NBC's Next 'Apprentice:' Olympic Gold Medalist

Searching for a way to give flagging reality show "The Apprentice" a boost when it moves to the Golden State, NBC has turned to a gold medal winner.

Former U.S. Olympic hockey gold medalist Angela Ruggiero will battle 17 other would-be masters of the universe for the chance to join Donald Trump's empire on the upcoming sixth season of "The Apprentice." Ruggiero was selected for the role over 11 other members of the 2006 American Olympic squad by a vote conducted on an NBC Web site.

Ruggiero, a Harvard graduate like other previous "Apprentice" contenders, won gold in the 1998 Olympics.

After the first five "Apprentice" seasons have taken place in Trump's home base of New York, the series moves to a Los Angeles setting when it returns in January.

"The Apprentice" could benefit from the next seven months off the air if the hiatus serves to reenergize viewer interest. Ratings have been on a steady decline and some have criticized the show for becoming a petri dish for product placement with episodes revolving around Corporate America's latest offerings.

The most telling sign that the show is enfeebled? NBC moved the finale of the current season out of the May sweeps to next Monday night.

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