
Coca-Cola's "Hard Times" spot featured characters from "The Simpsons." (Coca-Cola Co.)
The Super Bowl is more than just a game.
While fans of the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts have a rooting interest in the game others watch just for the fanfare and the commercials.
CBS charged about $2.5 million per 30-second spot. Thirty-five companies or groups paid to air spots in this year’s game.
This year’s offerings range from the serious — Focus on the Family’s controversial Tim Tebow spot — to the humorous — Denny’s spot warning chickens to get out of town.
So, which ones had you rooting to see it again and during which ones did you get up for seconds (or thirds)?
Here are some of the highlights:
• Dwight Howard and LeBron James got things started with a recreation of Michael Jordan and Larry Bird’s famous “The Showdown” Super Bowl ad from McDonald’s of 17 years ago.

Betty White felt better after a Snickers bar.
• Betty White showed she could take a hit, particularly after she has a Snickers bar.
• Tim Tebow tackled his mom to drive a point in the Focus on Family ad in which she spoke about her decision to keep him despite a troubled pregnancy.
• Boost Mobile went retro with a spoof on the Bears’ “Super Bowl Shuffle.”
• Doritos showed its funny side with a fan-inspired “Leggo my Eggo” kind of theme: in one spot a bark collar kept a dog owner from the chips and another spot had a boy protecting his “mama” and his Doritos from the hands of her new boyfriend. Then it took an odd twist with a “Miracle” casket filled with Doritos.
• Coca-Cola’s first spot was “Hard Times,” which featured characters from the “The Simpsons” lifting the spirits of C. Montgomery Burns.
• It wouldn’t be a Super Bowl without a Danica Patrick GoDaddy.com ad with a GoDaddy.com girl bearing the Web site’s logo across a halter top.
• Bud Light’s “Here We Go” campaign kicked off with a T-Pain inspired harmonizer ditty. Bud’s human bridge offering proved more amusing.
• Career Builder kept the mood light with its take on “Casual Fridays” … just another day at the office.
• Dodge voiced men’s frustrations and declared they should take matters by the horns in “Man’s Last Stand” – and drive a man’s car – in this case a Charger.
• Not a fan of all the CBS promos throughout the game, but the Jay Leno, Oprah Winfrey, David Letterman spot for “The Letterman Show” took the cake. (According to Oprah’s Twitter, all three were in the same room in Letterman’s Studio for the filming of the ad.)
• Dockers’ “I Wear No Pants” not only crashed the Dockers.com site, might’ve added 15 minutes of fame to “Pants on the Ground.”
• Brett Favre was in the Super Bowl … making fun of himself, yet again … for Hyundai.
• Google got in on the act, reminding viewers it’s a search engine.
The Who performed live at the half.
107 comments Add your comment
Micheal
February 7th, 2010
10:46 pm
OMG, the best commercial was the Jessica Fox commercial!
Mike
February 7th, 2010
10:56 pm
By far the worst Super Bowl commercials on record. These commercials were awful. Absolute waste of money for the buyers.
joe
February 7th, 2010
10:57 pm
Halfway decent commercial concepts.. really lame execution on most. flo.tv was ok, so was google. The light show saved The Who. Yeah Saints!
Steveo
February 7th, 2010
11:01 pm
I was hoping to watch a football game but got freaking sick of all the stupid ads and switched over to Law and Order on TBS
Sluggo
February 7th, 2010
11:13 pm
KISS and Mini KISS Dr. Pepper commercial was the best!
brock
February 7th, 2010
11:19 pm
I liked Monster.com’s fiddling beaver playing Soldiers Joy. A 150 year old tune.
t
February 7th, 2010
11:22 pm
the kid slapping the guy in the doritos ad was the best commerical, hands down.
Millermoose
February 7th, 2010
11:22 pm
I hope the people who were complaining about the Tim Tebow commercial without ever viewing it realize how stupid they look now.
Mel
February 7th, 2010
11:23 pm
My favorite commercial was the kid with the Doritos. “Keep your hands off my mama, keep your hands off my Doritos.” I had to rewind it just to watch it again. The Tebow ad wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be but it sets a precedent for Superbowl ads that doesn’t sit well with me. Keep politics out of the Superbowl. It’s football. It’s mindless entertainment. Let’s keep it that way.
