By Jason Weingardt
The Super Bowl is as American an event as one could ever be. Most of us attend a party, eat an inordinate amount of junk food and, for those of you of age, get somewhat intoxicated. While the game itself is loud, obnoxious, and more often than not entertaining, this monstrous event, like all facets of professional sports, boils down to which company will profit the most off of advertisements.
Super Bowl ads are supposed to transcend normal advertisements. They’re supposed to make you laugh, cry, and more importantly, think. This year Super Bowl advertisers were set back at least $3 million for 30-second spots in the midst of a failing economy. So, with that kind of money one would think they’d be well thought out, funny and contain some original ideas. Well, you’d be dead wrong. I think I can speak for a lot people when I say that this year’s ads were as underwhelming as ever.
However, this year’s broadcast had its moments. What follows is my Tim Tebow, screaming chicken and talking baby-less list of the top five Super Bowl ads of 2010.
5. Hyundai — Brett Favre
Everyone likes to make jokes about how old Brett Favre is, including Brett Favre. Not only that, but there’s the continual guessing game of whether he’ll retire or come back and continue to throw interceptions. In this ad, an extremely gray Brett Favre wins the 2029 MVP and talks about retiring from football, just as he’s done oh so many times before. However, in a smooth transition, Hyundai then talks about how reliable their cars are and I stopped paying attention. Why can’t American car companies be this creative? Oh, right. Too soon?
4. Bud Light — Voice Box
Any ad that features T-Pain is a win in my book. It doesn’t matter for how long he’s on the screen; he’s just funny. This auto-tuned-out ad consists of a bunch of guys realizing there’s Bud Light at a party, and then announcing their excitement through the wonder that is auto-tune. Then, while at the party, T-Pain shows up and asks for some guacamole. Definitely one of the best laughs of the night. Moreover, I really hope Jay-Z wasn’t watching this ad.
3. Bud Light — Asteroid
The end of the world is coming, and the culprit is a speeding asteroid. Upon realizing their fate, several astronomers can only think of one thing to do. In a thought process that any college student could relate to, the astronomers choose to forego their dying wishes and instead drink copious amounts of alcohol. Bud Light ran four ads during the broadcast, and this was by far the funniest; providing hilarity around the rather solemn subject that is the apocalypse. In the end it turns out the gigantic asteroid actually was the size of a pebble, and the astronomers thank Bud Light for saving the world. Still, the attitude of “Well, forget it, let’s drink” was conveyed well.
2. Snickers — Game
In games of pickup football, there’s always that guy. You know, the one who softens up and can’t deliver out the hit or never dives for the ball. Yeah, I know him too, and I’m not talking about Braylon Edwards, Browns fans. In this ad by Snickers, there are two very solid cameos. It starts with Betty White going out for a pass, then getting absolutely decked by a defender. After White delivers some trash talk about another player’s mother, it turns out that Betty White was just a facet of this guy’s imagination. He was only playing like Betty White because he was hungry. All he had to do was take a bite, and he was no longer Betty White, which is probably a good thing when it comes to pickup football. Abe Vigoda also makes a cameo as the quarterback, and, you guessed it, gets knocked to the ground.
1. Google — Parisian Love
Google is awesome. They provide me with search results, e-mail, Youtube and now they’re giving me a self-absorbing feeling of warmth. This advertisement was above and beyond the smartest ad of the evening, and in addition was more than likely the least expensive to make. While not the funniest, it was definitely the cutest; and the most effective. The ad takes place on Google’s iconic homepage, with the user first looking for some study abroad options in Paris. The searches that follow tell a story, and a love story at that. He apparently learns French, moves to Paris, and marries a woman there all with the help of Google. The last search? “How to assemble a crib.” Awww.
