The Webby Awards, which spotlight excellence in internet content and creation, have unveiled their nominees for this year, and they feature a diverse array of entries. New York played host to the announcement, showcasing contenders like Kendrick Lamar, Gracie Abrams, Zoe Saldaña, and the iconic Nutter Butter cookie brand. The awards, organized by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, are set to feature selections from nearly 13,000 submissions hailing from over 70 countries worldwide.
Amongst the intriguing nominations is a unique music video featuring Will Ferrell, Nick Jonas, and Jimmy Fallon, which humorously revolves around jorts and mullets. This piece vies with Abrams’ introspective “The Secret of Us.” The rapidly popular Skibidi Toilet phenomenon, created by Invisible Narratives, also secured a nomination, while Donald Duck’s fiery appearance on “Hot Ones” earned him a nod as he celebrated his 90th birthday by munching spicy wings.
Comedy in video or film sees formidable contenders like Jim Gaffigan, The Onion, and “Very Important People” competing against the comedic chops of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in a memorable skit from “The Tonight Show.” Meanwhile, the “New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce” podcast, a two-time Webby winner from last year, returns to the spotlight now nominated for the best podcast video series. Saldaña’s engaging interaction on Netflix’s “Skip Intro,” centered on her project “Emilia Pérez,” also garnered her a nomination for a standout podcast interview.
In the beauty sector, Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty faces competitors like Alexis Bittar’s “The Bittarverse” and others. A spot-on parody by the language app Duolingo featuring its mascot Duo humorously crossing paths with “The Bear” gets a well-deserved nod, too. Meanwhile, Cynthia Erivo’s educational presence in the “Celebrity Substitute” series, alongside a conversational nod with Ariana Grande on “Wicked,” further shows the diversity of this year’s nominees.
The winners of the Webby Awards will be chosen by the academy, with public opinion playing a crucial role in deciding the Webby People’s Voice Award. Fans across the globe can cast their votes until April 17, and the victors will be unveiled on April 22. Those honored will gather at a ceremony on May 12, hosted by Ilana Glazer.
Media giants like NBCUniversal, MTV Entertainment Studios, CNN, and National Geographic dominate with tens of nominations, highlighting the competitive edge in media content creation this year. Additional buzzworthy mentions include Matthew McConaughey’s standout Super Bowl ad linking football with food for Uber Eats, and quirky commercials from Ogilvy and CeraVe staring Michael Cera.
In the realm of standout music videos, Dua Lipa, Megan Thee Stallion, Charli XCX, and Lady Gaga all contend for the esteemed title in a category helmed by Lamar’s blockbuster “Not Like Us.” Meanwhile, Keke Palmer and Oprah Winfrey both shine with dual nominations for their podcast contributions.
A surprise entry is the unconventional promotion from the 56-year-old brand Nutter Butter, which took TikTok by storm last year. Elsewhere, podcasts like “SmartLess” and “Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang” continue to demonstrate comedic prowess.
Important figures comprising the Academy include industry experts like Quinta Brunson, Amelia Dimoldenberg, Anjali Sud, Todd Kaplan, Desiree Perez, and Shannon Sharpe. Together, they ensure the Webby Awards remain a hallmark of innovative digital content and creativity.