SuperBowl Commercials
toutbrun
Washington, USAPosts: 1,501MI6 Agent
What did you think of the 2012 SuperBowl ads? Any favorites?
If you can't trust a Swiss banker, what's the world come to?
Comments
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
I think they were not all incredible this year, but still.
I liked the Ferris's Day off spin-off ad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhkDdayA4iA
That just made me feel old and sad.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
That Apocalypse thing is so overexposed now, but I guess this would be the year to do it. It was pretty grand-scale for a truck commercial.
I wish the Ferris ad was an ad for Ferris Bueller's Day Off From Work or something really exciting like that, but it was a good ad.
"When Cameron was in Egypt's land. Let my Cameron go"
"He'll keep calling me, he'll keep calling me until I come over. He'll make me feel guilty. This is uh... This is ridiculous, ok I'll go, I'll go, I'll go, I'll go, I'll go. What - I'LL GO. S*%$. "
Roger Moore 1927-2017
was the highlight
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
It was broadcast live on the BBC (no commercials, YIPEE!) over here in the UK. The kick off was just before midnight so at least I have an excuse for not seeing it through. Fell asleep after the first quarter. Congratulations to the New York Giants.
Ferris Bueller at 50 in a seriously ugly Honda urban buggy does nothing other than depress.
And as much as I'm a loyal Audi man through and through, the S7 ad with it's über-cool soundtrack was pipped at the post for me by Honda's NSX. "Leno!"
Though Madonna reasserted her authority as Queen of Pop. I liked that a lot!
(Well done to the Giants by the way. One of my best mates is a recent convert and he's been living like a vampire at weekends for the past wee while, so I've heard a lot about it... 8-) )
Over here, there has been a huge push into European football, to the extent that EPL matches and the Champions League final are now broadcast on Fox network television, not just on FSC or ESPN. Chelsea-Man Utd was on just yesterday in fact (far more riveting than a so-so Super Bowl IMO, and with Martin Tyler calling because American soccer announcers are generally terrible). For the first time over here, every game of Euro 2012 will be accessible live.
As for how much interest does it hold in the UK... It's certainly on the fringe side of sport here, the games leading up to the Super Bowl are broadcast, but live, so therefore in the middle of the night. On Friday I was asked at work what the Super Bowl was when I mentioned I wouldn't be in because of it, and though that was on the really ignorant side of knowing nothing about American Football, I'd say there's a passing interest in the spectacle of it but there's a wholesale lack of knowledge on the game itself. Madonna's performance probably generated 10 times more itnerest than the game itself.
I was aware that there had been a game played in London, but my ignorance is on display now as I didn't realise it wasn't unique and is on an annual basis. Being an international, multi-cultural city and the highest populated in Europe I've no doubt that it would certainly draw the crowds. If it was on my doorstep I'd go along for the entertainment value. But if it's broadcast live at the time by BBC, then it's certainly passed me by.
That's interesting! Particularly that you find it more riveting than an average Super Bowl. I have a passing loathing for football as, growing up on the west coast of Scotland, there was the sectarian element to which side you chose - and the crowds at the games were, well, not my cup of tea. Personally I wouldn't take my kids to a Glasgow match or clients/customers unless it was in hospitality suites. I've been to a couple of baseball games in the US, and maybe it's a different atmosphere to a football game or maybe I was just lucky in the game/company, but I really envied - and still do - the real family friendly, happy environment.
I think it's a Biblical reference. Never really understood it myself. I just liked the scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGMnnQUZ9R8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GnL6F3qFKs
The Chrysler ad was good, but yeah, they fail to mention that buying any old car from them isn't supporting America and Detroit. Only select models are in their Detroit factory and as mentioned before they are largely mostly Italian owned now.
Baseball is definitely a calmer viewing experience, primarily owing to its pastoral nature, its summer season and the fact that it is so much a part of this country's nostalgic side (some might say mythology).
Anyway, thanks for your insights. Always fun to hear things from a different perspective.
I found most of the commercials to be lousy. Hated the Elton John/Flava Flav one especially. Although I am not generally a fan of Bud Light ads, I liked the one with Wego the dog. The Seinfeld one was good also, although the only one I saw was a shortened version.
I have to say, Madonna was really good. "Like A Prayer" with the choir and Cee-Lo was fantastic. Had not expected her to be so good.
