Gervais and Merchant's writing honour

Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant have been nominated for an Emmy award for Extras.

Up against them for the best comedy writing award are the writers of the American version of The Office, the show they originally created.

Also nominated in this category are the writers of  Arrested Development, My Name Is Earl and  Entourage, an acclaimed comedy about a struggling actor in the vein of the Larry Sanders show that will be screened on ITV2 from September.

The Office and Arrested Development are also up for best comedy, alongside Curb Your Enthusiasm, Scrubs and Two And A Half Men

Gervais and Merchant’s policy of attracting big-name cameos to Extras, which is shown on HBO in the States, has also paid off, with nominations for Patrick Stewart, Ben Stiller and Kate Winslet in the guest stars category.

Winners will be announced in Los Angeles on August 27.

Here are the full shortlists for the key comedy categories:

Outstanding Comedy Series

• Arrested Development
• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• The Office
• Scrubs
• Two And A Half Men

Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series

• Arrested Development
• Entourage
• Extras
• My Name Is Earl
• The Office

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

• Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Kevin James in The King Of Queens
• Tony Shalhoub in Monk
• Steve Carell in The Office
• Charlie Sheen in Two And A Half Men

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

• Lisa Kudrow  in The Comeback
• Jane Kaczmarek in Malcolm In The Middle
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus in The New Adventures Of Old Christine
• Stockard Channing in  Out Of Practice
• Debra Messing in Will & Grace

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

• Will Arnett in Arrested Development
• Jeremy Piven in Entourage
• Bryan Cranston  in Malcolm In The Middle
• Jon Cryer  in Two And A Half Men
• Sean Hayes in Will & Grace

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

• Cheryl Hines in Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Alfre Woodard  in Desperate Housewives
• Jaime Pressly  in My Name Is Earl
• Elizabeth Perkins in Weeds
• Megan Mullally in Will & Grace

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series

• Patrick Stewart in Extras
• Ben Stiller in Extras
• Martin Sheen in Two And A Half Men
• Alec Baldwin in Will & Grace
• Leslie Jordan in Will & Grace

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series

• Shirley Knight in Desperate Housewives
• Kate Winslet in Extras
• Cloris Leachman in Malcolm In The Middle
• Laurie Metcalf in Monk
• Blythe Danner in Will & Grace

Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series

• The Colbert Report
• The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
• Late Night With Conan O’Brien
• Late Show With David Letterman
• Real Time With Bill Maher

Best animation of less than an hour:

• Camp Lazlo
• Family Guy
• The Simpsons
• South Park
• Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends

Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series

• The Comeback
• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Entourage
• My Name Is Earl
• Weeds

Published: 6 Jul 2006