Super Bowl Hits and Misses from GERTRUDE Founder and CCO Otis D. Gibson
Feb. 2026 - Screen Magazine
In the advertising world, Super Bowl Sunday is about anything but football. It’s about the commercials! We were thrilled to have GERTRUDE Founder and Chief Creative Officer Otis D. Gibson stop by Screen after the game to present his picks…
SCREEN: What was your favorite spot of the Super Bowl?
OTIS: Levi's – Really loved the simplicity of this and use of celebrities in this one felt relevant and natural. The use of nostalgia leading up to the Doechii reveal felt like a natural cultural fit for the brand.
Squarespace – With Emma Stone / Yorgos Lanthimos. I Really liked this one as It was beautifully shot with a simple very clear product message. Just the right amount of drama to make its point.
SCREEN: What was your least favorite spot of the night or a spot you felt could have been more successful? Why was it your least favorite?
OTIS: Coinbase… Why? Did you see it?
SCREEN: What would you like to see more or less of in terms of advertising in next year’s Super Bowl?
OTIS: Celebrities used properly. it was really tiring to watch such big misses over and over again. A lot of the spots seem to just have celebs thrown in for recognition versus partnering with them to draw a clear connection to the brand and why they were worth such a huge investment / partnership for the brand. It really feels like a desperate attempt to be remembered by inviting that “one dude / gal from that one show.” in a feeble attempt to grab some clout.
SCREEN: Any final words here, Otis?
OTIS: Overall, there was a really great mix of products from tax services to bran cereal that stood out for their own reasons but when I think Super Bowl I think BIG mind-blowing ideas and not sure that was delivered this year in full.
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