Originally posted Wednesday, January 29, 2020 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
The Super Bowl is the only time of year most folks care about ads, which are otherwise a nuisance that is resolved by watching Netflix or Amazon Prime.
So the advertisers naturally bring out the big guns - typically celebrities who can pocket big exposure (and a comparably big paycheck.)
The biggest Atlanta star so far? Lil Nas X, riding his fame horse high with Sam Elliott in a Doritos commercial.
Here are a list of the big names so far that have been revealed before the Super Bowl and you’ll see during the big game on Fox starting at 6 p.m. Sunday:
- Post Malone in one of these two Bud Lite Seltzer ads. (The public will decide which one.) The ad plays out "Inside Out" style, showing what's going on in the brain while he drinks a Seltzer. They are about equally amusing.
- Maisie Williams of "Game of Thrones" fame for Audi electric vehicles. She sings the classic "Frozen" song "Let it Go" to modest effect.
- Oakland Raiders' Josh Jacobs for Kia. He talks to him younger, homeless self about overcoming obstacles. It's effective in a low-key way.
- "Queer Eye" star Jonathan Van Ness for Pop Tarts. He is just his frothy self selling a new pretzel-style Pop Tart.
- Lil Nas X and Sam Elliott for Doritos. They do a classic "dance off," Western style. It kind of works, kind of doesn't.
- Pepsi brings Missy Elliott and HER. They sing "Paint it Black." A little Coke diss, which Pepsi has done before.
- Rainn Wilson ( "The Office") in a Little Caesar's ad. He plays a panicked "sliced bread" executive who hears that Little Caesar's pizza is the best thing since.. well... It's manic but not terribly memorable.
- Jimmy Fallon and John Cena for Michelob Ultra. Cena convinces Fallon that exercise isn't so bad. This one is more miss than hit.
- MC Hammer for Cheetos. A man finds out Cheetos fingers excuses him from all sorts of activities. Mildly amusing and Hammer is happy to spoof himself.
- Winona Ryder for Squarespace. She is helping promote Winona, Minn. The ad shows off Minnesota accents but not much else.
- Molly Ringwald for Avocados from Mexico. On an Avocado Home Shopping Network, Molly shills all sorts of avocado-supporting products. Ringwald’s natural chipperness keeps this one going.
- Bryan Cranston and Tracee Ellis Ross in an amusing "Shining" spoof for Mountain Dew Zero. Cranston channeling his inner Jack Nicholson pays off.
Adult Swim’s “Rick and Morty” sell Pringles in an ad where the characters discover they are trapped in a Pringles ad. It captures the show’s spirit while mocking commercialization in a commercial.
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend push the Hyundai Genesis, luxury for a younger generation. Chrissy sells this one even if the visual jokes don't always land.
Chris Evans and John Krasinski, comedian Rachel Dratch and Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz promote Hyundai in exaggerated Boston accents. Memorable if singular.
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