'NCIS: LA' Alum Daniela Ruah Reveals Her Favorite Super Bowl Commercials and Snacks

The Super Bowl is supposed to be about football. But let’s admit it, so many of us also watch it to see the special commercials that advertisers create specifically for the most-watched TV event of the year. They spend big bucks, hire A-list celebrities and go all out to entertain the audience.

The ads are so memorable that CBS has been creating specials for going-on 24 years dedicated to commercials around the big game. This season’s Super Bowl Greatest Commercials: The Funniest of All Time features those that have famously kept America laughing during the big game, such as E*TRADE Babies, the CareerBuilder monkeys, Budweiser’s Lamb Streaker, and Mountain Dew’s PuppyMonkeyBaby.

Hosted by CBS Mornings co-host and NFL Today analyst Nate Burleson and NCIS: Los Angeles alum Daniela Ruah, the special airs from Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, site of Super Bowl LIX. It will be interactive, allowing viewers to vote live to crown the funniest Super Bowl commercial of all time.

“When it comes to some of these commercials, especially when we’re talking about the funniest of all time, the greatest of all time, these are things that are not only extremely memorable but live on the internet forever,” Ruah tells Parade. “If somebody mentions something to you, you’re going to go look it up and it’s going to be there because they were iconic. Whether they’re big budget, small budget, heartfelt or comedic, they’re online."

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Ruah isn’t allowed to reveal which two commercials she and Nate selected as their favorites. But she does mention a few that she has enjoyed in the past, such as the Tide Stain ad, which ran during the 2008 Super Bowl, and the Terry Tate Office Linebacker spot, which first ran in 2003. And even though this year’s special features The Funniest of All Time, Ruah also enjoys the sentimental ones with animals, parents and kids.

“Generational things are always wonderful,” she says. “The commercials are always incredible, and creatives throw most of their energy into them, so you don’t get up when it’s the commercials. If anything, it’s ‘Shhh! Commercial’s on, let me watch the commercials.’"

Even though Super Bowl Greatest Commercials: The Funniest of All Time was filmed at Caesars Superdome, Ruah will be home watching the game with her family and friends.

“It’s my favorite place to be to watch the Super Bowl,” she says. “Put a bunch of snacks out, sit on the floor up against the couch with the puppies and the kids and make a homey thing. I know a lot of people like to celebrate it, but I think over time, I really enjoy being home. Especially because so often I have to travel for work, so I’m okay being home and watching it in the comfort of my own home with my family.”

Ruah comes from a household that is very active–her kids play soccer and flag football at school. And she married into a family of Minnesota Vikings fans. And though they won't be playing in the Super Bowl this year, they will watch anyway, saying, "It’s always super exciting because you’ve got the two best teams playing each other, so you know you’re going to be in for a great game.”

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And it’s the one day of the year where they may not eat as nutritiously as the other 364 days.

“It’s our household, so it’s always going to be a version of healthy,” Ruah shares. “Listen, guacamole, we’re big corn chip eaters in my household. My husband makes the most amazing salsa from scratch. We grow peppers in our backyard, and he makes it. It’s really flavorful and delicious. Quesadillas, which are borderline not really healthy but delicious. It’s a snacky day. We’ll put some carrots out and some chopped-up vegetables. It’s kind of a drive-by situation. It’s not much of a big meal day, it’s the drive-by snacky situation for sure.”

Super Bowl Greatest Commercials: Funniest of All-Time airs tonight at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. Streams next day on Paramount+.

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