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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media

Super Bowl ads: You paid $2.7 million for that?

The one time of the year we don’t get up to use the bathroom during commercial breaks has come and gone, and it’s time to assess whether our impending bladder infections were worth it. In short, never mind the game: How about them Super Bowl ads?

If you like cute animals, disembodied hearts and a nearly naked Angelina Jolie, it was probably a good night for you. Here's a rundown of some of the more female- (and fauna-) centered spots from the broadcast and my picks for the best, most boring and just plain bad ads.

The Best

Bridgestone: What’s better than talking animals? Screaming animals. I didn’t say my taste was all highbrow. P.S. Does anyone else think this squirrel is related to the famous Dramatic Prairie Dog?



Budweiser: Maybe I had too much of their product beforehand, but the whole "Rocky of the animal kingdom" thing worked for me.



Coca-Cola: Finally, a way to get me to watch the Macy’s Day parade. Is it wrong that I was rooting for Stewie to beat Underdog? Though, in the end, the best balloon won.



Wanted: Behold Angelina Jolie’s naked tattooed back. That is all.




The Boring

SoBe Life Water: Even without Naomi Campbell, the Filipino prison inmates did it better.



Sunsilk: You’d think the meeting of pop icons and pop art would be interesting. You’d think wrong.



Victoria’s Secret: Look, I appreciate the simplicity and — heaven knows — I’m in favor of supermodels in lingerie, but since no one watching really has Adriana Lima waiting at home for her, it’s also kind of cruel.




The Bad

(Note: These are so bad, I’m not even going to post the clips. They don’t deserve any more return on their investment.)

GoDaddy.com: The perennial in-bad-taste winner used its ad to tell people to watch its banned ad online. Don’t do it. I did so you don’t have to. Danica Patrick, seriously, you can’t be that hard up for cash.

SalesGenie.com: Fake accents aren’t funny. Neither are Asian stereotypes. Just ask Rosie O’Donnell. The company’s other ad featured an Indian salesman with “seven kids” to feed. I believe we have a winner in the Offensive Ad Bowl 2008.


Bonus: The Bah-Wah?

CareerBuider.com: I can’t decide whether this ad is clever or creepy. Though, it does give new meaning to the saying, “You ripped my heart out.”



So, any I missed? Or any I missed the mark on? And did anyone else enjoy watching Lena Headey in all the Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles promos almost more than the game itself?

claymore's picture

I'd pay $2.7M

 

...for Danica Patrick. ::thud::

EDIT: okay, I saw the "exposure ad." Beaver? Seriously? wtf.

Hm, my favs would have to be the Budweiser and Coca-Cola spots.

And I'd have to agree with you that the inmates did it better, lol. Thanks for the link!

As for the new Angie flick...eh, I'm not too excited about that movie at all. Which is strange because I'm usually all about the sci-fi, supernatural, big bad type movies. I don't know...

 

- claymore -

Melissa Hsu's picture

Coke and Charlie

the only commercial that was decent was the Coke ad with Charlie Brown in Manhattan. Just about all of the other ads were frickin horrible. Worst year in recent memory for Super Bowl commercials. at least the game was good and that the Giants won. www.eyeslikealeopard.com
saved's picture

I liked the Coke, Sobe and

I liked the Coke, Sobe and Budweiser but my favorite had to be the Diet Pepsi....

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=27485659

 

Most weren't too memorable but that Career Builders, I QUIT HEART was disturbingly funny!!!

Julia's picture

LOL i liked the heart. And

LOL i liked the heart. And the horse made me laugh, although i really don't like animals
sillytexasgirl's picture

....

I thought the Justin Timberlake one was kind of cute but other than that, I didn't really find any that amusing.

But then again, I wasn't exactly in the most chipper of moods. Refer to my avatar. Hmph.

You are my center when I spin away.

sillytexasgirl's picture

oh yeah

But seeing Lena Headey in every other spot cheered me up a bit. :D

You are my center when I spin away.

Lanna J.'s picture

doritos

the dude gettin beat up by the guy in the mouse costume was my favorite

 

The things I can do, I can make you forget your name. They call me the Remedy because I can cure all ya pain.

Sarah from Chicago's picture

Yeah, the Doritos Advert!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KHJRuYF8Tg

It had me and my friends howling in laughter with tears down our cheeks. I mean, it's so silly, simple and stupid, but it was wonderful!

GertandBernie's picture

SalesGenie.com

My God, when I saw that I honestly thought it was a joke, and was waiting for the punchline at the end. Never came. I was completely disgusted, and so was everyone around me. Seriously, were the Asian stereotypes necessary? Stupid commercial.

 

But the most important thing is that the GIANTS WON, BABY!!!!!!!! 18-1! 18-1!

WindRyderX's picture

Attack of the Giant Pigeons

I loved FedEx's pigeon commercial, it was pretty funny. Yea and it is sad that everyone doesn't have an Adriana Lima waiting at home... but on a happier note...Go Giants!!!
pecola's picture

Agreed

The FedEx commercial was, by far, my favorite.

-----

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." - Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Hannah's picture

salesgenie

I'm so glad for afterellen, cause i haven't heard anyone else talking about how terrible those  salesgenie ads were.  As soon as the second one was over, I turned to my friend and said "I hope some advocacy group jumps all over them for that."  Although, maybe that would give them more publicity than they deserve.

And no, I didn't enjoy watching Lena Headley more than the game.  I do think she's nice to look at, but that was a great game--with a perfect ending.

And I thought most the commercials sucked or were just bland, but I LOVED the coke commercial with Charlie Brown.  It made me strangely happy.

luvhouse's picture

This is what they should have shown

 

possibly one the funniest commercials I have seen in a long time:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=440nW4dMnss

 

 

 

 

Julia's picture

I love the Budweiser,

I love the Budweiser, Doritos, and the Coca-Cola Parade Balloons. My friends and I also were rolling from that Etrade Baby & Clown one. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=a-QU3fFvMj4)

 

 

makgrrl's picture

Audi's Commercial

I may be a little biased, but how about the Audi's commercial? Cheezy or Clever?
LL's picture

Don't forget the awesome

Don't forget the awesome defensive display the Giants put on, stopping cold the supposed greatest ever offense.
tootles's picture

A nice selection

I never thought "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" was faintly interesting, but Jolie's action in that Universal Pictures Wanted ad was strangely sexy.

The Coca-Cola ad was great fun. Now that I've come to think of it, Coca-Cola ads have always been very, very decent.

Worst ad on that list, to me, must be the SoBe Life Water. Dancing ... insects? Ew :-|

***

"I'm so sorry for the things that they've done
I'm so sorry about what we've all become."

[Editors - Well worn hands]