Giants win, but ad companies lose

Well, that’s the game. While I certainly have my opinion on the game, I have to say that the commercials were kind of weak. The companies seemed to go for the safe bet, and without anything that really pushed or shined, nothing really stood out.

I hope you enjoyed this little experiment.

Victoria’s Secret knows what it’s doing (originally written at 9:47 p.m.)

Given the way that Fox milked that touchdown, kickoff and beginning of that drive, I’m guessing that the game is either running long or that they’re running low on ads.

Victoria’s Secret figures it all out. Scantily clad women, a football and an easy reminder to guys that Valentine’s Day is coming.

I swear that the guy in that Amp commercial was one of the kids in “Salute Your Shorts.” Looked just like Donkeylips. I miss classic Nickelodeon.

“American Idol” breaks out an original ad. Maybe they aren’t all the same.

The perfect ad (originally written at 9:28 p.m.)

Will Ferrell meets Bud Light. It’s like the epitome of Super Bowl commercials. Ferrell’s final line is priceless. One of the better commercials of the night, which says something about the night’s quality.

You know what, Hyundai? I won’t remember your commercial tomorrow.

Fox never turns down the opportunity to promote itself. If “Moment of Truth” isn’t a sign of the decline of Western civilization, I’m not sure what is.

I thought we agreed: No more babies (originally written at 9:24 p.m.)

The baby returns. Maybe eTrade knows what it’s doing. Baby Bob did get his own show, after all.

Taco Bell never looks good advertised on TV. Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t eat it, though.

Do you think the people who made the Gatorade ad looked at the finished product and thought, “We just spent $2 million on a dog drinking out of a bowl?”

House: It’s an EVENT. Also, “Breathe Me” should have officially been off limits after “Six Feet Under” used it in that brilliant final montage.

Remember when Adam Sandler was funny? (originally written at 9:18 p.m.)

Adam Sandler resurfaces. After a swerve into the serious fare, it looks like he’s returned to the sort of movies that made him who he is. It doesn’t look funny, but at least it’s not as idiotic as “Meet the Spartans.”

I’m convinced Fox is trying to break my will with all these “Terminator” ads. Pretty soon, I’ll be sitting here drooling and babbling.

Ragin’ Cajun is no actor (originally written at 9:14 p.m.)

Stupid Giants.

Bill Frist and James Carville should never act again. I’m also shocked that they’re in an ad together. I blame Mary Matlin.

Toyota has a blah ad that advertises that it can fit a lot of stuff. OK.

Does anybody care about the Pro Bowl? I’m including the players in that statement.

Stewie vs. Underdog is no contest (originally written at 9:07 p.m.)

Is Shakira really in the same category as Marilyn Monroe and Madonna? If so, where was I when that happened?

Stewie would take Underdog down before he could blink. Not the greatest Coca-Cola ad.

NFL: Give us your money!

Local ads rear their ugly heads (originally written at 9:04 p.m.)

NFL finally gets in their super ad. Chester Pitts plays oboe? The Matt Hasselbeck ads leading up to that ad were a lot funnier.

Revenge of the local ads. I know they don’t have a large budget, but you’d think they’d try to do something more than the standard commercial.

Alltel needs to take a long walk off a short pier.

No more talking babies, please (originally written at 8:54 p.m.)

Hayden Christensen: You will never convince me you’re a good actor.

Talking baby ads weren’t funny when Baby Bob was around. They still aren’t funny. They haven’t been funny since “Look Who’s Talking.”

Budweiser gets another ad in. Is advertising that beer can make you fly really the wisest thing to do?

Who doesn’t miss Buzz Lightyear (originally written at 8:45 p.m.)

Did anyone notice that the fine print of the Hyundai Genesis ad said “Korean model shown?” That’s different.

If you ask me, Pixar can do no wrong. Interesting that they’re busting out Woody and Buzz to promote Wall-E, though.

The return of Budweiser (originally written at 8:37 p.m.)

Budweiser! I’ve missed you! The stupidity of cavemen provides one of the better Bud commercials.

