Simpsons leads Writers Guild awards

The Office is up for best comedy series alongside Curb Your Enthusiasm, the cancelled Arrested Development, Entourage and 30 Rock, a sitcom set behind the scenes of a live variety show starring Alec Baldwin.

30 Rock is also up for best new series, along with recent Channel 4 purchase, Ugly Betty.

The Office’s other two nominations are for specific shows - Casino Night and The Coup - in the episodic comedy category. Two episodes of Desperate Housewives, one of Malcolm In The Middle and one of My Name Is Earl are also shortlisted.

All of The Simpsons’ mentions are in the animated category, with the others going to Who's Your Daddy, a Cartoon Network show, and King of the Hill.

Nominations in the comedy/variety category went to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Penn & Teller: Bullshit!, Real Time with Bill Maher and Saturday Night Live.

Both Jay Leno and David Letterman, the big hitters of the late-night talk show, were overlooked in this category.

Winners will be chosen after voting by all 13,000 eligible guild members and announced on February 11.

The Office has also been named one of the top ten TV shows of 2006 by the American Film Institute. South Park was the only other comedy show in the list.

Borat and Little Miss Sunshine were among the top ten films.

Published: 14 Dec 2006