Becoming a TV commercial icon

You know them as Flo, the Progressive Insurance saleswoman; Mayhem, the human embodiment of disasters covered by Allstate; and the unstoppable dancer from the Jardiance diabetes drug ads. Correspondent David Pogue talks with actors Stephanie Courtney, Dean Winters and Deanna Colon about how becoming nationally famous via TV commercials has (or hasn't) changed their lives.

Topics

This Startup Just Inked a Deal to Develop a Commercial Nuclear Fusion Plant

Type One Energy’s nuclear fusion deal with the Tennessee Valley Authority comes as the region has experienced an economic boom.
Inc. - 9h
Thunderful Gothenburg becomes Stormteller Games

Thunderful Gothenburg announced today it has rebranded as Stormteller Games, with a cultural refresh to its development approach.
VentureBeat - 13h
Become Your Bank: Infinite Banking With an Inflation Hedge

Low interest rates aren’t keeping up with inflation.
Inc. - 1d
Who’s Watching What on TV? Who’s to Say?

People now watch so many programs at so many different times in so many different ways that measuring viewership has become a hot debate in the industry.
The New York Times - 2d
More than 100 sites across England bid to become ‘new towns’

Sir Keir Starmer claims some will be under construction by end of the current parliament
Financial Times - 9h
First DOGE committee hearing becomes referendum on Elon Musk

The star of the first Delivering on Government Efficiency subcommittee hearing in the House Wednesday was an individual not in attendance: Elon Musk. Democrats on the panel took intense aim at ...
The Hill - 12h
Durant becomes 8th in NBA to reach 30,000 points

Kevin Durant, the 36-year-old Phoenix Suns forward, became the eighth player in NBA history to score 30,000 points, hitting the mark with a free throw late in the third quarter of a 119-112 loss to ...
ESPN - 17h
Office attendance is becoming a performance metric

Return to work mandates can weed out underperforming staff but risk pushing away valued workers
Financial Times - 20h
Kevin Durant becomes 8th NBA player to score 30,000 points

The milestone is the latest for Durant, who's been one of the game's most efficient and effective scorers since his rookie season
Yahoo Sports - 1d
In Trump’s Washington, Words Become Weaponized

The previous administration’s progressive lexicon has been swept away, replaced by a new official language of a bureaucracy under fire from its own president.
The New York Times - 1d
Has the Met Police just become less safe?

Met officers who fail internal vetting scheme may keep jobs thanks to court ruling.
BBC News - 1d
The US can’t become the ‘crypto capital of the world’ unless these 6 things change

Crypto advocates may want to pump the brakes after reading President Trump's Jan. 25 executive order
The Hill - 1d
The Best and Worst Super Bowl Commercials, Ranked

Here is our critic’s survey of this year’s Super Bowl commercials, from best to worst.
The New York Times - 2d
NHL Rumor Roundup: The Blues Could Become Major Sellers At The Trade Deadline

The St. Louis Blues surfaced in trade speculation and rumors near the end of last week. At risk of missing the playoffs again, will they be sellers and trade their captain?
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Breaking down the best commercials from the Super Bowl

Millions of Americans tuned into the 2025 Super Bowl on Sunday, but some were watching for the ads more than the game. Ad Age editor-in-chief Jeanine Poggi breaks down some of the best Super Bowl ...
CBS News - 2d
The best and worst Super Bowl commercials of 2025

Super Bowl 59's ad lineup had some winners and plenty of losers among its crop of new commercials. Read what the experts say.
CBS News - 2d
Brussels becoming more supportive of Big Tech, says Booking CEO

Also in this newsletter: ruling party to lose outright majority in Kosovo elections
Financial Times - 3d
Super Bowl commercials: Top 20 of all time remain unchanged after Chiefs vs. Eagles

None of the Super Bowl LIX ads were able to crack the top 20
CBS Sports - 3d
Here are the top 5 commercials from the Super Bowl

This year’s Super Bowl marked the end of the Kansas City Chiefs’ two-year winning streak in the National Football League’s (NFL) biggest game, with the Philadelphia Eagles handily toppling their ...
The Hill - 3d
Ranking best Super Bowl halftime performances ever: Here are the most iconic and memorable moments

A look at some of the most interesting moments in Super Bowl history
CBS Sports - 3d
HHS Has Many Health Equity Offices. What Will Become of Them?