Dink
February 7th, 2010
11:34 pm
Doritos Dog Collar paws down was the BEST!!!!!
Richard Alpert
February 7th, 2010
11:35 pm
Punch buggy!!! This was the best one – the kid punching the old man in the junk, then Stevie Wonder punching Tracey Morgan… and Tracey’s reaction!
Church of the Latter Day Dude
February 8th, 2010
12:04 am
They needed a commercial about bowling man.
This agression will not stand man.
In the commercial with Danica, does the cable guy show up and fix the cable?
Chief Wiggum
February 8th, 2010
12:06 am
Hated the Audi ad. As someone else said, it makes their vehicle(s) complicit in a disgusting eco-hysteria state. Of course, it was cool to hear Cheap Trick, but still..
The baby commercials (e-trade???) stink. Hate those. Awful. Horrid.
Didn’t see the big deal about the Tebow ad. Looked fine to me.
Liked the Danica Patrick & GoDaddy ads.
Sandra
February 8th, 2010
12:12 am
The NCIS ad was funny………………..wit the slapping, etc. Spoof of the show.
The Tebow ad was overrated it. Should not of been that big of a deal.
zeno9255
February 8th, 2010
12:19 am
The Audi Green Police was awesome. It was like life in our office with the Greenies.
Look before I leap
February 8th, 2010
12:51 am
Kid – Doritos – slapping tha pimp was by far tha best – and not on the vote list fa the AJC – makes ya wonda
KKPB
February 8th, 2010
1:24 am
The Tebow ad was just a way to get people to go to Focus On the Family’s Website. Hateful angry fear mongering organization. Yes, they kept the ad very simple but sending people people to the FOF site is even scarier knowing how terrifying the FOF message is. And no, the outrage over CBS allowing the ad was not overblown. It sets a horrible precedent to allow political/opinion ads during the Superbowl. I suppose it’s just a sign of how things will be now that corporations will be people. Next year, all kinds of organizations will have ads and the poor Clydsdales won’t have enough money to join. Unless Palin’s picture is on the rear end of one of them.
Steve
February 8th, 2010
1:55 am
The CareerBuilder ad was kind of nauseating. It was the winning submission for a contest they had. There were much better entrants including one where a guy keeps lighting his farts to the amusement of a male co-worker (and the visible annoyance of a female one) until a suited director shows up at his cubicle…. to lend him a Zippo. You know they’d never have aired something like that though…
Steve
February 8th, 2010
1:56 am
No pun intended.
Robin Crutchfield
February 8th, 2010
4:18 am
Maybe I read too much into the Doritos commercial but it was not funny! It’s sad that this young child was depicted as being violent, no father in the home, trying to be the man of the house at age 6, mom brings new men home often, leaves the child alone with a stranger, mom also has on a mini skirt, the little boy sees this man lusting after his mother….it was so much wrong with that commercial. This was so disrespectful.
Florida Dawg
February 8th, 2010
4:47 am
I didn’t “get” the Tebow ad…what was the point? Has his mom had a face lift?
BuLLdawg
February 8th, 2010
4:52 am
There was not a TV ad. There were some promo shorts about CBS TV shows, so let’s discuss the game this year, for a change.
Peyton Manning is a big-game choke artist. The Super Bowl victory MVP in 2007 was not an even good Peyton Manning performance with a fumble and an interception to only 1 TD pass, an 81 Quarterback Rating with 3.8 yards per pass. Super Bowl MVP my butt.
Peyton Manning choked in high school in big games.
Peyton Manning choked in college in big games.
Peyton Manning choked in the Playoffs again last night. He threw a pass to a receiver out in front of the receiver who stretched out his arms as the ball flittered off his fingertips. Then, the camera went back to Peyton Manning where he was in the backfield shaking his head at the receiver.
On the sidelines thereafter, Peyton Manning had gathered his Offensive Linemen together on the bench and the camera again caught Peyton Manning acting like God lecturing his OL.
Peyton Manning plays on a team widely considered far better than the New Orleans Who dat Saints. The Colts were a prohibitive 6-point favorite in the game.
