This Week in TV News: Sundance, Oscars and Super Bowl Creative

This week, we’re talking about one of our favorite topics, big-budget TV ads that captivate audiences. We’re also looking at Sundance films with buzz and Netflix’s Academy Awards nominations.

Netflix’s “Roma” gets Best Picture Oscar nod. The streaming service’s nominated films include Alfonso Cuaron‘s “Roma” and the Coen brothers’ “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.” “Roma” garnered 10 nominations total, including Best Picture, which is a huge get for Netflix as it faces obstacles on the awards circuit. (CNN)

Sundance is here. The annual film fest attracted 14,259 film submissions from 152 countries. Of those, 112 feature-length films were selected, representing 33 countries and 45 first-time filmmakers. Buzzy titles include “Late Night,” a comedy written, produced and starring Mindy Kaling, documentaries about Harvey Weinstein and Michael Jackson, and Netflix’s “Velvet Buzzsaw,” a thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal. (Vulture)

“Taste the feeling” before the big game. Coca-Cola won’t air an ad during the Super Bowl for the first time in 10 years, opting for a 60-second spot before the National Anthem. Coke’s SVP-marketing for North America and president of its sparkling beverages business unit said the anthem timing is intentional, aimed at reminding remind everyone that “together is beautiful.” (Variety)

Spot these celebs in Super Bowl LIII. Celebrity cameos are a staple of big-budget ad creative. This year, Pepsi’s Super Bowl commercial will borrow the star power of Steve Carell, Lil Jon and Cardi B (who wears bejeweled Pepsi-colored nails). Kristin Chenoweth teaches dogs to sing in Avocados From Mexico’s ad, Luke Wilson will appear in a Colgate ad called “Close Talker,” and dating app Bumble will air a spot featuring Serena Williams as a part of its #InHerCourt campaign. Keep an eye out for Budweiser’s spot, which borrows Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” for its a message that the beer is “now brewed with wind power,” promoting the brewers’ goal to be powered by renewable sources by 2025.

See last week’s TV news covering the Fyre Festival documentary wars and the Oscars going hostless.