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Super Bowl hits and misses

Super Bowl hits and misses

With a record low score of 13-3, only a single touchdown, and a lackluster halftime show, Super Bowl 53 was arguably one of the most boring in history. But on the bright side, the commercials were generally entertaining. These were my favorites.

  • T-Mobile: When making references to internet culture, brands can often come across as trying too hard. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case for T-Mobile this year. The phone company aired several spots featuring amusing text conversations — from a couple deciding what to order for dinner to someone mistaking a Lyft driver’s text for emotional support. Did the latter seem too familiar? Don’t worry, T-Mobile licensed the joke from a real viral tweet.
  • Pepsi: Several brands capitalized on celebrity to generate buzz for their Super Bowl ads. Pepsi recruited Cardi B, Lil Jon, and Steve Carrell for its spot.
  • Stella Artois: In another star-powered ad, The Dude and Carrie Bradshaw spurn their signature drinks — a white Russian and cosmopolitan — for a Stella.
  • NFL: The best ad of the night may have been from the NFL itself. Featuring 44 of the greatest athletes wreaking havoc at a banquet for the league’s 100th season, the spot earned the highest consumer ratings on USA TODAY’s Ad Meter.

 
Sometimes the commercials really are better than the main event.

Lauren Archambeault
lauren@kbc.us