As millions prepare to not only watch the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers but also to catch the much-hyped commercials, some major brands have eagerly released their Super Bowl ads in advance. According to KENS 5, these teaser spots are already generating buzz with a cocktail of star power and nostalgia.
For instance, Paramount Plus unveiled a spot bringing together an eclectic cast including NFL's Tua Tagovailoa and Patrick Stewart, alongside animation's Arnold from "Hey Arnold" and Peppa Pig. The ad's humor hinges on the absurd idea to "throw the child" in order to save the stranded party from an icy predicament, a risky comic swing aiming to grab audience attention. Meanwhile, OREO's spot features Kris Jenner reminiscing on her decision to launch "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" with a twist of the cookie deciding fate, playing on both history and pop culture to surely turn some heads.
Newcomer to the Super Bowl ad lineup, Starry, hopes to quickly to gain market traction with rapper Ice Spice playing opposite animated fruit characters in a playful rejection of a former soda brand love. Chris Pratt also joins the commercial fiesta, sporting a mustache akin to the Pringles man, per MSN, and finds himself embroiled in a viral saga that takes him from cashier recognition to movie biopics.
The ad stage is not without its dash of controversy and redemption arcs. Budweiser, in a return to its heartland roots, puts forward a spot featuring Clydesdales and a Labrador navigating a snowstorm to deliver beer to a local bar, according to KENS 5. This comes as a narrative cleanse after Bud Light stumbled last year into crossfire between political voices for its recognition of transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. In that tightrope act of corporate branding, finding the right emotional chord is more crucial than ever to win back varying consumer sentiments.
With millions to be made and brand reputations on the line, each of these commercials is a calculated play to resonate with a vast audience that will either applaud, meme, or dismiss them come game day. However, the undeniable fact is, before the first whistle blows, these ads are already part and parcel of the Super Bowl spectacle.
