Consider this

By James Bates, Times Staff Writer

When it comes to awards campaigning, a "Winking-at-the-Truth in Advertising" law sounds like a pretty good idea.

That's because among the scores of "For Your Consideration" ads now proliferating, there's always a few 500-to-1 nags being touted alongside 3-to-1 thoroughbreds.

Will "War of the Worlds" finally get Tom Cruise his Oscar?

Not this time. But ads in the Hollywood trades are promoting him as a best actor candidate anyway.

What about Jane Fonda in her return to the big screen in "Monster-in-Law?"

Maybe she'll land a Golden Globe, since it offers an award for actresses in a comedy or musical. But it's a good bet Fonda doesn't have to fret about finding space on her bookshelf for another Oscar alongside her trophies from "Klute" and "Coming Home."

Will Johnny Depp sneak in and grab a best acting nomination for "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?" Enough said.

Welcome to the "For Your Consideration" period leading up to nominations, one of Hollywood's peculiar annual rituals.

Just about everybody agrees it's absurd and a waste of money better spent elsewhere.

Naturally, they still do it anyway.

In the past, such Oscar-worthy fare as "Barbershop" and "Demolition Man" have had "For Your Consideration" status bestowed on them.

Steve Martin was once promoted for best actor consideration for playing a dentist in the 2001 black comedy "Novocaine," a movie that disappeared at the box office faster than it takes to perform a root canal.

When spirits giant Seagram Co. owned Universal Studios, one 1997 trade ad solicited best song votes for "Whenever There Is Love," the theme from the Sylvester Stallone action flick "Daylight." The co-author was an unknown songwriter named Sam Roman. At least people thought he was unknown.

Turns out it was a pseudonym for then-Seagram Chief Executive Edgar Bronfman Jr. Bronfman is still waiting for that first nomination.