CampaignUS is reporting that brands are veering towards humor and nostalgia for their Super Bowl ads, steering clear of topics that could be polarizing for an audience already exhausted by political discourse. While last year's line-up included several ads that addressed immigration, prognosticators are predicting that brands will avoid this and other topics at the center of the current culture wars.
Brands typically have to walk the fine line between being part of the cultural zeitgeist and not offending any large segment of their consumer base. No where does this tightrope walk become more apparent (and difficult) than with the expensive ads produced for millions of Super Bowl viewers.