Well, I didn't realize it was a commercial for Chrysler until later. When I first saw it, it came off as a Detroit auto industry commercial but with a broader message. It's funny but a Departures Magazine article from a couple of issues back was about American companies who produce products actually made in America. I think the message can be extended to other countries as well. Buy British if you are British, French if you're French etc. It's difficult to do uniformly and the items have to be actually made in the respective country.
As for Audi, yes I like them too and have a blown one in my stable. However, I have a company car as my daily driver and my Mercury SUV gets most of the use on weekends because of two kids and a dog. But it is nice to take the Audi out every now and again for a spin particularly in good weather with the top down.
DG
Edit: Blown = Turbocharged
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
I'vr been trying to buy American for the last few months and I have yet to find an affordable and fashionable clothing brand that is Made in the USA that I want to stick with. I want a sort of J. Crew range but all made in the US. This site: http://www.acontinuouslean.com/the-american-list/ has a list of brands that make US products. The 7 for all Mankind jeans are made in the USA, so I thought that was neat since they were in QoS. I found it odd that Craig has attached himself to Scotch & Soda jeans because as far as I've been reading, that brand is made in the cheap labor countries in Asia.
Oh my goodness, that's one of my favorite sites. But the truth is, if you want to buy American, you'll pay for it. But at least your paying for real American labor and not just lining someone's pockets. Alden shoes are still made in New England and are among my favorites. I believe some RLBL suits are still U.S. made, certain New Balance sneakers, some RRL, some Brooks Brothers. Today even old standards like L.L. Bean are no longer 100% U.S. made. You have to be very careful.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Yeah, there are select US made goods in many of those major brands, but indeed, it seems that the only brands who commit to US made are also high priced. American Apparel is US made cheap, but I don't care for their stuff, so it makes me wonder what methods allow them to keep the prices low.
On the bright side, the prices combined with their American made status makes the goods feel more like keepers that are long-term staple goods. It isn't a big problem if you don't mind a slow conversion to US made products, but I want to stop buying the unskilled labor stuff ASAP, so it is somewhat of a pain at the moment. I sort of have a goal to have at least 75% of my stuff be US made at the end of 5 years (I'm a poor college student at the moment, who happens to have older and more responsible clothing interests than most of the people around here
Good to hear it is on people's minds, and I think that is the point of the Chrysler ad, to show that they want to put that mindset in the public. They'll benefit from being the big source of the message and we'll benefit from an interest in US products here.
Well, as a college student, I wouldn't beat myself up too much. Education can be expensive, so concentrate on that first. You "gotta" get the "college knowledge". But your hearts in the right place. I know what you mean about Americn Apparel, but I keep checking hoping to find something half way decent. I also had older clothing interests at a young age, so you're not alone.
As for the rest of what you said, I couldn't have said it better myself. Glad you're in the fight!
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
What disgusts me is if you pay super expensive prices for say Prada jeans and you find out they are made in Romania. The US has the best jeans and tshirts, there is no excuse for not buying those.
Well it isn't that we were saying it isn't possible, it's just that US made goods don't have competitively low prices. They tend to sit themselves in the higher ranges. American jeans are usually $150+, and I can't even guess a great place to get all your chinos, shirts, jackets, sweaters, etc. all made in the US. I wish there was an equivalent to Brooks Brothers, Gap, J Crew, or something, but almost entirely US made and not deemed a luxury or designer brand.
Madonna - Half Time Show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyfdoZldrS4&feature=related
Yes, it's true, but it's impossible... That's why they go to China! Because it's free labor.. how can you compete with that? The cheaper you can get is American Apparel (but some of their items like shirts and jeans a quite expensive, I wouldn't buy those).
You know, «I wish» just doesn't work. Every time you buy something from GAP that's made in China, then you help them ruin the US. If you buy less clothes, you can have nicer ones. It's all about choices. I would prefer to have 2 pairs of pants instead of 6 made in China.
It doesn't honestly cost $150+ to make American jeans. That said, it costs significantly more than the >$15 it costs to make luxury jeans in China. A report found that shirts made by skilled European laborers for Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana cost less than 5GBP but sell for nearly 200GBP. I can't imagine that all these US brands are even trying to be an affordable line, when American Apparel can be fairly cheap but somehow all other American clothes are luxury prices.
As I was saying before, I personally am trying to buy American now. That mentality is what the Chrysler commercial encouraged and it was a nice idea. Definitely shouldn't go buy 5 Gap shirts on sale just because it is cheap when you would rather have American.