is produced by Mark Burnett Productions. Burnett, Jay Bienstock and Trump are executive producers. Conrad Riggs and Kevin Harris are co-executive producers.





  [may 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· APPRENTICE, THE (NBC)





[03/18/24 - 01:59 PM]
Chrissy Metz, Jaime Ray Newman, Katie Lowes, and George Ferrier Join as Series Regulars for Starz's New Drama "The Hunting Wives"
Production on the thrilling new series has started in Charlotte, North Carolina.

[03/18/24 - 11:30 AM]
Video: ALLBLK Releases Trailer for the World Premiere of New Thriller, "The Influencer" Premiering Thursday, April 4
The original film stars Christina Cooper as Niecy Fields, a social media influencer on the cusp of stardom.

[03/18/24 - 10:06 AM]
E! Announces Trendsetting Guest Judges and Pioneering Disruptors for New Cutting-Edge Design Competition Series "OMG Fashun" with Julia Fox
Handcrafted is the new haute couture on "OMG Fashun" as Julia inspires pioneering fashion disruptors to upend traditional style convention, break the rules and redefine cool.

[03/18/24 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Peacock Debuts Trailer For New Original Documentary "Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal" Premiering April 1
The documentary looks at the remarkable career of the late Windham Rotunda also known as Bray Wyatt, one of the most skillful, tenacious, and creative WWE Superstars of all-time.

[03/18/24 - 10:00 AM]
NBC Is the Official Home of Competition and Games This Summer with a Slate of Powerhouse Hit Series
NBC is the summer home for both the Paris Olympic Games and high-stakes competition with a robust lineup of returning powerhouse favorites, including "America's Got Talent," "American Ninja Warrior," "Password," "The Wall" and "Weakest Link."

[03/18/24 - 09:02 AM]
Netflix Announces News About 26 Upcoming Nordic Titles - Including 12 Brand New Titles
Plus: the streamer offers new looks at "Deliver Me," "The Helicopter Heist," "Ronja the Robber's Daughter," "Billionaire Island" and season two of "Baby Fever."

[03/18/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The rebels gear up for battle against the ruthless forces of the Motherworld as unbreakable bonds are forged, heroes emerge - and legends are made.

[03/18/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Disney's "Wish" - Streaming April 3rd - Disney+
Walt Disney Animation Studios' "Wish" is an all-new musical-comedy welcoming audiences to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force - a little ball of boundless energy called Star.

[03/18/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Our Living World" - Cate Blanchett - Official Trailer - Netflix
This stunning nature series narrated by Cate Blanchett explores the intelligence, resourcefulness and interconnectedness of life on our planet.

[03/18/24 - 08:00 AM]
Acorn TV Fan-Favorite "Harry Wild" Returns Monday, May 13
Season three consists of six episodes and will be available on Acorn TV in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

[03/18/24 - 08:00 AM]
Prime Video Orders "Beast Games" from MrBeast and Amazon MGM Studios
Based on his already successful YouTube show, "Beast Games" is set to become the biggest reality competition series ever with 1000 contestants competing for a $5 million dollar cash prize which will be the biggest single prize in the history of television and streaming.

[03/18/24 - 07:14 AM]
ESPN+ Original Series "Full Court Press" Presented by State Farm Featuring Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso and Kiki Rice to Premiere May 11 & 12 on ABC and ESPN+
From Iowa's historic preseason game that broke attendance records all the way through the WNBA draft in April, the series uses unparalleled access, exclusive interviews, and unique game footage, to transport audiences into the lives of these exceptional athletes.

[03/18/24 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Scoop" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatization gives an insider account of how the women of Newsnight secured Prince Andrew's infamous interview.

[03/18/24 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV+ Debuts Trailer for Season Two of Iconic Emmy Award-Winning Series "Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock," Premiering Globally March 29
Award-winning season two cast includes the return of Daveed Diggs alongside Ariana DeBose, Brett Goldstein, Catherine O'Hara, Adam Lambert and K-pop group aespa in guest star roles.

[03/18/24 - 04:01 AM]
Video: "Joy" - First Look Teaser - Netflix
Starring Thomasin McKenzie, James Norton and Bill Nighy, the new film based on the story of the birth of IVF.