Getty Images/CBSAs the Oscars isn't just any awards show, the Super Bowl isn't just any sporting event.
It's the game that people who wouldn't know a Bronco from a Panther, or Von Miller from Sienna Miller, tune into anyway because there's just so much else to see!
From the Denver and Carolina diehards who have to see the game in person and the celebs who just want to be in San Francisco to party all weekend, to the commercials and the mega-event that is the halftime show, here is your star-gazing guide for Super Bowl 50:
PRE-GAME FESTIVITIES:
VIPs aren't going to just fly into town on Sunday—no, they're making a long weekend of it of course! Among the celeb parties taking place ahead of the game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (which no one without a ticket or official clearance is getting anywhere near thanks to a 3- to 4-mile security perimeter going up):
• One Republic headlines the CBS Radio Concert Series on Friday at The City Stage at Super Bowl City.
• While Dave Matthews Band kicked off the series Thursday, Pharrell Williams headlines DIRECTV's Pepsi Friday Night Live and DIRECTV's Super Saturday Night is featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers with opening act Run DMC.
• Seal and Sam Hunt are singing at the official Super Bowl 50 Tailgate Party.
• Also spotted arriving in San Francisco Thursday and Friday for partying and/or performing: Nick Lachey, Jamie Foxx, Ludacris, The Band Perry, Fall Out Boy, DJ Khaled, Too Short, Hunter Hayes and Tommy Lee.
BEFORE KICKOFF:
One team is on the edge of Super Bowl glory, so only fitting that Lady Gaga has been asked to sing the national anthem, the sporting event at which to do the honors. Marlee Matlin will sign the song alongside her.
THE GAME:
Or all the moments between plays, that is. Translation: The commercials. The going rate for a 30-second Super Bowl ad is a reported $5 million, an 8.7 percent increase over last year's hefty price tag—so you can bet that advertisers are going for maximum impact. Which is why this year's roster of off-the-field action is going to rival any awards show for star wattage:
• Alec Baldwin and Dan Marino are testing the mettle of Amazon's new Siri-style virtual assistant Alexa.
• In case you hadn't noticed, Seth Rogen and Amy Schumer have sent out early invites to join the Bud Light Party, and they have Paul Rudd and Michael Peña convinced so far.
• Silicon Valley star T.J. Miller matches wits with a spunky beer tap in Anheuser-Busch-owned Shock Top's first-ever Super Bowl ad (once again, A-B is the only brewer advertising during the big game).
• Budweiser has enlisted Helen Mirren to remind you not to drink and drive
• Jeff Goldblum (er, Brad Bellflower) is back to his world-changing ways, with an assist from Lil Wayne, in a new spot for Apartments.com.
• Heard though not seen, Van Halen's "Runnin' at the Devil" will fire up an Acura ad, David Bowie's "Starman" will cause feelings for Audi's target audience and Queen is the theme of Honda's mesmerizing, sheep-filled 60-second spot. That's, like, $250,000 per sheep.
• BMW, ironically, went for economy, packing Serena Williams, Harvey Keitel, T-Pain, Tony Hawk, Randy Johnson and Abby Wambach into one eclectic 30-second spot for its Mini Clubman.
• Charles is in charge of touting Avocados From Mexico—Scott Baio, that is.
• Is Buick daring Lincoln to a game of chicken? Odell Beckham Jr. and Emily Ratajkowski are taking the GM line for a spin during Super Bowl 50, while Ford is strangely silent.
• Ryan Reynolds hikes to Ryan Reynolds in one of two Hyundai ads.
• Kia's "Walken Closet" starring recent spokesman Christopher Walken is sure to be a must-see.
• Liam Neeson is LG's "Man From the Future."
• Arnold Schwarzenegger is once again on duty for the game Mobile Strike.
• Skittles is sweet on Steven Tyler in 2016.
• When is Marilyn Monroe not Marilyn Monroe? When she's Willem Dafoe pre-Snickers bar.
• Your next favorite regular guy turned commercial star is Brandon Williams, who took out a loan from SoFi and ended up in their first-ever SB ad.
• We've now learned that the girl who used to call Drake on her cell phone should've used T-Mobile.
• Janelle Monáe will serenade us from the second quarter into the Pepsi Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show as part of Pepsi's "The Joy of Dance" spot. Which brings us to...
THE HALFTIME SHOW STARRING BEYONCÉ
Well, really starring Coldplay, but Queen Bey's been all anybody can focus on since it became known she'd be joining Chris Martin & Co. for their big moment. At least one other special guest is expected as well and Bruno Mars is at the top of the speculation list (though if we were Peyton Manning we wouldn't want anyone around who reminds the Broncos of their last Super Bowl appearance). But most importantly, surely Levi's Stadium has been in touch with the local utility in case Bey's performance uses up all the power in the place as it might have done at the Superdome during Super Bowl XLVII in 2013.
AFTER THE GAME:
The host network gets to pick the post-Super Bowl programming and this year CBS has passed the ball to The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, which will air live after the game. Stephen Colbert's own roster of all-stars includes Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Keegan-Michael Key & Jordan Peele, Margot Robbie and Megyn Kelly.