The Superbowl
Sorry to tear you hopeless geeks away from Lost, but it’s time for something manly! No not the Oscars. It’s Superbowl time! Time to answer those age-old questions that speak to the essence of manhood: Which team has better uniforms? Whose tight end is better looking? Which ETrade baby is more articulate? What scandal will occur during the half-time show? And of course, most importantly: Which commercial has the hottest babes?
Feel free to comment here before, during and after the big game on all things related to the cultural phenomenon that is The Superbowl.
I’m expecting a boring win by the Colts, but I’m holding out hope for some excitement. Let me know your predictions before kickoff, but remember, please: no wagering.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 4:16 pm
I was kind of surprised they replaced the E-Trade baby. I guess maybe the old one was growing up.
Here’s my question: what is your snack line-up? I’ve got blue corn tortilla chips with both salsa and queso, french onion dip with both kettle chips and veggies (baby carrots, snow pea pods and olives), grapes, and Dr. Pepper/Cherry 7-Up.
Comment by Kevin Barney — February 7, 2010 @ 4:39 pm
Oh, and I’ve got a nice fire going in the woodburning stove. I’ve been watching the CBS pregame coverage all afternoon. (I’m rooting for Austin Collie; lame, I know, but there it is.)
Comment by Kevin Barney — February 7, 2010 @ 4:42 pm
I’m more rooting for Collie to pull a hamstring.
Ok, not really.
I like your snack line-up! I’m less creative, but more alliterative. I’m going with chicken wings, chips and salsa, cherry coke. I call it the Ch-ch-ch-championship line-up.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 4:49 pm
My 9 year old is excited about watching it with me. He is my oldest and this is a first.
Go Saints! I am from Maryland and hate the Colts for leaving Baltimore.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 5:03 pm
I tried to bring up the Superbowl and/or playoffs once on the BCC list, and you cannot imagine the hostility from that crowd.
New Orleans has one of the greatest uniforms/color schemes in all of professional athletics. If we’re rooting for teams on that basis, I’m all Saints.
Also, I will root against the Colts simply because of Austin Collie and the fact that their colors are the same as BYU’s.
Comment by Scott B. — February 7, 2010 @ 5:12 pm
Scott: the black and gold is sweet.
We will see whether Austin has been obedient this year.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 5:16 pm
I like the way you think, Scott.
Queen Latifah for the anthem? What’s up with that?
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 5:26 pm
Saints win the toss and elect to receive. That seems weird. Usually you elect to kick and receive in the second half or you defer the choice to the second half.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 5:29 pm
Saints do have better uniforms, no question about it.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 5:31 pm
Saints not very impressive on the opening drive. 3 and out.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 5:33 pm
Opening pass by Manning connects for a first down. Colts looking good.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 5:35 pm
Saints defense hitting hard.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 5:36 pm
But Colts still moving the ball well.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 5:37 pm
Collie gets his first catch.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 5:39 pm
Colts blow it on third and five.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 5:42 pm
Settle for a field goal. Colts get the first score.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 5:42 pm
Tebow commercial was low impact. Will there be more than one?
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 5:46 pm
I think just that one, but they may repeat it.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 5:49 pm
Saints doing better on offense, but now have third and seven on a dropped pass.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 5:50 pm
Bush! Bush! Weird typing that.
The Who! I am down with that.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 5:50 pm
Saints punting team is really good, but that’s not really something you want to brag about.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 5:52 pm
Nice jobs downing the punt. That will, however, not be enough.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 5:52 pm
New Robin Hood movie by Ridley Scott???
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 5:52 pm
Colts get out of trouble pretty easily.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 5:54 pm
I liked the doritos commercial with the little boy.
I look forward to the Robin Hood movie. Time to save the story from Kevin Costner.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 5:55 pm
Saints defense is as good as advertised, they’re getting to Manning, but that opens up the running game.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 5:57 pm
Amen Chris, that will be an interesting movie.
Doritos gets my vote so far too.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 5:58 pm
Another running play, another huge gain. Saints are going to have to adjust.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 5:59 pm
Touchdown Colts on a pass from Manning into the end zone. I think Colts are on their way to a big win.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:01 pm
If that was the sole Tebow commercial, I agree it was much ado about nothing.
I’m looking forward to the new Robin Hood. It needs a darker reboot, which seems to be the direction they’re going.
Commercials are pretty good so far.
