I Can Haz Sooper Bowl Kumercial? (CREDIT: Made by Google/Screenshot)
Usually I post my list of favorite Super Bowl the night of The Big Game or the morning after. But this year, I decided to wait a few days and see what stuck with me. Because, after all, the really truly madly deeply classic commercials are the ones that you can’t get out of your head.
The major trend of Super Bowl LIV’s ads appeared to be Collaboration. Multiple spots promoted multiple products, what with Charlie Day asking everyone what to do about his stain and Sofia Vergara teaming up with the Old Spice guy and the Charmin bear with the clean heinie to take care of a chili spill. As for my own particular personal reactions, it felt so good to laugh again!
Before I get to the rankings, I would like to note that at the viewing party I attended, it was hard to hear the ads during the first half, but thankfully by the third quarter the acoustics were much more favorable. If any early spots looked like they deserved reconsideration, I made sure to re-watch them on YouTube.
5. Minions: The Rise of Gru, “Get Ready” – Usually I don’t include movie or TV trailers in these rankings, but this is Minions (set to “Sabotage”), so obviously I had to make an exception.
It’s time to reboot the Super Bowl commercials. What was the deal with Bud Light’s corn syrup obsession. It wasn’t annoying, nor was it anti-brilliant (I don’t think), it was just puzzling. Here’s my top 5:
5. Dietz and Watson, “Craig Robinson Likes Dietz Nuts” – Craig Robinson saying “Dietz nuts”: I can’t help but laugh.
1. AXE – “Make Love, Not War” – With this Super Bowl spot, the deodorant brand made a simple, but brilliant, pacifist statement, with a tribute to passion that avoided schmaltz by having an edge.
2. Totino’s – “Pizza Freaks Unite” – Ever since directing a series of spots for Old Spice, Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim have had a significant effect on the commercial landscape. So whenever they are involved in a new ad, it is an event, as in this punk rock song featuring pizza freaks, pizza sax, vocal distortion, and a total lack of corporate b.s.