Hellenic Forums Omogenia - YASOU - Hellenism: Greek Wedding, Chicago Get Guild Nods

The surprise blockbuster "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," the splashy musical "Chicago" and the documentary "Bowling for Columbine" were among screenplay nominees Thursday by the Writers Guild of America.

Nia Vardalos _ writer and star of the low-budget "Greek Wedding," which has grossed $240 million _ earned a nomination for a Writers Guild Award for best original screenplay.

Other nominees for original screenplay were: Antwone Fisher for his self-titled, autobiographical drama about coming to terms with childhood abuse; Michael Moore for "Bowling for Columbine," an examination of gun violence in America; Todd Haynes for the 1950s melodrama "Far From Heaven," which he also directed; and Jay Cocks, Steven Zaillian and Kenneth Lonergan for "Gangs of New York," Martin Scorsese's 1860s epic.

Nominated for adapted screenplay were:

_ Peter Hedges, Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz for "About a Boy," based on Nick Hornby's novel about a womanizer hitting on single moms. The Weitz brothers also directed.

_ Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor for "About Schmidt," a comic drama about a widower taking stock of his life, adapted from Louis Begley's novel. Payne directed.

_ Charlie Kaufman and his fictional twin brother Donald, who shares screen credit for the fractured Hollywood tale "Adaptation," a whimsical take on Susan Orlean's book "The Orchid Thief."

_ Bill Condon for "Chicago," adapted from Bob Fosse's stage musical about two jailed murderesses competing for headlines.

_ David Hare for "The Hours," from Michael Cunningham's novel about author Virginia Woolf and two women in other eras with connections to her novel "Mrs. Dalloway."

Winners will be announced March 8.

Among television contenders, episodes of "Sex and the City" took three of the seven nominations for comedy. The other series earning comedy nominations were "The Bernie Mac Show," "Scrubs," "Frasier" and "Ed."

Episodes of six dramas earned TV nominations: "The West Wing," "Six Feet Under," "Resurrection Boulevard," "ER," "The Education of Max Bickford" and "The Sopranos."