Super Bowl Ads of Cartoonish Violence, Perhaps Reflecting Toll of War (Unbelievable)

New York Times ^ | 2/05/07 | Stuart Elliott

[Krankor]

No commercial that appeared last night during Super Bowl XLI directly addressed Iraq, unlike a patriotic spot for Budweiser beer that ran during the game two years ago. But the ongoing war seemed to linger just below the surface of many of this year’s commercials.

[Rte66]

I actually posted earlier how much the ads "hurt" - but I certainly didn't think it had anything to do with the war in Iraq!

It seemed to have more to do with the anger management issues of the creators of the ads.

It was truly "out there" in the first six breaks of the game, as I watched them. I'm not anti-violence or especially sensitive to silly commercials - but this group of ads, some of them back-to-back, all of them having some sort of one-on-one personal harm being done, really "hit me" wrong.

[photodawg]

I thought the ads were pretty bad. And they really overdid it with race. I wondered why, but then remembered that this super bowl has two black, er, I mean, african-american coaches.

Best ads were: the hitchhikers, grand theft auto (for Coke), and GoDaddy.
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I also liked the Letterman/Oprah ad. Tony Dungee's comments post game, brought up the racial issue, but immediately switched to his friendship with Lovey Smith, and the fact that they were both Christian coaches giving credit to God.

[Rte66]

The chest-hair-rending wasn't even the gross part of that ad!

I wasn't looking at the TV when it started, so had no idea what that brown "thing" was they were munching on, a la Lady and the Tramp at the spaghetti joint.

It looked like sausage to me, maybe beef jerky - had NO IDEA it was a Snickers bar. Yuck!

[dfwgator]

The "Homosexual Snicker Candy Bar" ad was atrocious.

And a total rip-off of "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" to boot.

[TheRobb7]

You bring up a great point.

If we lose this war, next year THEY WILL be wearing burqas.

[finnman69]

Just mroe proof the liberal agenda is pervasive in every department. This was an 'ADVERTISING' article.

I liked the peaceful Grand Theft Auto world Coke ad

and

The office workers gladiators battle

[finnman69]

I bet the NY Times writer got all hot and bothered watching the grease monkeys smooch in the Snickers ad.

[finnman69]

the writer of this article (on the right)

[NYCVirago]

Real story is that every advertising agency wants to be "edgy," but nobody wants to be the next Janet Jackson. Thus all the violent ads. Yet the most memorable ad, in my view, wasn't even mentioned in this story. It was the Letterman=-Oprah one, and it was a real jaw-dropper.

[hawkeye101]

Liberalism is a mental disorder.

[Capt. Jake]

That explains a lot, both about the column and the NYT generally.

[Hatteras]

"Best ads were: the hitchhikers, grand theft auto (for Coke), and GoDaddy.

I did like the hitchhiker ad but I've got to give credit to Kevin Federline (Life comes at you fast). That was a good commercial.

Also, the NFL.com commercial at the two-minute warning was odd. A good self-deprecating slam on Brett Favre.

[finnman69]

bump

[Vaquero]

ah....another turd burgler from the NYT.

[SteveMcKing]

"Stuart"

[OmegaMan]

Yeah, those were the three I could remember off hand, but I liked the KFed ad too. I also liked the one with the map that turned into a monster. Already though the experts are saying the ones I liked were crap lol. Theyre snobs though so what do they know.

I think I missed the Brett Favre ad for some reason. Maybe Ill look for it online.