This is a MedPage Today story. Of five major HHS agency offices focused on health equity, only one has taken down its website amid President Trump's executive orders to end federal government ...
ABC News - 3d
China’s US tariffs become a reality

Plus, Mandelson becomes the UK’s man in Washington while political and business leaders debate AI developments in Paris
Financial Times - 3d
Pitch perfect: Commercial spokespeople talk about their TV fame

Stephanie Courtney (Flo, the Progressive Insurance saleswoman), Dean Winters (Mayhem, of Allstate insurance commercials), and Deanna Colon (the unstoppable dancer in Jardiance diabetes drug ads) ...
CBS News - 3d
The 2025 Super Bowl commercials already catching attention

From beer to snacks to tech to beer again, there are a slew of Super Bowl commercials you can already watch. Here are some of the best ads so far.
The Hill - 3d
Super Bowl commercials rely on comedy and nostalgia to avoid potential missteps

This year’s Super Bowl commercials are going for laughs, with advertisers betting that viewers need a diversion from weighty matters
ABC News - 3d
A Met Museum guard becomes a star

Artist Armia Khalil emigrated to the U.S. from Egypt with nothing but $400 and a suitcase of sculpting tools. When his dreams of becoming a professional sculptor didn't work out, he got a job as a ...
CBS News - 3d
Super Bowl commercials 2025: Matthew McConaughey, Post Malone among long list of celebrities in teasers

Companies have brought in some of the biggest names in entertainment for their Super Bowl LIX ads
CBS Sports - 3d
Rounding up athletes in commercials: Beckham, Mahomes and the Mannings

Athletes take center stage in star-studded Super Bowl commercials on Sunday.
ESPN - 4d
Bencic wins first WTA title since becoming mother

Switzerland's Belinda Bencic beats USA's Ashlyn Krueger in the Abu Dhabi Open final for her first WTA title since becoming a mother.
Yahoo Sports - 4d
How much do 2025 Super Bowl commercials cost?

Brands are paying millions to air their commercials during Super Bowl 2025. Here's what's behind the cost, and why advertisers say it's worth it.
CBS News - 4d
How Going to Commercial During the Super Bowl Works

TV advertising is the lifeblood of the league, but knowing when to pause the games is a task undertaken by N.F.L. executives, network producers and on-field officials.
The New York Times - 4d
What is to become of the Great British Garden Centre?

Unreliable weather and patchy trading have led to a wilting of gardening sales — but tea and cakes may yet save the postwar institution
Financial Times - 5d
Woman becomes surrogate for her former teacher struggling with infertility

After struggling with infertility for years, a woman gets a message from her former student offering to be her surrogate. Steve Hartman goes "On the Road" to meet the couple who got a gift from ...
CBS News - 5d
Even at $8 million per Super Bowl commercial, ad executives say it's still bang for your buck

Some advertisers are shelling out up to $8 million for a 30-second spot on this year's Super Bowl. Industry experts say the high price tag is still worth it.
CNBC - 5d
Local bookstores, dealt another blow by L.A. fires, become 'community touchstones'

Local bookstores have become tiny beacons of light, drawing Angelenos seeking solace and consolation following the L.A. fires.
Los Angeles Times - 6d
The Physics That Keeps a Crowd From Becoming a Stampede

A group of scientists studying the San Fermín festival in Pamplona, Spain, believe there’s a way to predict the motions of a large crowd.
The New York Times - Feb. 5