So, the game itself turned out rather boring. I really wasn’t rooting for either side, but then I started rooting for Pittsburgh (because Seattle just doesn’t have that aura of history’s-on-your-side and blue color honor and all that), but then thought a few calls were bad – or at least my brother pointed out that the calls were lousy (was it me, or were those refs really working too hard for Pittsburgh? I mean, those Pittsburgh Steelers got pushy toward the Seahawks guys).
The opening ceremony, honoring the MVP’s of the past 39 Super Bowls was interesting (I mean, wow, how many MVP’s came out for this? That was sure cool of them to do that). It was apparently a good moment for Lynn Swann, the past MVP who had the biggest cheers from the mostly Pittsburgh fans in the stadium (and notably, he’s trying to get the Republican nomination to become governor of Pennsylvania).
Plenty of analysis on the ads:
Reuters has this assessment that the ads played a little safe.
And, there’s the NY Times’ Stuart Elliott – witty and to the point.
The Washington Post, on MSNBC.com. And, even Time magazine. We’re all obsessed with the ads. And, there’s Seth Stevenson of Slate’s “Ad Report” – giving a cranky assessment.
Seriously, I got so bored with the game, I pretty much watched for the commercials during the three quarters. Fourth quarter, I was just waiting for “Grey’s Anatomy.” My assessment goes like this, below:
I was repulsed by the Burger King commercial. Never mind Burger King, who is weird enough – but the Whopperettes jumping atop of each other to form a Whopper – that’s just stupid. I know it was a parody of the old-fashioned Hollywood extravanganza, but it got silly so badly. In fact, it made me not want to eat a Whopper. I assume that’s not what Burger King wants me to do.
Sierra Mist commercial – with comedians Kathy Griffin and Jim Gaffigan as airport security people who remove a guy of his Sierra Mist – well, I got the point, but I didn’t think it was funny.
Fed Ex – the Neanderthal employee who tried to send a package by pterodactyl. Only, he can’t. Subtitles. His boss grunts that he should’ve sent it by Fed Ex. Employee grunts back that it doesn’t even exist yet. Boss grunts: “Not my problem” and fires employee. Employee leaves the cave office, kicks a lizard, and then he himself gets squashed by a giant elephant. Strangely funny. And, the boss – well, haven’t we all had nutty bosses?
The Aleve commercial with Leonard Nimoy – so, he’s at a Star Trek convention, but can’t do the Vulcan Live Long and Prosper hand sign because of his arthritis. Fortunately, the Aleve kicks in, so he can make his convention audience (and himself) feel relieved. Well, ok, so I’m a Trekkie and therefore I’m already biased to like the commercial. But, it was nice and funny! (kind of like how the Priceline.com commercial where Nimoy dropped in on Shatner was funny). And, it makes a point about the product. (and, it feels weird, but wow, that’s brave of Nimoy to go ahead and do an ad about his having arthritis).
I liked the Careerbuilder.com ads – “Yeah, I work for monkeys.” “I understand; I work for jackasses…” There’s something about animals that give me a laugh. And, reminds us about the problem of gainful but irritating employment and thinking about what ought we to do about it.
The Dove ad – which apparently is about encouraging girls to have positive body images – well, I think it was well-intentioned, so I’m not down on it as the professional critics have been. But, I think the problem is that no one felt comfortable seeing it in the middle of the Super Bowl.
The Fidelity (?) insurance ad with Sir Paul McCartney – see, I like the ad – but the problem is that it’s not original. It’s been on for quite awhile. And, it’s not like he’s doing half-time (he did it last year).
I liked the Mastercard MacGyver ad. Even better: it actually had Richard Dean Anderson as MacGyver doing his whole save-the-world-with-tube-socks-and-paper-clips. Hell, he could use the Mastercard to stop a bomb for all I care.
The beer commercials were adequately amusing. GoDaddy’s ad was as stupid as last year’s – with the near naked woman and the foolish men (I won’t even link to it – and I still don’t know what is GoDaddy). There were the funny mortgage company ads, but like the critics said – the problem is, I still don’t know who’s that company that sponsored those ads. Pepsi ads with P.Diddy, Jackie Chan, and Jay Mohr – umm, sort of okay. I guess. Not like I’ll drink Pepsi. And, that Ford ad with Kermit – well, at least Kermit’s still cute.
Rolling Stones doing half-time – well, familiar music’s okay, I guess. But, I was surprised by the story that ABC censored some stuff. I mean, come on – these guys are in their 60’s – they’ve been risque for quite awhile. If the red states become upset, the only response would be: where have you been the last 40 years?
“Grey’s Anatomy” was the post-Super Bowl show. It got over-dramatic with crazy plot stuff (the show’s so much better with character development – then again, it’s not like anyone was acting out of character, so the character moments were still great) – as it would be when one is after the Super Bowl. (ABC did it to Alias, when it had its post-Super Bowl episode). Newsday does a nice profile, for those who don’t know “Grey.”
Whisper it now: Code Black. (yeah, right, like hospitals really have such a thing; do major cities?). It was weird to see Kyle Chandler (the ex-nice guy of “Early Edition”) be the bomb squad guy in “Grey’s Anatomy.” I forgot he’s good-looking, in his own boy scout kind of way. In one of my posts, I theorized that Meredith Grey ought to have a CIA agent boy-toy; bomb squad guy isn’t off the mark… (assuming that even happens; Grey still not over Dr. McDreamy – but, he’s played by Patrick Dempsey, so who can blame her?)… 😉
The Super Bowl episode left us in a cliff-hanger – just like that – “What?! No, wait, you can’t do that!” – so, stay tuned for next time…
Oh, and last but not least: Jo Foxworth, the lady behind the D’Agostino jingle “Please, Mr. D’Agostino, move closer to me,” passed away. Her obit describes her career as fascinating, a true woman pioneer of a male-dominated ad industry.