Comment by Kevin Barney — February 7, 2010 @ 6:02 pm
The Saints need to get something going quick.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 6:03 pm
Queen Latifah sang the NA on your TV? It was Carrie Underwood in a ghastly white jumpsuit on mine!
Saints uniforms are nifty, but the Colts are old school cool.
Comment by Tracy M — February 7, 2010 @ 6:03 pm
Go Daddy. Mmmmm-hmmmm.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:04 pm
Tracy, wha?
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:04 pm
Simpsons and Coke. Awesome.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 6:05 pm
Tracy, my wife walked in and was incredulous about the NA. She thought Carrie Underwood was ghastly, both the outfit and the singing.
Comment by Kevin Barney — February 7, 2010 @ 6:05 pm
MCQ #8: “Queen Latifah for the anthem? What’s up with that?”
Comment by Tracy M — February 7, 2010 @ 6:06 pm
The Bud Light commercials are pretty good too.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:06 pm
She was Kev- she was stringy and pitchy and sounded awful!
Comment by Tracy M — February 7, 2010 @ 6:06 pm
I wonder how many brits have been on the Superbowl halftime show. I think it’s been a lot.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:08 pm
Kevin (re Tebow),
The best political commercials are the onces that create free chatter in the press. The ad was a success before it aired. Argg.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 6:08 pm
When people ask Beatles or the Stones, I respond: The Who. I am excited.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 6:12 pm
Me too, Chris. Love love love the who.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:14 pm
Saints finally showing some life.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 6:16 pm
Freeney gets a big sack.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:17 pm
Nice FG. Saints on the board.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:18 pm
Letterman commercial was awesome.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:20 pm
Budweiser bridge ad = awesome.
Ooo, Amazing Race is back next week.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 6:21 pm
I liked the Budweiser ad too, but what’s with all the pantsless ads?
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:24 pm
It’s all Lady Gaga’s fault.
Comment by Tracy M — February 7, 2010 @ 6:24 pm
Saints defense stepping it up!
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:24 pm
Lady Gaga wears tightie whities?
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:25 pm
Gross.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 6:25 pm
I agree with Tracy.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 6:26 pm
saints knocking on the door.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:33 pm
Mistakes in the red zone = doom.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:35 pm
and not heaven’s door
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 6:35 pm
Dodge commercial was so cool.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:37 pm
Best line so far: “There’s a lot of nice guys in prison.”
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:38 pm
Can Kiss be any dumber?
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 6:41 pm
Polamalu as groundhog, FTW!!!
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:41 pm
The midget KISS band was better!
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:42 pm
Not even close. Shoot.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 6:42 pm
Colts goal line stand was really amazing, but at least partly the result of Saints just not getting it done.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:44 pm
Saints’ defense doing their part.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 6:46 pm
Saints get 2 field goals when they should have had at least one TD, possibly two.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:51 pm
Halftime!!!
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 6:51 pm
Sad that John isn’t on bass.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 7:06 pm
Roger and Pete still got it.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 7:07 pm
Baba O’Reilly is one of the greatest songs ever.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 7:13 pm
Who are you without the f-bomb? Keith Moon wouldn’t approve.
Pete’s Guitar windmill= wow.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 7:18 pm
onside kick. That was wicked.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 7:26 pm
Really? You think they still got it? I mean I hear you on Baba O’Reilly, but I dunno, Roger’s voice just didn’t sound great.
Unfortunately, there’s a whole generation of kids who are going to think The Who wrote the theme songs for CSI.
Comment by Tracy M — February 7, 2010 @ 7:27 pm
Roger has not been the same for a while. But, the who Is really all about Townsend. They are old, give em slack.
Touchdown.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 7:30 pm
The Who has always been Townsend, and yeah they’re old, but come on! It’s a national audience- Hit your notes.
Comment by Tracy M — February 7, 2010 @ 7:34 pm
Fair enough.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 7:36 pm
That generation can suck it.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 7:44 pm
The Saints are just not converting third downs.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 7:48 pm
Suck it.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 7:49 pm
Another field goal. The kicker is sure keeping the Saints in the game.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 7:51 pm
Hartley may be the MVP if the Saints pull this off.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 7:52 pm
Did you see the ETrade baby commercial? Pretty funny.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 7:53 pm
That was a great etrade ad.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 7:54 pm
Colts going for it on 4th!
