Super Bowl commercials have been wow-ing and disappointing viewers since the dawn of the Big Game. But what separates the good from the bad and the ugly?
In general, commercials that do well tend to feature beloved celebrities, beer ‘n chips, animals, and of course plenty of humor that appeals across generations.
On the other hand, some commercials flat-out flop. What’s the difference? Commercials that bomb may contain one or more of these factors:
- Animal rights (or wrongs?): Commercials featuring furry friends often get flack from animal rights groups and can cause more negative press than good.
- Lack of clarity: Glamorous celebrities and bikini-clad starlets will not compensate for a poor explanation (or no explanation at all!) of the product or service.
- Bland: Ads that rely on the same themes over and over again are plain boring. If we’ve seen it before, it’s probably time to shake it up!
- Crass humor: Potty humor is a usually not a crowd pleaser, unless you’re watching the game with a roomful of 10-year-old boys.
What are some of your most favorite, memorable, or talked-about Super Bowl commercials from previous years?