Things are definitely wrong if Carmen Electra likes you. Thanks for proving that, Icebreaker.

Who wouldn’t speed up if they saw Richard Simmons in the middle of the road? Another good Bridgestone ad.

Careerbuilder.com brings us what Disney is like in real life.

Fox, Fox, Fox.

Shaq really is an angry Viking (originally written at 8:34 p.m.)

Oh, Patriots. What’‘s happened to you?

Oh, Hodges. Does “Bones” really pay so little that you’re reduced to shilling Cars.com?

The cultural sensitivity award goes to: Salesgenie.com. Seriously, what is that? And how did they raise $4 million for the ads?

Shaq described as an “angry Viking?” Priceless. Honestly, that’s one of the more coherent Vitamin Water ads.

Fox pimps itself yet again.

Did somebody say NASCAR?

Will Ferrell’s at it again (originally written at 8:27 p.m.)

Zantac sneaks in an ad just before the end of halftime. Considering that I’m sure a large percentage of the audience is currently suffering from heartburn, that’s probably a good spot for it.

By the time Will Ferrell retires, his series of “wacky sports” movies will encompass hundreds of titles, spanning the entire world of sports.

Puppies or Petty? (originally written at 8:21 p.m.)

Halftime ads seem to be plain commercials, and not the super kind, so I’ll just hit the highlights.

If you’ve ever wanted to see the most ridiculous thing in your life, you should check out Animal Planet’s halftime show. It’s called the “Puppy Bowl” and it’s just a bunch of puppies thrown onto a miniature football field. It’s the most random thing ever.

Fox sure loves to promote itself, doesn’t it?

Say what you will, but I think “New Amsterdam” looks interesting.

Watching the halftime show, the crowd shots got me wondering. How many of those kids actually know who Tom Petty is and how many are there just to get on TV?

Hey, Comcast: If everyone jumped off a bridge, I still wouldn’t. Just because millions have bought into your phone service doesn’t mean I’m going to.

What does Fifth/Third Bank have to do with being a 42-year-old paperboy? I thought it was an insurance ad.

I’m beginning to think that Fox will soon be airing NASCAR. I’m not sure, though. Maybe another five ads will finally convince me.

I bet the highlight guys are crying that there’s only been one touchdown. I’d hate to be the guy to make that video package.

Most annoying ad award goes out (originally written at 7:57)

I may have judged Beyonce too harshly. It’s looking like that was actually Naomi Campbell in the SoBe ad earlier. The blog has been corrected. The ad still didn’t make any sense, though.

Halftime!

Fox begins pushing NASCAR. Something has to fill that NFL void, after all. Fox 47 slips in a local ad that doesn’t really standout in any way, shape or form. It’s very strange to go back to low budget local ads.

Alltel Wireless ads are among the most annoying ads of all time.

Justin loves his Pepsi (originally written at 7:43 p.m.)

Ladies, just remember: Pepsi is a magnet for Justin Timberlake. Watching Justin run into things is just plain funny.

What did I just watch, Doritos? I’m so confused. Maybe it’s their homage to the French new wave?

Do men really like nuts that much? (originally written at 7:40 p.m.)

“Chronicles of Narnia” returns with “Prince Caspian.” Generic fantasy film number 16, anyone?

Planters attempts to convince consumers that cashews are aphrodisiacs. I’m not sure I buy it.

Charles Barkley is annoying. I think anyone who watches basketball on TNT already knew that.

NFL promotes its community efforts. Fox cries as it thinks of the $2 million it wasn’t able to charge for the spot.

GM trots out some Greek mythology (originally written at 7:32 p.m.)

General Motors Corp. brings us Sisyphus. Yet another forgettable ad, touting their “never say never” spirit.

Foreign accents are not funny on their own, Budweiser.

“American Idol” gets another ad. Have you ever noticed that pretty much all “Idol” ads are exactly the same, except for the ones previewing the series? I bet I could switch one of last season’s from one of this season’s and you’d never notice.

A false start for Careerbuilder.com (originally written at 7:27 p.m.)

