All in all the ads were not so impressive this year.  Not sure why they were so sub-par but I was disappointed.  One of my perennial favorites – BUDWEISER and BUD LIGHT were HUGE disappointments, and newcomer CARMAX’s ads were stupid.

Here’s a link to the Advertising Age Web site with ALL the SUPER BOWL XLV ads

ETRADE came through with a little better than average with its Tailor and Cat spots.  My favorites – COKE’s Border Crossing and the DORITOS Pug.

The Pug ad won its creator a million dollars, but the Pug ad itself was created for only $500!  Here’s the ad and an interview with its creator, JR Burningham, on CNBC. 

Incidentally the Pug ad won the ‘Best Ad’ nod from USA Today.

Too much humor fell flat.  The other Doritos ad that had the guy licking the other guy’s finger was dumb.  The mattress ads were kind of racy, but have no idea who the advertiser is.  GROUPON was kind of funny, MERCEDES Welcome with a P Diddy cameo falls flat. PEPSI MAX – funny ad but horrible execution.  They picked the wrong director for one.

The star commercials were really bad – SNICKERS with Roaseane and Richard Lewis, TELEFLORA with Faith Hill, GO DADDY with Joan Rivers – Boo, Boo and Boo to ALL of them.  The Chrysler ad is great… but the ending with Eminem is sooooo LAME.  Eminem is a wanker, so far from tough.  His point to camera is bogus too. They almost had me with this one, but putting Eminem in the picture lost me.  Eminem really went for broke with his sell out in the Brisk Iced tea claymation spot.  He may be a good musician but he don’t belong in ads.

Finally, in the better than average column we’ll give a B- to VOLKSWAGEN for the Force and a B to the Beetle ad.  Let’s cross our fingers that all these advertisers kept some powder dry for the Ladies Super Bowl coming up in three weeks – The Academy Awards on Feb 27.