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 8:02 pm
Got it. Manning is on target.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 8:03 pm
Collie gets dropped for a loss. Guess he’s just not livin’ right.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 8:04 pm
Colts miss the FG! Saints take over at the 41 in a one point game.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 8:06 pm
Huge reversal on the two-point conversion. Huge. It was the right call, though.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 8:24 pm
I liked the Google Ad.
Comment by Tracy M — February 7, 2010 @ 8:28 pm
Saints intercept for a TD! They’re going to win this! Unbelievable!!!
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 8:30 pm
The ads have been absurdly stereotypically sexist- is that normal for Super Bowl ads or is it worse this year?
Comment by Tracy M — February 7, 2010 @ 8:38 pm
Colts come up empty on 4th down! Saints have it in the bag. It’s over.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 8:44 pm
Tracy, that’s pretty normal for Superbowl ads in my experience.
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 8:45 pm
Great game but I think the Saints just won it with that int.
Ads this year have been lame with a few exceptions.
Comment by Clark — February 7, 2010 @ 8:51 pm
It was a pretty good game. Fun to watch and stayed exciting all the way to the end. Just the kind of Superbowl I like but rarely get.
I saw two ETrade baby ads, and both were good, but there’s another one they didn’t show:
Comment by MCQ — February 7, 2010 @ 9:11 pm
I enjoyed watching this with Kulturblog. Thanks MCQ and Tracy.
Comment by Chris Henrichsen — February 7, 2010 @ 9:16 pm
I hate the Etrade ads, but loved the LEtterman Oprah ad.
Comment by jjohnsen — February 7, 2010 @ 10:24 pm
Thanks Chris, it was fun!
Comment by MCQ — February 8, 2010 @ 12:05 am
I tried to watch the Letterman/Oprah ad (which I missed because I was talking to MCQ here and losing my feminist street-cred) and YouTube has it blocked!
Comment by Tracy M — February 8, 2010 @ 12:36 am
Thoughts: ever notice that the better the football game the lamer the commercials? The past two years have had good football games. The only commercial that stands out this year are the house made of beer cans. What’s even more surprising are how many just totally missed.
Robin Hood. I’m mixed. It looks like Gladiator lite. I wish they’d gone with the first idea and told the story from the Sheriff’s point of view. Now that would have been interesting. Prince of Persia looks completely lame.
It’s nice the Saints won. I thought the Colts had their number in the first half and that the Saints were lucky to hit halftime with it still competitive. But from that onside kick onwards the Saints really played solid. Too bad Collie didn’t have a better game. He didn’t screw up but there weren’t any big plays. (His first touch was solid, but nothing much after beyond being competent which is more than a lot of players can say under pressure)
Anyway, I used to live in Louisiana and the fans have been loyal to the Saints since the days they were perennial basement dwellers. For all the bad it did the hurricane has also brought out a lot of good in the area. A good football team is but one example. (And probably among the crasser examples) The fans deserve it after being so devoted through decades of depressing play.
Oh, regarding The Who. I didn’t find them bad. However the soundmixer needs to be fired. The vocals were mixed way too loud which made the age of the singers much more noticable. (Although nowhere near as embarrassing as that Pink Floyd reunion with Roger Waters a few years back) What I am glad is that they actually did a short concert rather than what we normally get which is a stupid medley with a marching band thrown in. I do think a more modern band would be nice. But hip hop still rules the airwaves and most of the modern rock bands aren’t quite up for it. Who would you rather have seen? U2 again? Even they are getting long in tooth. I actually think Metallica would have been an interesting case if they played some of their more mainstream songs. Beyond that who? Kings of Leon? Greenday?
As for Letterman/Leno. Meh. It was surprising they did it together. But beyond the shock value I didn’t think it particularly funny.
Comment by Clark — February 8, 2010 @ 12:39 am
Kings of Leon or Green Day would have been awesome! I also would love to see Foo Fighters at a halftime show. Or Blink 182.
Comment by MCQ — February 8, 2010 @ 12:52 am
Or what the heck was that band that was on SNL with Dave Grohl back on the drums?
Comment by Tracy M — February 8, 2010 @ 1:36 am
Some of my thoughts and tangents (mostly tangents) regarding the Big Game™:
* The years have not been kind to the voices of Roger Daltery and Pete Townsend.
* Drew Brees had a heck of a game. He went eyeball-to-eyeball with Living Legend™ Payton Manning, and Manning was the first to blink. Am I the only one who thinks that big old scar on Brees’ right cheek makes him more lovable?