Careerbuilder.com, I have to admit, I was transfixed when the heart burst out of the chest. It didn’t really go anywhere, but it had a promising start.

Anti-drug commercial is as bland as they normally are. I wonder if they had to pay the full rate?

Wow, more animal ads (originally written at 7:21 p.m.)

Toyota demonstrates how quiet their cars are with wild badgers. Should teach him to always keep his phone on vibrate.

George Clooney is in a football comedy? I’m not sure if I buy it. Ad looked good, though.

What does Napoleon have to do with Garmin, the global positioning system unit? I have no idea. Reeks of an idea that sounded good in the boardroom, but doesn’t work in actual practice.

Fox is getting desperate (originally written at 7:16 p.m.)

The Patriots’ interception brings us to the third ad for Budweiser, as they continue their series of ads showing a Clydesdale training to pull their wagon. When it comes to inspirational music, I was always more partial to “Chariots of Fire” than the “Rocky” theme. Cute ad, I will admit.

“Iron Man” looks brilliant. The ad for it? Not so brilliant.

Fox: Please watch our halftime show! What do those puppies have that we don’t?

Another hit animal ad (originally written at 7:08 p.m.)

I think James McAvoy is a great actor. But I’m not the fan of Angelina Jolie the rest of the world is. All the same, I can already see that I’ll be in the theater opening day for “Wanted.”

GoDaddy.com: always with the classy ads. Do people really expect to actually see anything by going to their Web site for that “Exposure” ad? I mean it’s an ad for an ad.

Dell has an ad that’s all about how everyone will love you for buying their computers. Not the most original idea, Dell.

I know I shouldn’t like that giant pigeon Fed-Ex ad, but I did. It made me chuckle.

When I think of Cars.com, I think of mixed martial arts. It’s the textbook “we just want attention” ad.

Tide runs an ad telling you to “silence the stain.” It’s really true, if someone has a blatant stain on their shirt, you can’t help but stare. It just demands your attention.

Screaming animals (originally written at 7:02 p.m.)

Wow, that was an action-packed first quarter. Unfortunately, it didn’t leave a lot of time for the commercials.

Bridgestone: screaming animals are just never not funny.

While it’s nice that Doritos is pushing up-and-coming musicians, the music sounded kind of bland to me. If the rest is left up to me, I’m afraid she’s not going to make it.

Fox pimps another of their shows. Great. Then another. Then another.

Oh, American Idol. I think your cultural relevance is at an end.

The first break (originally written at 6:38 p.m.)

Let me just warn you beforehand: I’m a Patriots fan. My mood may fluctuate in this blog depending on how they’re doing. You’ve been warned.

It amazed me that they managed to sneak two commercial breaks in between the coin toss and kickoff. Personally, if I was in charge of buying commercial breaks, I’d almost rather have one of those spots than one in the fourth quarter, given how few Super Bowls actually end up being competitive.

First commercial spot goes to Bud Light. That’s a shock. The breathing fire thing is vaguely amusing, but not really gut-busting hilarious.

Audi’s “Godfather” homage goes on far too long for a one-note joke. Very forgettable.

Welcome to the live blog (originally written at 6:30 p.m.)

Hello everyone. I’m James Harrison, The State News’ entertainment reporter, and I’ll be your host this evening.

As everyone knows, the Super Bowl has become about a lot more than just a game. The spectacle surrounding the game nearly overwhelms the game itself. The State News is doing its part in this effort to drown out the idea that Super Bowl Sunday has anything to do with athletics with this live blog of the commercials.

Ever since the famed “1984” Apple ad, Super Bowl commercials have become more than just simple advertisements. The cost to produce one has risen to ludicrous levels. This year’s are reported to cost more than $2 million, so the companies putting these ads together are playing with high stakes.The last few years have provided few truly memorable spots, but it hasn’t dampened the public’s enthusiasm. Companies have hyped up their ads, and Fox even ran a contest allowing fans to pick out the ad of their choice.

So what does $2 million look like? Let’s find out together, as we get snap reactions of the good, the bad and the ugly. Remember: if you need a bathroom break, well that’s what the game is for.

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