By Kadian Nunes

Ah, that time of the year again—not tax season, but the one day out of the year when we all actually sit and watch commercials and judge them. We took a look at the ads this year using our "How to be Famous" lens, where each of these “winning” ads represents at least one of these six principles.

Be surprising: Verizon “Can’t B broken” 

This one certainly caught everyone off guard! It's been a while since we've had a “break the Internet” moment. The spot features Beyoncé trying various ways to "break the Internet," including opening a lemonade stand, a reference to her 2016 album Lemonade, a Beyoncé AI , and “Beyoncé of the United States.” All leading up to her saying: “Drop the new music” — and Beyoncé’s website announced that Renaissance Act II would be released on March 29th.

Be funny: Kawasaki “Mullets”

The Super Bowl had its fair share of funny moments and ads, but who doesn’t love a good mullet? "Business in the front, party in the back!" Kawasaki was definitely the standout winner for this year's funniest ad, as they even got Steve Austin to rock the mullet alongside the wildlife featured throughout the spot.

Innovate: Google “Javier in Frame”

Here was the break we needed from the beer, upbeat music, and celebrities—sure to tug on the heartstrings. The spot takes us through a blurred view of Javier's life, from solo photography to adventures with two, then shows us the heartwarming addition of a little third person in the frame.

Be Quiet: Dove “Hard Knocks: A Dove Super Bowl Film”

While many Super Bowl commercials boast big budgets, star-studded casts, and elaborate green screen effects, they often aim to avoid controversy and cultural conflicts. Dove, however, takes a different approach by placing women's sports and body positivity at the forefront of their Super Bowl ads. 

Be True: Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS)

Dr. Jones, a pivotal figure in American history, collaborated with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in crafting the iconic "I Have a Dream '' speech over 60 years ago. This connection brings depth to the FCAS ad's message. The FCAS's mission to combat hate in all its forms, despite our inherent differences, resonates strongly in today's climate. By promoting such a message on one of the world's largest stages, the ad serves as some hope and a call to action for viewers to stand up against bigotry and division.

Be Crafty:  NFL “Born to Play”

Africa and American football—who would have thought? This ad hits the mark for originality and storytelling. The spot focuses on the growth of the game and spreading it to a part of the world that might have otherwise overlooked the game. Starting in a traditional Ghanaian home with a young African footballer letting his imagination of being in a game take control in his family house and then moving to the streets of Ghana during a bustling market, showcasing a glimpse of what Ghana has to offer, it adds a meaningful layer to the ad, between that and meeting Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah of the Cleveland Browns.