A good Super Bowl ad (a good commercial, period) does four things right: it’s fun, it’s memorable, it forces you to buy the product, and it leaves you with a more favorable view of the brand.
Jake Ciely has been the top fantasy baseball classifier twice and the top fantasy football classifier once. But does this apply to advertisements? We are about to find out.
Feel free to dump poor Jakey on the comments. It has some very strong sensations. Important Note: Movie trailers do not count. Sorry, but it’s a different category and we can’t go there.
(And hey, if you love rankings, and who doesn’t?), Check out our fantastic 2021 baseball, updated fantastic basketball, and “too soon” football ranking.
The 10 best Super Bowl ads
1. GM: No Way Norway
Will Ferrell, Kenan Thompson and Awkwafina do it pretty well, especially Ferrell, but it’s the Scandinavian joke that really made me laugh. I declare this the best ad of the night.
Nando: I can’t disagree. It was fantastic.
2. Fried Lay: Super Bowl
So this could stay at number 1 all night. No. But it was fun while it lasted! This post was aired even before the match started. Marshawn Lynch. Peyton Manning. He could have been sitting there in silence for 30 seconds and be fantastic. Just amazing. “Don’t be scared of the ball” and “Come on, we’re friends,” were fantastic with Lynch’s narration that overcame everything.
3. Cheetos: It wasn’t me
Okay, I knew right away that was going on and I laughed … right away. I’m a fan of Ashton Kutcher, and the new lyrics and ending (they won’t spoil the joke) … very well done.
Nando: I really liked Flat Matthew.
4. Doritos 3D: Matthew flat
This has crazy vibrations from the “Twilight Zone,” mixed with Judge Doom’s “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” And it works! It’s funny, memorable – the scene in the cafeteria where it’s initially invisible is fantastic. I guess this will be the favorite ad of many people this year. Even the disclaimer, “Don’t try if you’re a 3D person,” was subtly funny.
People’s Choice: Jeep with Bruce Springsteen
As much as we love our Frito-Lay and Will Ferrell brands, we can’t deny that the rest of the world loves Bruce Springsteen ads. Maybe a little too much, but who are we to judge? We are awarding this first People’s Choice Super Bowl Commercial Excellence Award (PCSBCAFE). Congratulations, Jeep!
5. M&M: I’m sorry
The mocking genre reveals “Karen” and more, this was pretty good. It’s not the top of the pile, but it’s good for laughs.
Nando adds: Finally, we (my wife and I, not Jake and I) started looking at “Schitt’s Creek” peak; everyone was coming to warn him that you have to spend the first two seasons until he arrives really ok – and I have to say I have the hype. It’s “Parks & Rec.” I just hope Eugene Levy doesn’t look too overexposed.
6. Tide: Jason Alexander steps on, etc.
Bonus laughs for the 80’s TV music bed (“Believe it or Not”). Alexander’s changing faces were quite funny, however, they could be more memorable by the strange shape he looked in the end (he looked aged).
Nando: I don’t think Jake had the “Seinfeld” link to the song. Would that have pushed him to number 5?
7. Uber Eats: Wayne’s World
From Nando: “The ad itself was fine, but I love Wayne’s whole world -“ NOTTT !! “Aunt Carrere, not to mention 2 or 1 when she counts on a TV shoot – and even though it’s mailed, I loved seeing them on screen again.” As for me , it was just fun to see them again, but honestly, it would have been higher than it had been before the Super Bowl, which was better …
8. Sam Adams: Horses
The image of the person causing the horse to be checked through the window made me laugh and, for whatever reason, every time I hear, “Your cousin, from Bos … tone,” I will laugh.
9. Bud Light: Legends (Avengers)
Ideal for laughing and taking a trip down Bud Light shopping street. A real man of Genius! But how do you set aside “On your left”?
Nando: This is possibly number 2 for me. Hearing “Yes I Am” again was so fantastic. And “I loved you man” in the past tense. And the guy who sang “Mister Vending Machine Repairmannnn.” I saw it three times in a row.
10. LYRIQ: ScissorHandsFree
Half of the people watching the Super Bowl remember “Edward Scissorhands”? This is another callback ad for kids from the 90’s (ish)). I think this touches a specific group and luckily it was there, because it was fun. Not rolling on the floor laughing but funny, especially with Winona Ryder doing the rehearsal of her role.
HONORABLE MENTION
Michelob Ultra: Happy
It wasn’t funny, but it did have a very funny aesthetic; the part where he switched to live video (Anthony Davis playing chess) was a fun twist from the initial feeling of “here comes a serious art ad” and I usually like to see an ad where he recognized everyone. Also, I will always get my vote when you use “Can I Kick It?” From A Tribe Called Quest
Tracy Morgan for Rocket Mortgage – “Pretty Sure”
Designed and fun and looks pretty expensive to make. I love everything Tracy Morgan does. In fact, “30 Rock” is one of the most underrated shows. Everyone sweats “The Office,” but you don’t see the same reverence for “30 Rock.”
Craig Robinson Pizza Hut
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45ua4JWfUEk
All the nostalgia, and I’m not even sure that technically it’s a “Super Bowl ad”, as it has been alive on YouTube for six days and seems to lack this great greatness, but it was broadcast after the team introduction and I thought it was smart and fun. And man, you can’t find these Pizza Hut lamp displays anywhere on eBay. That didn’t make the Top 10 final, but anything with Craig Robinson (I saw and enjoyed “Ghosted” on FOX a few years ago) works for me.
Paramount +
Patrick Stewart hasn’t aged since 1990, some good laughs, SpongeBob again, but seriously, ANOTHER streaming service ?!
Nando: Yes, but “Yellowstone” is so awesome
Lemon Seltzer Bud Light
It helped us laugh at the misery of what it was like in 2020 and I especially appreciated the involvement of the MLB cardboard scraps. Side note, though, man, the “hard” seltzer could have been the biggest beneficiary of 2020 … enough!
Skechers: maximum cushioning
Meh. Does the purchase of these shoes include a certification to be a parent?
Jimmy John’s: King of Cold Cuts
Some real moments of laughter, but “Jimmy’s John’s” was repeated. In fact, I laughed more at the warning, “Don’t try,” when I turned on the billboard. Uh, no kidding, folks.
The worst Super Bowl announcements
Hellmann’s May
It wasn’t funny, and seeing a chocolate cake suggesting the use of mayo caused me a legitimate illness in my stomach.
Pringles: stranded astronauts
It is not memorable. How do I know? I mentioned it and the people I was with didn’t even remember its broadcast. Stackable flavor advertising peaked and was only good with Bill Hader.
Oatly
It was definitely memorable, but for all the wrong reasons. Woof. I guess it was supposed to be “bad,” and it’s a prop for the CEO, I guess? But it won’t make me want to buy Oatly. Internally, this could win the award for the worst of this year.
Klarna: Small horses, four payments
I even struggled to figure out what the point of sale was or remember who it was for because it wasn’t fun and CGI was one of the worst I’ve ever seen.
The Feel Good collection
Ford: It ends strong
Anheuser-Busch: Let’s have a beer
Indeed: The Rising
Toyota: Jessica Long Story
Guinness: Joe Montana goat
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