Not Enough Bang For The Bucks They Spend

Like many people I spend yesterday at a Super Bowl party watching the Super Bowl. Though as indicated by my last posting I was more interested in the commercials then the game itself. This makes it even more disheartening to report that this year’s crop of Super Bowl commercials were no where near as funny or as memorable as they have been in previous years.

A great or beloved Super Bowl commercial is always debatable. In talking to a few people at the party the famous Mean Joe coca-cola ad was brought up, with a number of people remarking on how they didn’t think it was as good as people make it out to be. And my personal favorite Super Bowl commercial (A FedEx ad that parodies Cast Away) is probably not well remembered. But in my opinion only a few of this years offerings were good, and only one will be remembered in years to come.

Rather then list my response to every single commercial (which would become very tedious very quickly) I have decided to voice my opinion on a few. They have been divided into four categories: what was good, what was bad, what was simply so-so and what was memorable.

The Good:

Monster.com, beavers: While not particularly effective in advertising its product (the commercial seemed to say that using monster.com will lead to success through luck rather then finding a job), you can’t go wrong with a beaver playing a fiddle.

Bud Light, Survivor: Airing less then a week after Lost’s season premier, this silly commercial proved that survival is less important then fun.

Bud Light, Two Ladies: “I’d like to hear you read some words.” Saying anything else would just ruin it.

Flo TV, My Generation: An impressive collection of good and bad memorable moments set to an amazing song.

Snickers, Betty White: For some reason it’s always funny to see a beloved actress being tackled and berated.

The So-So:

Focus on Family, Tebow and Mom: A woman talks about how special her son is and how she almost lost him when suddenly she’s tackled by quarterback Tim Tebow, revealing the woman to be his mom. This pro life ad was so vague I had to go on-line to find out what it was suppose to be advertising. It also loses points for airing right after the Snicker, Betty White commercial. Don’t air two commercials with exact same elements (in this case woman getting hurt) back to back. Have a little wiggle room.

Cars.com, Growing Up (2010): A young genius who grew up performing amazing acts is nervous about buying a new car. It would have been clever and memorable, if the exact same commercial hadn’t aired during last year’s game.

Teleflora.com, Rude Flowers: While it’s gratifying to see rude people gets their comeuppance this ad just didn’t do it for me.

Bridgestone, Bachelor Party: This ad might have been a little better if it had been a parody of The Hangover or Free Willy instead of a combination of the two.

The Bad:

GoDaddy.com, both ads: You know a commercial is bad when even the prospect of soft-core porn doesn’t make a person want to use a product.

Coke, Simpsons Moving: This one might have simply been so-so if not for defacing such beloved icons. With only two characters speaking (one not even a Simpsons regular) and the message that cola can make up for final ruin this ad was a major stinker.

Doritos, Play Nice: While seeing a grown man slapped by a little kid is funny to some I found it to be disturbing. Also, was the woman meant to be the kid’s mom or sister? Meaning if that question has to be asked then they definably cast someone who looks to young for the part.

Dockers, Wear No Pants: Overweight men in tighty whities marching through a field is not something I want to see while I’m snacking.

Select 55, Lightest Beer in World: Where’s the fun in a Super Bowl commercial if it looks as ordinary as a regular one?

Anheuser Busch, Clydesdale Friend: This bland and overly cute spot would have been simply so-so if not for the hilarious Anheuser Busch commercials the Super Bowl has given us in the last few years.

Vizio, Beyonce: The whole time during this commercial all I was reminded of was big brother telling us what we should find entertaining.

Dennys, all three ads: Those freaked out chickens were just creepy, and not in a cool pleasing way.

The Memorable:

Late Show, Leno, Oprah & Letterman: Of all the ads that aired this is the only one that will probably be talked about in years to come. Poking fun at their famous feud the ad has both hosts brought together by Oprah to watch the Super Bowl. But it’s clear neither want to be there, with the two late night hosts barely tolerating each other. Topical and at the same time somewhat timeless.

Why Even a Unfan of Football can Love the Super Bowl

Growing up I was never into sports, despite my father’s efforts. While he himself was never a sports fanatic he did try to instill an appreciation for physical games. He played catch with me and would take me to professional football and baseball games. His efforts unfortunately ended up in vain as even those simple gestures didn’t interest me. I was more interested in the arts and visual media then in watching professional athletes compete for glory. However, once a year a paradox always ends up taking effect. And that is that in spite of my indifference for sports I love the Super Bowl.

Whenever people hear that they ask me how can I love the Super Bowl if I don’t care for sports? I always have my answer ready, and it’s not jumping on the bandwagon. I love everything about the Super Bowl except the game. To me the day is a joyous spectacle with many things about it to enjoy. So here is a list of all the things that make Super Bowl Sunday immensely enjoyable, even if one doesn’t care about football.

1. The Atmosphere: Although Super Bowl Sunday isn’t a national holiday it sure feels like it. Such a big deal is made about that one game that there seems to be a feeling of energy in the air. Seeing so many people excited about the upcoming day’s events can make anyone feel just a little bit giddy.

2. The Parties: Even if you don’t like the game everyone likes a party. And odds are someone you know will be throwing a Super Bowl party. I say go to one and enjoy yourself. Or throw one yourself. It’s a great excuse to get friends together and have a good time.

3. The Food: With the exception of Thanksgiving people eat more food on the Super Bowl then any other day. I say indulge and enjoy yourself. Some well loved staples include chips and dip, salsa, chili, and baked ziti. Though no party would be complete without the big hero sandwich, which always seems to have a little bit left over no matter how many people eat it. Just make sure you don’t wait until the last minute to order one.

4. The Commercials: The Super Bowl is the one event where people actually want to watch the commercials. Advertisers pull out all the stops in order to have people remember what they are selling. This has led to many memorable commercials which are talked about for years after they originally aired. A few personal favorites of mine are a McDonalds spot in which a tyrannosaurs rex skeleton turns into a playful puppy at the site of French fries, a parody of the movie Cast Away in which the unopened FedEx package is revealed to be everything one would need to survive on a deserted island, a Budweiser spot in which a hopeful Clydesdale trains like Rocky in order to make the team, and a advertisement for Doritos in which a magic snow globe can grant wishes if you throw it at the right item.

5. The Alternative Programming: It would seem the fact that not everyone cares about the big game is catching on, because in the last few years other channels have been offering up other programs to watch on Super Bowl Sunday. While many are aired during the halftime show other channels have offered people something to watch during the game itself, such as many cable stations showing all day marathons of favorite shows. Though the biggest counterprogramming can be seen on Animal Planet with The Puppy Bowl, a simple program that has adorable puppies playing in a football themed pen. But be warned, if you’re at a Super Bowl party do not suggest switching over to another channel. You could lose a limb or two that way.

6. The Post Game Show: Since so many people watch the super bowl networks cleverly air special programs after the game in order to maximize how many people view it. Networks have premiered shows after the game (Family Guy, Survivor All Stars) or simply showed special episodes of already established shows (Friends, The Office). This year the show after the Super Bowl is Undercover Boss, a new reality show in which CEOs secretly work remedial jobs within their own company.

So there you have it: six reasons to enjoy the Super Bowl even if you don’t care about the game. I hope this guide is helpful in having you enjoy this unofficial national holiday. Good luck and enjoy yourself.