Super Bowl ads are some of the most talked about commercials. People talk about ads that run during the Super Bowl days before and after the big game. No wonder creative business leaders are willing to plunk down one to two million dollars for a 30-second commercial. Toss in the fact that the 2010 Super Bowl that pitted the Green Bay Packers against the Pittsburgh Steelers (Green Bay took the trophy) was watched by a record 111 million people and it’s clear to see why Super Bowl commercials deserve so much noise.
This year the big game pits the New York Giants, led by quarterback Eli Manning, and the New England Patriots, led by quarterback Tom Brady. The matchup is a repeat of the 2008 Super Bowl when the Giants and Patriots met; the Giants took the Vince Lombardi trophy in 2008. It remains to be seen who the better team is this year. But we don’t have to wait to count down the best Super Bowl commercials over the years. In no particular order, our favorites are:
Best Super Bowl Commercials So Far
Coke: Mean Joe Greene (1980 Super Bowl) – A kid follows Joe down the tunnel after the big game, asking Joe if he needs any help. Joe turns around and the kid tells him he thinks he’s the best ever. He offers Joe his Coke, which Joe slugs down. As the kid turns to leave, Joe gives him his jersey.
Heineken: Brad Pitt (2005 Super Bowl) – Paparazzi chase Brad Pitt as he goes after Budweiser. Hoping to escape the paparazzi he escapes through a convenience store back door only to discover paparazzi are still on the chase. As soon as he gets back to his apartment he opens a cold bottle of Heineken
Pepsi: Apartment 10G (1987 Super Bowl) – Michael J. Fox meets his gorgeous neighbor and discovers she wants a diet Pepsi, just what he doesn’t have. He jumps out his apartment window and runs to get the woman a diet Pepsi. Returning to his neighbor’s he meets her roommate, another gorgeous woman who loves diet Pepsi.
Apple: Destroying Big Brother (introduction of the MacIntosh/1984 Super Bowl) – Army of fighters and one javelin thrower take out IBM (Big Brother), leaving Mac
Pepsi: Dancing Bears (1997 Super Bowl) – Grizzly bears dance down the street while the Village People’s “YMCA” plays in the background.
FedEx: Cast Away (2003 Super Bowl) – Depiction of man marooned on an island for five years dropping a FedEx package off to a strange woman only to discover that a satellite phone, fishing gear, etc. were in the package
Monster.com: When I Grow Up (1999 Super Bowl) – Kids say they want to be a brown noser, get paid less, file all day, climb their way up to middle management, be a “yes man”, be under-appreciated, etc. The commercial ends with the question, “What did you want to be?” then ends with “Monster: There’s a better job out there.”
Noxema: Farrah Fawcett and Joe Namath (1973 Super Bowl) – Farrah rubs creamy Noxema over a smiling Joe’s face only to start singing to him as he enjoys a shave
Anheuser-Busch: Married Couple (2002 Super Bowl) – Wife tells husband she’ll give him a Bud Light if he comes to bed. As the husband dives across the satin sheets, he slides out the window, leaving his wife alone with the Bud Light.
Homeaway.com: the Griswolds (2010 Super Bowl) – Shows the Griswolds (Beverly D’Angelo and Chevy Chase from the movie Vacation) being hit with hidden hotel charges. The commercial closes, announcing that the answer to the dilemma is to rent a house.
Come late evening on February 5, 2012 folks will start talking, about the Super Bowl game between the Giants and the Patriots and about the commercials. Discussions will carry from private residences, sports clubs and restaurants to offices. The talk will go on for days. Before long someone’s going to pick the top 10 Super Bowl ads for 2012. If you watch the game, leave us a list of your favorite 2012 Super Bowl ads in the comments section. And hey, enjoy the game!
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