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2023 Webby Awards: Notable Nominees and Unique Entries
Entertainment

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NEW YORK — The 30th annual Webby Awards have announced their nominees, featuring a diverse array of personalities and unconventional entries. Among the nominees are Cardi B, Steph Curry, Dwayne Johnson, Justin Bieber, and even Sydney Sweeney's bathwater.

The International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences revealed the nominees on Tuesday, showcasing over 13,000 submissions from more than 70 countries.

The Associated Press received an exclusive preview of the nominations.

Political figures like New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and California Governor Gavin Newsom also received nominations for their social media teams, while Kendall Jenner's humorous Super Bowl ad, Bet on Kendall, earned three nominations for its take on her dating misfortunes with athletes.

Jenner competes with Sweeney in the best viral PR campaigns category, as Sweeney offered her bathwater for fans in a limited-edition soap by Dr Squatch.

The Webby Awards are divided into eight major categories, including games, podcasts, websites and mobile sites, video and film, apps and software, AI, and advertising, media, and PR.

Winners will be announced on April 21, with an awards ceremony hosted by Josh Johnson of The Daily Show scheduled for May 11 in New York.

Leading the nominations are Google with 46, followed by PBS (29), Apple (23), The Walt Disney Company (23), NBCUniversal (22), and Netflix (22).

Quirky Products and Viral Campaigns

Among the most eccentric products of 2023 are Absolut's Tabasco-flavored vodka, Ricola's limited-edition herb-infused scarf, and a couple of unusual French pastry-themed items — Panera Bread's Croissant Clutch handbag and Lidl's Eau de Croissant fragrance.

Duolingo stirred up buzz with a campaign involving the staged death of its mascot owl, Duo, which prompted a witty response from Dua Lipa on social media. This campaign earned nominations for best PR campaign and best use of earned media.

Dua Lipa is also in the running for a Webby after Apple documented her day on the Radical Optimism tour.

The finale of Stranger Things last year became a cultural milestone, with its promotional mobile scavenger hunt earning three nominations. Additionally, a campaign utilizing Google Maps and Spotify helped Bad Bunny fans locate track titles from his album Debi Tirar Mas Fotos.

A Los Angeles billboard featuring Steph Curry gained viral attention for its creative design, while LeBron James’ commercial for Amazon, showcasing various post-basketball career options, received a nomination for best collaboration.

The awards are determined by the academy, while the Webby People's Voice Award will be voted on by fans globally, with voting open until April 16.

Music Videos and Creative Campaigns

Kendrick Lamar and SZA's music video for "Luther" is up against several competitors, including Sabrina Carpenter's "Tears" and Rosalia's "Berghain." Lamar previously won a Webby for his video "Not Like Us."

Benedict Cumberbatch received nominations for his dramatic readings of Amazon customer reviews in the Five Star Theatre campaign. Blackpink's Lisa also garnered a nomination for her NikeSKIMS ad, which inspired numerous TikTok recreations.

Dwayne Johnson's surprise visit to a high school football team post-tragedy earned a nomination in the best long-form video category, while Lady Gaga's Spotify Q&A regarding her album Mayhem was nominated for best events and livestream social campaign.

Food content creator Nick DiGiovanni received two nominations for his culinary challenges with MrBeast, while MrBeast's animated series MrBeast Lab also received recognition.

Timothee Chalamet’s look-alike contest, which attracted significant attention, received a nomination, as did his Cash App advertisement featuring a giant tropical fruit.

Justin Bieber's live Twitch broadcast of his Coachella preparations was nominated for community engagement, while Terry Crews’ Sonic ad on acting for athletes earned a nomination for best long-form branded entertainment.

Podcast Nominations and Engaging Campaigns

Top nominees for best feature podcast host include Good Hang with Amy Poehler, Next Question with Katie Couric, The Mel Robbins Podcast, Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky, and Baby, This is Keke Palmer.

Palmer's podcast is also nominated for interview or talk show in entertainment and culture, competing with shows like Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim and Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard.

On the sports front, nominees include podcasts such as Pablo Torre Finds Out and New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce.

Cardi B's innovative rollout for her album Am I The Drama? earned her two nominations, while the short film I Said I Love You First, featuring Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco, also received recognition.

Science communicator Emily Calandrelli earned a nomination after her encounter with TSA over breast pump regulations, spawning the hashtag #HandsOffOurMilk. Meanwhile, Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers received a nod for their discussions with Sesame Street characters on the NBC Olympics podcast Two Guys, Five Rings.

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