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SUPER BOWL 43: THE BEST OF TIMES AND THE WORST OF TIMES by Marauder

SUPER BOWL 43: THE BEST OF TIMES AND THE WORST OF TIMES

Photo: Barton Silverman/The New York Times

For me, the Super Bowl is less about this (above) and more about this (below).

This year, I was even more excited for the ads as 2 of them were to be screened in 3D. But then, why did the commercial breaks come and go leaving me feeling like the day after a bad New Year’s party? Overall, this Super Bowl was a general dud in the ad department but a gleaming diamond in terms of the game. Even I, who generally spends the game wondering what the hell is going on, was screaming as The Steelers turned it all around in the final moments.

But back to the ads. There were some Rubik’s Cubes in the rough. I have to leave out the two 3D ads as my local CVS didn’t have the glasses. Shocker. Click here or on the Super Bowl ad image above to watch all of the ads from the Super Bowl and rate on Hulu.

The Good

Pepsi: Pepsuber

My favorite commercial is one part, popular SNL skit MacGruber and one part, Pepsi commercial. For final flair, MacGyver makes a cameo in the spot. Jazz hands.

Hulu: Alec in Huluwood

Alec Baldwin can do no wrong and his comedic genius comes through yet again in this spot. Baldwin takes you into the Hollywood sign for a rare look inside Huluwood. I think perhaps the spot was reaching a bit only at the end. Loving it, loving it, loving it, wha?!

Pepsi: Refresh Anthem

Way to stick it to Coke and tug at my heart strings simultaneously. And modeling your new logo after Obama’s campaign logo? Ingenious.

The Ugly

Careerbuilder.com: Tips

For an American population with general lack of focus, perhaps they thought the redundancy angle was a good one. But really, the repetition in this commercial just made me want to hurl my television out my 8th floor window. If you hate your job and this commercial, blame Careerbuilder. By far, the worst commercial of the night.

Teleflora: Talking Flowers

So, I’m trying to envision the marketing meeting where it was decided that this commercial was a good idea. Flowers = Feeling bad about myself. Genius. The flowers this woman receives berate her while all of her co-workers watch. Way to SUCK the fun out of Valentine’s Day Teleflora. Debbie Downer, party of one? Debbie Downer.

Castrol Oil: Edge Monkeys

One world: Creepy.

The Best of the Best

Terry Tate: Office Linebacker aired during the Super Bowl in 2003.  This Reebok ad is still the best ad for me in terms of storyline.  If you ask Reebok though, it wasn’t a success.  Apart from being a hysterical commercial with a fantastic storyline, the ad lacked a direct call-to-action and ended up doing nothing for Reebok’s bottom line.  Still, you kill the joe, you make some mo’.  I pour one out for Terry Tate…

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