It looks like Howard Hughes and a schlubby wine aficionado are in this Academy Awards race together.

The Aviator, the epic biopic about the larger-than-life Hughes, and Sideways, the painfully funny comedy about a struggling novelist finding his way in California's wine country, were among the big-screen nominees Wednesday for the latest Oscar tune-up--the 2005 Producers Guild of America Awards.

Finding Neverland, the fanciful take on Peter Pan author JM Barrie, Million Dollar Baby, the Clint Eastwood boxing drama, and The Incredibles, the incredible-grossing Pixar adventure, were the other theatrical contenders.

Sideways, by virtue of its sweep of the critics awards, and The Aviator, by virtue of its sweeping scale, would appear to be the front runners among the front runners.

A PGA Award nomination seals their status. The honor seemingly is a prerequisite for a Best Picture Oscar nomination, if not a Best Picture Oscar win.

Since the PGAs were first presented for the 1989 film year, 11 of the 15 movies honored with the guild's top award have gone onto claim the Academy Award. Recent movies to perform that trick include: Gladiator, Chicago and Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

One exception to the rule occurred at the 2002 PGA Awards, when producers honored Moulin Rouge. Oscar voters opted for A Beautiful Mind over the manic musical.

Moulin Rouge, however, was at least nominated for the Academy's prestige prize. Critically acclaimed films shut out of Wednesday's PGA Award nominations--perhaps dimming their chances for Best Picture nods come Oscar time--included: Closer, Hotel Rwanda, Kinsey and Ray.

Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ also was shut out, but that occurrence is seeming less like a snub, and more like a trend.

The PGA Awards honor television, as well as film.

In the TV categories, HBO's The Sopranos will look to notch another award-show win as Best Drama Series against CBS' CSI, FX's Nip/Tuck, HBO's Six Feet Under and NBC's The West Wing.

Fox's reigning Emmy winner Arrested Development will go up against HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, NBC's Scrubs, HBO's Sex and the City and NBC's Will & Grace in the comedy series category.

DreamWorks exec Jeffrey Katzenberg, Spiderman producer Laura Ziskin, ER executive producer John Wells and former Warner Bros. honcho Terry Semel are set to receive honorary awards.

Here's a complete look at the 2005 PGA Awards nominations:

Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award (for Theatrical Motion Pictures) Finding Neverland Million Dollar Baby Sideways The Aviator The Incredibles

David L. Wolper Producer of the Year Award (for Long-Form Television) Angels In America (HBO) Horatio Hornblower (A&E) Ike (A&E) Lion In Winter (Showtime) Something the Lord Made (HBO)

Norman Felton Producer of the Year Award (for Episodic Drama) CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS) Nip/Tuck (FX) Six Feet Under (HBO) The Sopranos (HBO) The West Wing (NBC)

Danny Thomas Producer of the Year Award (for Episodic Comedy) Arrested Development (Fox) Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO) Scrubs (NBC) Sex And the City (HBO) Will & Grace (NBC)

Producer of the Year Award: Non-Fiction Television Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC) Inside the Actors Studio (A&E) The Amazing Race (CBS) The Apprentice (NBC) Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (Bravo)

Producer of the Year Award: Variety Television Chapelle Show (Comedy Central) Saturday Night Live (NBC) The Ellen DeGeneres Show (Syndicated) The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS) The 76th Annual Academy Awards (ABC)