Simpsons scoop script nominations

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair recently appeared in The Simpsons

US cartoon family The Simpsons still have the funniest scripts on US TV, according to an award jury who revealed their nominations on Monday.

The Simpsons, now in its 15th series, was nominated for three prestigious Writers Guild of America awards - more than any other comedy show.

Malcolm in the Middle is up for two awards, with Frasier and Sex and the City among those with one nomination.

Law and Order leads the way in the drama category, with three nominations.

Consistent hit

The Writers Guild of America gives its awards for the best scriptwriting in TV, radio and film, although the film nominations have not yet been announced.

The Simpsons got its three nominations in the TV animation category, for three different episodes by three different writers shown in the US in 2003.

They were The Dad Who Knew Too Little, written by Matt Selman, Moe Baby Blues by J Stewart Burns, and My Mother the Carjacker by Michael Price.

Since launching in 1989, The Simpsons has been one of the most consistently popular programmes on US screens.

Animation contenders

But there is much debate among fans about whether it is still as good as it used to be.

It is up against King of the Hill, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius and Futurama in the animation category.

Law and Order, which follows fictional detectives and court cases in New York, is another veteran show - now in its 14th series.

Its three nominations come in the drama series category, and is up against The West Wing, The OC and 24.