"Nightline," "Bernie Mac" Peabody'd

Nightline was saluted with a Peabody--considered the most prestigious broadcasting honor--for its coverage of the days immediately following the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Calling it a "truly remarkable television institution," the Peabody judges gave Nightline an institutional award Wednesday citing "its more than 20 years of outstanding long-form news presentations."

The award obviously pleased Koppel, given that just days ago ABC was considering axing his 23-year-old show and replacing it with David Letterman (the Late Show host eventually decided to stay with CBS).

"Nothing could be more gratifying at a time when questions have been raised about the relevance of Nightline than to have this most distinguished of all broadcasting awards confirm the program's ongoing value," Koppel wrote in an email to the Associated Press.

Also picking up Peabodys were the all-star September 11 telethon America: A Tribute to Heroes; Third Watch: In Their Own Words, which gave real firemen and rescue workers a chance to talk about their experiences in the aftermath of the World Trade Center tragedy; and CNN Presents: Behind the Veil and Unholy War, a personal account of women's daily lives under the Taliban regime. National Public Radio also was awarded a prize for its in-depth coverage of 9-11.

Horace Newcomb, director of the Peabody Awards, acknowledged that the terror attacks and the aftermath definitely played a major part in this year's decisions.

"September 11 was in our thoughts, especially when considering comedy programs, works made for children or documentaries focused on the arts," said Newcomb. "But we were constantly reminded of the many roles played by radio, television and the Web--the ways in which grief and anger can be altered by laughter and by the joy found in beautiful images and elegant ideas."

On the lighter side, judges hailed Fox's The Bernie Mac Show for transcending "race and class while lifting viewers with laughter, compassion--and cool." The brainchild of Mac, the anti-Cosby sitcom focuses on his escapades raising his sister's three kids and is one of the network's biggest hits this season.

"To receive this award, which salutes quality, sincerity and great integrity, is a wonderful accomplishment for everyone who's worked so hard on this show. Thank you for letting me tell the 'story' of my life," Mac said in a statement released.

In what's becoming something of a tradition, HBO also was among the leading Peabody winners, taking home five awards: the epic 10-part miniseries Band of Brothers was honored for its "stunning" depiction of WWII; Wit, the Mike Nichols-directed, Emma Thompson-starring film based on Margaret Edson's Pulitzer Price-winning play about a woman fighting cancer, was recognized for dealing with mortality with "frankness, dignity and humor"; Conspiracy received accolades for its "chilling tour de force" dramatization of the Nazi formulation of the "Final Solution"; Boycott was honored for its "marvelous portrayal of pivotal events in the civil rights movement"; and The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg (an HBO-produced documentary that aired on sister network Cinemax) received the Peabody for its "loving tribute to one of baseball's greats."

Showtime garnered a prize for Things Behind the Sun, Allison Anders' harrowing depiction of rape and its impact on its victims, based on her own experiences.

Nickelodeon was recognized for its "quiet, gentle approach" to children's programming with two awards, one for every tyke's favorite dog obsession Blue's Clues and the animated Little Bill.

Now in its 61st year, the Peabodys are handed out by the University of Georgia's Henry W. Grady college of Journalism and Mass Communications and recognize excellence in broadcasting and cable. Unlike the Emmys, there are no categories, just a list of winners picked by a jury of academics and journalists. This year, there were 34 honorees chosen from a field of more than 1,100 entries.

The awards will be doled out at a May 20 luncheon hosted by Walter Cronkite at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York.

Here's a quick glance at some of the other winners (the complete list is at www.peabody.uga.edu): 60 Minutes II: Memories of a Massacre: CBS' probing look at former Senator Bob Kerry's alleged involvement in civilian killings that took place in Thanh Phong, Vietnam

Anne Frank, ABC's retelling of the tragic Holocaust story

Jazz Profiles, National Public Radio's innovative presentation of the world of jazz

American Masters: F. Scott Fitzgerald: Winter Dreams, PBS' biography on the life of The Great Gatsby author

A Huey P. Newton Story, PBS' Spike Lee-produced portrait of the cofounder of the Black Panther Party

Hell in the Pacific, TLC's documentary about the savagery of World War II in the Pacific and the terror of war.