Closer Look
Sneak peek at this year's hottest Super Bowl ads
The Super Bowl is a must-watch TV event, if not for the outcome of the biggest football game of the year, then at least for the multi-million dollar commercials that run throughout. And this year’s buzzworthy spots include celebrity appearances, homages to movies and lots of humor.
Big budget, big buzzThis year, the average price for a 30-second spot in the big game is $3.5 million, according to The Telegraph. "The Super Bowl is the one time of the year, the one event where most viewers embrace the commercials," said Abhi Biswas, a University of Texas - Dallas marketing professor in the Naveen Jindal School of Management. "Studies show people are actually taking their breaks during the game so they can come back, grab a seat on the couch and watch the ads." Many advertisers have been able to generate early buzz about their commercials by releasing teasers or even full or extended versions on the Internet. Check out a selection of some of those ads below. Coca-ColaThe Coca-Cola polar bears are back, but which ad of theirs runs during the Super Bowl will depend on who is winning. If the 2nd quarter is particularly stressful for the New England Patriots, then the ad will feature a bear sporting a Patriots scarf grabbing a Coke, and making a mad scramble to catch it. SuzukiThe setting is the frozen tundra, where an Eskimo and his dog sled team ride off into the horizon. They return in the evening in a new Suzuki Kizashi, with 50 Cent's "Movin' On Up" blaring in the speakers while the dogs and their human relax in the car. But how will the man’s wife react? Watch the spot to see.
BudweiserFan-favorite Budweiser will have six different spots in this year's Super Bowl, including one in the second quarter they're simply calling a "secret spot." Other ads will feature the factory where Bud Light Platinum is created, an office setting, the famous Budweiser Clydesdales, a rescue dog and a highlight reel of American achievements. Here's a sneak peek at one of those spots.
VolkswagenVolkswagen produced one of the most memorable ads from 2011 – "The Force" featured a little boy dressed as Darth Vader, trying to use “the force” to control things around his house. VW is back this year with another entertaining ad featuring an out-of-shape dog, and a later homage to the Star Wars theme from last year’s spot. Watch the extended version below.
LexusLexus is making its Super Bowl debut with a spot dubbed, "The Beast." It features the company’s new 2013 GS as it breaks free from containment, and it also hints at the additional new vehicles Lexus will unveil later in the year.
AudiIn Audi's commercial, the car-maker pays tribute (or perhaps just makes fun of) the "Twilight" craze with a spot dubbed "Vampire Party." It features a young, attractive man driving an Audi. And he just happens to have fangs. He’s bringing a case of blood to a remote but boisterous vampire party in the woods. But what happens when he arrives is unexpected and hilarious.
AcuraThis spot features comedians Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno – both avid car collectors – engaging in some crazy antics to try to be the first in line to get a new Acura NSX. Check out the extended version of the spot below.
Pepsi MAXThis commercial is the latest entry in the cola wars. It features a Pepsi competitor’s deliveryman trying to discreetly buy a bottle of Pepsi MAX when he becomes the grand prize winner of "Pepsi MAX for Life." As a surprise "on the spot" reporter, Regis Philbin appears to get the embarrassed driver's thoughts on his big win.
ToyotaWhat other things could Toyota make better? That’s the premise of the car-maker's Super Bowl ad, and the result is a funny mixture of pizza curtains, poop-less babies and crime-fighting house plants. A 30-second version will air during the game, but here is the 60-second version.
BridgestoneThe tire maker tries its hand at creating sports equipment in this new ad. Bridgestone’s spot features big-name athletes using tire-tread footballs, basketballs and even hockey pucks. Check out the teaser.
HondaThe ad getting perhaps the biggest pregame buzz is one that pays homage to a classic 1980s movie, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." The Honda CR-V ad features Matthew Broderick as himself, skipping out on a day of work on a movie set to enjoy life in his new CR-V. A teaser for the spot was released last week, and the full version has since hit YouTube, already garnering more than 10 million views.
E-TradeAh, the E-Trade baby. The smooth-talking tot with sage financial advice made his debut in the 2008 Super Bowl, and he's back this year with more advice, this time for a new dad. Check out the spot below.
Doritos
Which Doritos ads air during the Super Bowl is entirely in the hands of fans. The company received more than 6,000 entries in its "Crash the Super Bowl" challenge, and viewers can go to crashthesuperbowl.com before the game to cast their vote for their favorites among five finalists. The top two vote-getters will debut during the game. |
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Must-See Video: Watch and listen to perhaps the greatest marriage proposal ever
Last week, he told his girlfriend to meet him at his parents house for dinner. When she arrived he had stationed his brother to sit her in the back of an open vehicle and give her some headphones. He "wanted to play her a song"...
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Must-See Video: Quite possibly the most amazing beat box performance ever
French beat box phenomenon EKLIPS performs a four-minute history of hip hop music ... in one single take! If you love music and admire talented performers, then this video is a must-see!
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Must-See Video: NBA star poses as old man — then crushes people in pickup game
Kyrie Irving has gone old school. Very old school. The NBA's Rookie of the Year is featured in a new commercial for Pepsi MAX making the rounds on YouTube. In the ad, viewers are introduced to Irving's character, an older man named "Uncle Drew."
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Television: Phillip Phillips is new ‘American Idol’
Phillip Phillips, a bluesy Georgia guitar man, was crowned the new “American Idol” on Wednesday. He claimed the title after defeating teenager Jessica Sanchez in record viewer voting. He was the fifth male “Idol” winner in a row.
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Lori Brothers: Aim to hit goals ‘most of the time’
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GOP committee members taken to task
A committee is considering complaints filed against eight Lawrence County Republican Committee members. The three-member committee conducted hearings last night at St. Marguerite’s Hall in Mahoningtown to consider the complaints.
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Obituary, Video: Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees dies after cancer battle
With his carefully tended hair, tight trousers and perfect harmonies, Robin Gibb and his brothers Maurice and Barry defined disco. As part of the Bee Gees — short for the Brothers Gibb — they created dance floor classics like “Stayin Alive,” ‘’Jive Talkin’,” and “Night Fever” that still gets crowds onto a dance floor.
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Dave Ramsey: It’s my food and my roof!
“Dave Says" is a weekly column featuring financial advice from nationally syndicated radio host Dave Ramsey. His column is filled with timely, relevant questions and answers taken from actual letters and calls on Ramsey's radio program, “The Dave Ramsey Show.”
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‘Queen of Disco’ Donna Summer dies
Disco queen Donna Summer, whose pulsing anthems such as "Last Dance," ''Love to Love You Baby" and "Bad Girls" became the soundtrack for a glittery age of sex, drugs, dance and flashy clothes, has died. She was 63.
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News Video: CMU students design ‘eco friendly’ home for county family
Students at Carnegie Mellon University are designing a home for a Lawrence County family. The future architects are part of a two-part course for their senior project. The class gives the students freedom to design the Habitat for Humanity home from the ground up.
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