Talk about stinkers. Okay, it's one person's opinion, but the vast majority of commercials (not counting those for upcoming movies) run during the Super Bowl yesterday ranged from just awful to mediocre with few exceptions.
The few ads that rose above the bunch (and there weren't any classics here) included Bridgestone's "screaming critters," CareerBuilder.com's "wish," Coca-Cola's "battling balloons," Fedex's "pigeons," Pepsi's "Justin Timberlake" and Procter & Gamble's "talking stain" spot for Tide to Go.
Ad Age's Bob Garfield was also critical of this year's spots. He wrote on AdAge.com, "If this was supposed to represent the best Madison Avenue has to offer, the losers were not confined to the football game... This was a performance Madison Avenue will not soon live down."
The spots that Mr. Garfield found worthy enough to give at least three stars included: eTrade's "baby trader" (baby spitting up was too much for us), Tide to Go and Audi's takeoff on "The Godfather."
The top 10 ads as ranked by USA Today's Ad Meter were:
- Budweiser - Dalmation training Clydesdale
- Fedex - Pigeons
- Bridgestone's - Screaming critters
- Doritos - Giant rat beats up guy for chips
- Bud Light - Fire-breather
- Bud Light - Wine and cheese party
- Coke - Battling balloons
- Diet Pepsi Max - Stars stop dozing
- Planters - Women uses nuts for scent
- (Tie) - Tide to Go - Distracting stain
on shirt;
SoBe Life Water - Naomi Campbell dances with lizards
Discussion Question: How did this year's commercials during the Super Bowl compare to past years? Which commercials did you think were the most effective this year?