Common's Riff on Denzel Blows Up T-Mobile 'Audition'

Which brand will take home the 2024 Super Clio for the best Super Bowl commercial? We’ll find out on Feb. 12.

A bunch of celebs “audition” for T-Mobile’s Magenta Status customer appreciation program in the carrier’s second Super Bowl XVIII commercial.

Panay Films crams a lot into 60 seconds:

• Bradley Cooper and his mom, Gloria, bring the cuteness for a second straight year.
• Suits stars Gabriel Macht and Patrick J. Adams goof around in a garage.
• Jennifer Hudson whistles—alas she doesn’t sing.
• Laura Dern swears she can cry on cue.
• Zach Braff and Donald Faison, also in T-Mobile’s other Big Game spot, come to blows.

Though amusing, they can all step aside for Common. The actor/rapper slays with a banshee take on Denzel Washington’s speech from Training Day:

That flick was about wireless networks? Who knew? Thanks for loudly setting the record straight with such brand-boosting intensity.

You win, Common. Of course, the whole point is that customers don’t have to pay more or jump through hoops for Magenta. “Auditions” aren’t required. Still, superbly silly stuff.

Brian Krugman directed the :60, developed with Andrew Panay and Nate Tuck.

The spot airs during the 2nd quarter across CBS, Paramount+ and Nickelodeon.

CLICK HERE to watch all of this year’s Super Bowl commercials as they’re released.