The only one that stuck with me was the "Milkaholic" commercial. It still cracks me up!
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Sunday Seven #379
For people who aren’t particularly that into football, some will still watch the Super Bowl because of the commercials. So this week, I decided to post my favorite Super Bowl spots. The list may change after I see tonight’s game, of course. I’ve already seen the new Budweiser ad featuring a Clydesdale and his trainer, and I dare you to watch it without tearing up a little.
But not counting this year’s spots — that’ll be next week’s challenge, naturally — here are my top picks from previous games.
Here’s a list of popular favorites: I encourage you to have a look and post your favorites!
7 Favorite Past Super Bowl Commercials
1. Coca-Cola: Mean Joe Greene
This 1979 spot is still one of the greatest, and I put it at the top because it made it so clear to the masses how one simple spot that barely mentions the product being sold can be so memorable and endear that product to the viewer.
2. Volkswagon: Young Darth Vader
If it weren’t for the nostalgia of the Mean Joe Greene spot, this one would be my all-time favorite.
3. Apple: 1984
It was a definite departure, but then the Mac was a definite departure in the world of computers as we’d known them.
4. Budweiser: Post 9/11 Tribute
The mood of the Super Bowl was different in early 2002, as we were still getting over the shock of 9/11. This spot captured the mood so beautifully and gave us a glimpse of a brand showing its heart. This one still chokes me up.
5. Snickers: Football Betty
The spot would have been great enough with Betty White’s part. But the cameo of Abe Vigoda at the end makes this one even better!
6. Doritos: The Mousetrap
Sometimes, there is a way to build a better mousetrap: by letting your fans sell your product.
7. CBS: “The Late Show”
I didn’t see this one coming: David Letterman with Oprah and Leno on the same couch in a spot for Letterman’s show. But if you watch Dave and know his long-running jokes, this little fifteen-second spot hits the jackpot.
So here’s your chance. To play along, list your answers in a comment with this post, or post them on your own blog and comment here with the link to your post. That way more people get to see your blog!
What are your seven favorite Super Bowl commercials (not counting any from 2013’s game)?
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7 comments
I was just listening the other day to a podcast talking about the first Apple commercial that aired during the Superbowl back in the late '80s. Do you remember it? It was super powerful!
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1 Like
Hey Patrick
Interesting post.
I'm from South Africa, so we don't watch the super bowl.
I'm intrigued by one of your first lines, "people who don't watch football will still watch the super bowl for the commercials."
Does that really happen in America?
Can you explain why?
I am intrigued.
@danielalex_book As a general rule, advertisers go "all out" with spots that are designed to particurly stand out. They essentially take the level of quality of advertising to a different level, producing more elaborate spots or more entertaining ones than they do the rest of the year. So there are people who''ll tune in just to see what certain well-known advertisers come up with.
@patricksplace @danielalex_book That's interesting. Not something I'm used to here in SA.
@patricksplace @danielalex_book That makes sense. A little foreign here, but there is sound logic to it :)
@danielalex_book It seems like a bad idea, because most would expect advertisers to want to churn out creative ads all year round. The difference, though, is the sheer number of people who tune in to the Super Bowl...it's usually at the top of the list (or near the top) for most-watched programs of the year, so when you're talking about a commercial that costs $3 Million or more to air, it makes sense that they'd want something especially top-notch there.
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Patrick is a television producer, writer, Mac lover, and Christian, though not necessarily in that order. He has a natural dislike of double standards and poor grammar.
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