Super Bowl Ads Aren't What They Used To Be

You Just Can't Count On Being Entertained During The Commercial Breaks Anymore

(CBS)  Super Bowl commercials are supposed to be the best. The very best!

Every year, we expect miracles — and every year, to be honest, many of them disappoint. This year is no different, though the culprit might surprise you - that vast new advertising frontier we call "the Internet." Yes, the great equalizer has leveled the playing field; now bad is the new good.

Let's start with a Web mainstay, the requisite cleavage shot.

Back in 1999, Victoria's Secret was the first sponsor to use its TV ad time to send viewers to a naughty fashion show at a special Web address. Needless to say, computers crashed the world over.

This year, Victoria's Secret is back and all of the advertisers have gone interactive.

So have the viewers.

Everyone's a critic, we not only watch the spots, we get to rate them in cyberspace.

Now with so much more riding on their commercials, wouldn't advertisers want creative genius?

Not so much. Take GoDaddy.com. Its spots first showed up three years ago with an ad that was supposed to mock Janet Jackson's infamous wardrobe malfunction.

It's not easy to create something corny and porny. But you can't argue with the numbers: the company has doubled its market share. This year, GoDaddy has already earned millions in free publicity for its latest stunt, a spot FOX has refused to run.

What will they air instead? An ad that shows you where you can see the one that was banned.

But there's worse. In fact, what may be the worst commercial ever. Last year's ad for Salesgenie.com. It was so deadpan bad, it seemed like a spoof. It wasn't.

The founder of the company wrote it himself and proudly does the honors again this year. He says he got a big enough response to go for broke again.

So he's spent millions in the hopes of making this year's spot even worse than last year's.

It won't be easy.

If the Internet is advertising's bright future, it's looking more like television's dim-witted past.

[gunownerdan]

All that *** on TV commercials is nothing that anyone really needs.

[keithfromma]

I liked the bud commercial - clever and made me thirsty

[bigv11]

We are watching a football game ...and not there for commercials.
We don''t need smut commercials. We don''t need commericials promoting ***.
You want ***...I think 90 % of this country knows where to go and get it.

[lawyertom1]

The ads were pathetic. The only one I enjoyed was by the NFL about the bagger who became a player. Funny. However, the game, unlike so many prior Superbowls, was fantastic.

[lbishell]

The best was the bud ad with the horse and dog. Great commercial.

[roger_inkart]

Yes, Budweiser, yes. Most of us get it. We men are stupid dullards who would rather drink your bland, watered down beer and watch TV then do anything constructive, cultured, cerebral or basically anything that requires an IQ higher then that of your average house plant.

Maybe if you make another 5000 commercials with this same theme the rest of the people on planet earth will finally come to understand this universal truth.

[grizzster]

Giant pigeons pecking at smashed cars, adds for "hot" cell phones and sports drinks that make you speedy, cute little insects being eaten by eight-eyed spiders, corporate HQ''''s being crushed into rubble...was this Super Bowl Sunday, or Saturday Morning Toon Time?

Pardon me if I couldn''''t tell the difference.What a snoozer.

At least the game was one of the best ever, and that bozo Belichick got what he deserved...just another 18-1 coach.

Next year, I think I''''ll go to a movie.

[roger_inkart]

In the marketing department of these companies I picture a bunch of self-absorbed, not as smart as they think they are, 30-somethings all cracking themselves up with these ideas they are CERTAIN are brilliant beyond words.

But they''re not. What did we get for all those millions spent? Talking animals, talking babies, pointless violence, stupid men doing stupid things, racist sterotypes, etc. Very few were inventive, and few - if any - will be remembered.

[acedog14]

The ads are decidley tamer this year, even kind of boring. Enjoyed this post on the Super Bowl ads: www.rimfirecommunications.com

[fstop100]

It is the day after and I can''t even remember who the sponsors were.

[misssuzq]

The best was the Bud ad with the horses.

They always do a great job, but I notice from prior years that we will not see that ad very much after the Super Bowl.

Half time was one of the best, even though I am not a Tom Petty fan.

It was a simple, well done concert with no glitzy, tacky gimmicks, and most enjoyable to watch.

[cbs4me3]

And to think Obama got into this with his ad. I did not see his ad and did not miss anything. I agree these ads were not like the ads I remembered. Goes with the territory today I suppose and the general degradation we are seeing.

[cmp271]

I thought the commercials were very violent. The squirrel one was horrendous, especially as it was on at an early time when children may happen to see it. The world is violent enough without having to see it on commercials. I doubt I will buy any of the products shown. The big balloons was the most decent one.

[zootallures2]

Nothing is what it used to be after you ret*rded pillars of western society blew up the world trade center. The great accomplishment of civilization...

[williamfold]

one word especially came to mind when i watched the commercials during this year''s Super Bowl, contrived.

[rowdytexan2]

Go to MySpace.com and search for Superbowl Ads and click on the 2008 commercials.

The Budweiser Commercial with the Clydesdale and the CocaCola one with the big baloons were the highlights for me.

I found the E=Trade with the puking baby rather offensive. But the Budweiser stone age guys was rather apro pos, lol

I wasn''t offended by the Victoria''s Secret ad, she was mostly covered.

But really, none of them were as eye catching and elbow tickling as some in the past.

[westcoast126]

These are sorry commercials. But alright it is Fox. Their news arms is as ligit as the commercials. All the way to the American Idle knockoff of the Mean Joe Green Coke commercial. That was the last of the originals.

[westcoast126]

These are sorry commercials. But alright it is Fox. Their news arms is as ligit as the commercials. All the way to the American Idle knockoff of the Mean Joe Green Coke commercial. That was the last of the originals.

[jankabel]

I found the superbowl commercials, with the possible exception of the squirrel and Budweiser horses ones, to be extremely violent, often rude, and certainly NOT creative!

[liberteee]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r6lHfABDsU