Two nominations each for the CBS drama "Joan of Arcadia" and the Fox comedy "Bernie Mac" were among the 33 finalists in seven categories for the 2004 Humanitas Prize, honoring television and film scripts that "illuminate the human condition."

The writers of nominated films and television programs will be competing for $115,000 in prize money to be awarded July 8 during the 30th Humanitas Prize ceremony at the Hilton Universal Hotel.

According to Paulist Father Frank Desiderio, president of the Humanitas Prize, the award honors writing that reveals the deepest realities of what it is to be human. "This is all the more important since television has taken a dehumanizing turn with some of the so-called reality shows," declared Father Desiderio.

The 2004 finalists, listed by category are:

Feature Film Category: "Dirty Pretty Things," written by Steven Knight (Miramax); "Finding Nemo," screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson, David Reynolds, story by Andrew Stanton (Disney); "Seabiscuit," screenplay by Gary Ross (Universal Pictures).

90 Minute Category: "Angels In America," screenplay by Tony Kushner, based on his play (HBO); "Iron Jawed Angels," screenplay by Sally Robinson, Eugenia Bostwick Singer, Raymond Singer and Jennifer Friedes, story by Jennifer Friedes (HBO); "Jasper, Texas" written by Jonathan Estrin (Showtime).

60 Minute Category: "ER" ("Makemba"), written by John Wells (NBC); "Joan of Arcadia" (pilot episode), written by Barbara Hall (CBS); "Joan of Arcadia" ("The Uncertainty Principle"), written by Joy Gregory (CBS).

30 Minute Category: "The Bernie Mac Show" ("Eye of the Tiger"), written by Richard Appel (Fox); "The Bernie Mac Show" ("Saving Sergeant Tompkins"), written by JacQui Clay (Fox); "Scrubs" ("My Screwup"), written by Garrett Donovan and Neil Goldman (NBC).

Children's Animation Category: "Arthur" ("Big Horns George"), written by Peter K. Hirsch (PBS); "Little Bill" ("A Ramp for Monty"), written by Chris Nee (Nickelodeon); "Little Bill" ("I Can Sign: The Sign for Friend"), written by Chris Nee (Nickelodeon).

Children's Live Action Category: "Crown Heights," screenplay by Toni Ann Johnson, story by Michael D'Antonio (Showtime); "Full-Court Miracle," written by Joel Silverman, Joel Kauffman and Donald C. Yost (Disney Channel); "Going To The Mat," teleplay by Chris Nolan, Laurie Nolan, Steve Bloom and Stu Krieger, story by Chris Nolan and Laurie Nolan (Disney Channel).

Sundance Feature Film Category: "Garden State," written by Zach Braff (Fox Searchlight Pictures and Miramax Films); "Mean Creek," written by Jacob Aaron Estes (Paramount Classics); "The Woodsman, screenplay by Nicole Kassell and Steven Fechter (Newmarket Films).

Christopher Carlson, a student at the Columbia University Graduate Film program, will receive the "2004 David and Lynn Angell Humanitas Comedy Fellowship" at the awards ceremony, garnering a $10,000 stipend. His winning script was selected by the Angell Fellowship Trustees, which include Peter Casey, Jennifer Crittenden, Father Frank Desiderio, David Hackel, Tom Reeder and Elliot Stahler.

Since its inception in 1974, the Humanitas Prize has presented over 220 prizes and dispersed over $2.2 million in prize money to television and motion picture writers, whose work honestly explores the complexities of the human experience and sheds light on the positive values of life. For more information, log on to the Humanitas website at www.humanitasprize.org.