Super Bowl Ads Offer Simple Escapism With Star Power

This screen grab from video provided by PepsiCo shows an image from the company’s 2019 Super Bowl NFL football spot featuring Steve Carell. Star power abounds in this year’s Super Bowl ads.

PepsiCo via AP

Sarah Michelle Gellar makes a horror movie parody for Olay. Jeff Bridges and Sarah Jessica Parker tout Stella Artois. Steve Carrell hawks Pepsi.

Star power abounds in this year’s Super Bowl ads.

Advertisers are hoping to provide some welcome distraction and entertainment as economic fears persist and the nation’s political climate remains sharply divided. As much as this year’s Super Bowl will be a battle on the field between the New England Patriots and the L.A. Rams, it will be a battle between advertisers over who gets the buzz — and who gets forgotten.