It's true: The Super Bowl is magical. And great comebacks or upsets aside, this is true primarily because it's the one time all year you don't leave the room, hit mute or channel surf during the commercials. Grown men and women have, in fact, even been known to "hold it in" just to watch them.
Many years, the commercials receive almost as much post-game analysis as the contest itself. It seems that lists of the each year's best ads begin to roll out even before the Super Bowl MVP gets to proclaim that he's going to Disney World. But why limit a "best of" list to one year's worth of commercials when you can look back at the best of all time?
For the purposes of our list, "best" basically means "most fun." Interesting and powerful is good, too, like this unfunny but impressive Chrysler ad from last year starring Eminem. But we're going to spare the sentiment, mostly. And the Clydesdales. There will be no "horses emerging slowly through the morning mist" on this list.
Also, bonus points are awarded for any ad that avoids the tired, old tropes: guys are idiots, girls are sexy, animals are cute. (Admittedly, that last one may be hard to avoid completely.)
OK, enough chat, here's the list!
Reebok's Terry Tate, office linebacker
"You know you need a cover sheet on your TPS report, Richard! That ain't new, baby!"
Blindsiding your co-workers and committing assault in the office has never been so funny. Or INTENSE!!!
E*Trade's dancing monkey
22 seconds of 'what in the world is happening here?' rewarded with a perfect tag line. It's ridiculous, goofy, a bit creepy, and without a doubt my favorite Super Bowl ad of all-time. Always wondered though why the monkey felt compelled to wear the t-shirt over the suit.
Alec Baldwin for Hulu
Alec Baldwin's cheerful promise? That Hulu will help turn your brain to "mushy mush." And we're all pretty cool with that. "And the best part is, there's nothing you can do to stop it. I mean, what are you gonna do? Turn off your TV and your computer? Hahaha!" Before revealing his character is an alien, Baldwin's pledge to then scoop the mush with a melon baller and eat it is just gravy.
The Old Spice guy makes his world debut
"It's an oyster, with two tickets to that thing you love. Look again! The tickets are now diamonds!" The irreverent, loopy ad that started it all for (appropriately enough) ex-NFL player Isaiah Mustafa. The only problem is it spawned a raft of weak imitators. I'm looking right at you Dairy Queen and Edge shaving gel. For shame.
Google's Parisian Love
First reaction: "Say what now? Google has commercials?" One-minute later reaction: "Damn that was beautiful. No tears at the Super Bowl. Hide them. Hide them!" The whole concept of telling a love story through Google searches was fantastic and even funny. But... if you insist on being a cynic, check this unofficial "follow up" to learn what happened in the years ahead for the young couple.
Volkswagen's Mini Darth
Last year's huge hit is now closing in on 50 million YouTube views. There's just something about a tiny wannabe terror failing at the Force to the point he can't even control a doll or dog -- then finally being rewarded by his dad -- that struck a global nerve. And 'stunned' Darth at end is the perfect capper.
Cash4Gold, with Ed McMahaon and M.C. Hammer
Because who better to explain how to sell off your stuff than these two famously broke stars? Hammer: "I can get cash for this gold medallion of me wearing a gold medallion!" McMahaon: "Or my gold hip replacement!"
Betty White (leveled) for Snickers
If Terry Tate up there taught us anything, it's that unexpected acts of football violence are fantastic for laughs. Even (especially?) when the victim is nearly as old as the NFL.
Chrysler's "Imported From Detroit" with Eninem
When's the last time any commercial held your attention for two full minutes? This era-appropriate Chrysler spot managed to do it last year. "What does this city know about luxury? Huh? What does a town that's been to hell and back know about the finer things in life?" Detroit and the U.S. economy might appear to be in the toilet, but Eminem and that rising thump from "Lose Yourself" provided a solid 120-seconds of inspiration that things may be getting better.
Bud Bowl (all of them)
How great is football? Even when played by beer bottles it's fantastic. These ads ran when I was a kid and I remember my friends buzzing (come on, you know what I mean) during the actual game about when they'd throw us another update from Bud Bowl. The ads never made us want to actually try the stuff, but it did inspire us to all binge on Tecmo Bowl after the game.
So there's our list, now it's your turn to jump in. What did we forget? Totally agree? Shocked that we overlooked something? Drop your own nominees in the comments below.
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