* The commercials were pretty decent last night. I still like the e-Trade talking baby. The sleepwalking Coca-cola commercial was cool, especially at the end when he’s petting the hyena. Is it just me, or is Danika Patrick looking cougar-ish these days?
* There were remarkably few penalties. These were well-disciplined teams. On the other hand, there seemed to be a lot of chippy behavior, cheap shots, pushing and hitting after the play. I’m surprised the refs didn’t call any personal fouls on that stuff.
* I don’t know what his personal situation is, but I bet Garrett Hartley has never had trouble with the ladies. What he just did at the Big Game™ can’t hurt either.
* The Arcade Fire seems like a strange musical choice for NFL promos, but somehow it works. I’m a late-comer to the Arcade Fire. Allison started to get into their music and I bought her Funeral for Christmas. My kids recognized the song as the one in the Where the Wild Things Are movie trailer.
Comment by BTD Greg — February 8, 2010 @ 8:54 am
Oh, and what this thread really needs is a Lost tie in: Dr. Candle/Change/Wickman was spotted in a beer commercial (predictably cast and the scientist who spots the world-ending meteor).
Comment by BTD Greg — February 8, 2010 @ 8:56 am
MCQ (#9): “Saints win the toss and elect to receive. That seems weird. Usually you elect to kick and receive in the second half or you defer the choice to the second half.”
This comment is pretty cool in retrospect.
Comment by BTD Greg — February 8, 2010 @ 8:59 am
Clark (#101): “Prince of Persia looks completely lame.”
Yes, but consider this: that movie could be just about terrible and still be The Greatest Video-Game-Based Movie Ever Made.
At least Uwe Boll isn’t directing.
Tracy M (#103): “Or what the heck was that band that was on SNL with Dave Grohl back on the drums?”
Them Crooked Vultures.
Comment by BTD Greg — February 8, 2010 @ 9:09 am
That was the first Superbowl halftime show I’ve ever liked. Sure, Roger can’t sing like he used to, but I was still impressed with his pipes. For an old guy he’s got a lot of power. And those notes are hard to hit for young folks. It would be a superhuman feat to sing like that into your 60′s.
I would have been happy with either team winning the game. This was the matchup I’ve been hoping for since the middle of the season.
Comment by Tom — February 8, 2010 @ 10:00 am
Turns out, the Arcade Fire is donating all their royalties from the NFL using “Wake Up” to Haiti. Kind of cool.
Comment by BTD Greg — February 8, 2010 @ 11:18 am
The sound mixing was really bad. I think it got better as the show progressed but I don’t really remember. I was half asleep.
Comment by Susan M — February 8, 2010 @ 2:09 pm
I was shocked by how bad Roger looked. I saw them live a couple of years ago and he looked much, much better then. At the Super Bowl he hardly moved at all, and didn’t look like he was comfortable or enjoying himself. At one point it looked like he was clearly lipsynching. Also, the medley was a bit of a weak choice. They could have just picked three songs and played them through. Perhaps they really wanted to start with Pinball Wizard and realized that then ending of that song is incredibly weak, leading to the medley. I’d rather have heard songs that stand alone given the constraints of the halftime show.
On the plus side, Pete looked good and like he was having fun, and the stage was impressive. I wonder if it was a one-off thing for the Super Bowl or if they use it in other configurations in other venues.
Comment by a random John — February 8, 2010 @ 5:09 pm
#8, 33, 35, 38:
America the Beautiful is not the national anthem of any country I’m aware of.
Comment by Left Field — February 9, 2010 @ 7:14 am
Maybe it should be. It’s a more beautiful melody, and easier to sing by non-singers than the Star Spangled Banner.
Comment by Mudhead — February 9, 2010 @ 7:29 am
Ok, so Queen Latifah sang America the Beautiful. I still don’t understand why.
Comment by MCQ — February 9, 2010 @ 10:38 am
“Ok, so Queen Latifah sang America the Beautiful. I still don’t understand why.”
Because she had first choice?
Comment by CS Eric — February 9, 2010 @ 2:13 pm
But whose choice was it to have her sing at all? Is she even a singer? She has mostly been an actress lately and before that she was sort of a rapper, right? Since when is she a singer?
Comment by MCQ — February 9, 2010 @ 3:23 pm
Since when is she a singer?
According to Wikipedia, sometime around 2003. Looks like her 2007 album Trav’lin Light was nominated for a Grammy.
Comment by Christopher — February 10, 2010 @ 12:37 am
Well, there you go.
Comment by MCQ — February 10, 2010 @ 1:27 am