Super Bowl hype
Most of the Super Bowl advertisements left a lot to be desired. A few were inspired, a few funny; most were simply boring or stupid and seemingly influenced by "group think" and "what people want..." mentalities. Every industry, these days, needs to go beyond the obvious. Looking back at the 1984 Apple Macintosh ad (directed by visual maestro Ridley Scott), one has to wonder what has gone wrong and if it will ever change again.
For the first time, I watched the game in high definition, using the new Fios we had installed a few weeks ago. The picture was truly amazing and the difference with "old-fashioned cable" quite noticeable.
Here are links to the Super Bowl coverage by Getty Images, the Boston Globe, New York Times, and Arizona Republic. Look for different versions of the amazing David Tyree catch for 32 yards that put the Giants within scoring distance with under a minute to play.
My favorite ads
- Doritos Mouse Trap: Simple enough. A man in a mouse suit pummeling someone to Carmen -- need I say more?
- Talking Baby and the "Creepiness Factor": Add a clown to anything and the "creepiness factor" climbs. It is like the uncle in prison no one wants to talk about and rather forget.
- Man in bed and an Audi R8: Any homage to "The Godfather" gets the Assaf "Wizzo Button of Approval" -- especially when well-done with great cinematography.
- Stewie and Underdog inflatables chase a cola: Charlie Brown, sans Lucy, finally gets his day. My wager was on Stewie and his melon head. Underdog must have forgotten to take his "Super Energy Vitamin Pill" -- or thinking about Sweet Polly Purebred.
- Talking Stain: At first I thought this subtle piece was another "guys ruining a friend's job interview," but then the spot started to shine and I was unable to avert my eyes. The best ads are the ones we can identify with.