Not a winning record in playoffs, Peyton Manning has been and continues to be a choke artist of the highest order in big games.
It is what he does.
It was not until he left the vols, that the vols won the big games. In the big games in college, Peyton Manning choked. 3 times he played Florida, and lost all 3. How can you be any good at all in college if you always lose to the teams in not only your own conference, but even in your own division ?
Super Bowl MVP for throwing 1 touchdown pass ?
Super Bowl MVP for throwing an interception and losing a fumble ?
Super Bowl MVP for a QB rating of 81 ?
What the hell is that all about ?
Peyton Manning is a big-game choke artist.
10 Playoffs.
6 times Peyton Manning was bounced in the 1st game.
9 Playoff wins in 10 Playoff Series, that is what his record is in the big games in the NFL.
Hall of Fame Quarterback who has a Super Bowl MVP in the rain where 3 other Colts’ Offensive Players in fact had far better games than he.
This is the Baltimore Colts, Indianapolis Colts. That is supposed to be the best team in the NFL. Instead, Peyton Manning gets on everyone on his team like everything they were doing was all wrong when he was doing everything right, according to him.
Ahead 10-0 one might surmise that Peyton Manning would hand the football off to Joseph Addai.
He did anything but.
In 18 Playoff Games, Peyton Manning has only 9 wins.
Beating Rex Grossman hardly changes the fact that Peyton Manning is sports’ greatest choke artist.
9-9 in the Playoffs.
10 seasons in the Playoffs.
Peyton Williams Manning 3 weeks from now turns 34.
4-Time NFL MVP and 1-Time Super Bowl MVP he no where near deserved with an interception a lost fumble of his own and only 1 touchdown pass with a 81 Quarterback Rating. 3 point 8 yards per attempt. For that, he is Super Bowl MVP.
12-Time NFL Choke Artist.
Facts Are :
10 Years in the Playoffs.
10 Years Choke Artist.
10 to nothing lead and Joseph Addai gets a grand total of 13 carries in the game. Why did the Colts lose again ? Peyton Manning threw the football 45 times instead.
Drew Brees threw the football fewer times than Peyton Manning, but completed more passes than Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees threw 2 Touchdown Passes, while Peyton Manning threw 1 touchdown pass and 1 interception.
Peyton Manning’s QB Rating is 84 in Super Bowls.
Drew Brees’ QB Rating was 114.5 last night.
The Super Bowl was already over when Drew Brees threw the 2-Point Conversion to go ahead 24-17. Then, Choke Artist in the big games, Peyton Manning threw the Pick-6 to Tracy Porter covering 74-yards and it became 31-17 with 3 minutes and 12 seconds to go. Peyton Manning is a Choke Artist in big games. It is all he has ever been. And, all he will ever be. It is what he is.
Peyton Manning threw 33 touchdown passes to 16 interceptions 99 QB Rating
Drew Brees threw 34 touchdowns passes to 11 interceptions. 109 QB Rating
Peyton Manning, not Drew Brees NFL MVP.
Peyton Manning 7.9 yards per pass 68 percent complete
Drew Brees 8.5 yards per pass 70 percent complete
The media, 50 sportswriters, is who votes for the NFL MVP.
Peyton Manning despite playing on the best team in the NFL, has been sacked 215 times, has 17 rushing touchdowns to 19 fumbles, has 366 touchdown passes with 181 interceptions, and has 12 Chokes in the big games in 12 Years in the NFL.
Prolific Pablo Picasso of Choke Artists in big games.
Steve
February 8th, 2010
5:22 am
The Brett Favre/Hyundai commercial was the funniest. And what the HELL was Audi thinking? If I was even considering buying one of their cars, that facist tribute to the myth of man-made global warming would have sent me running in the other direction.
Hotlanta native
February 8th, 2010
5:28 am
Robin Crutchfield – It was a commercial, lighten up before your head explodes. Or is this too violent for you…gosh, I apologize. Wuss
prettier sista
February 8th, 2010
5:45 am
Robin Cruchield
You are a typical white person who obliviously sees the world through racist colored glasses. Example=(first for your own clarity imagine the woman is white, there now lets begin) 1)What is wrong with a single mom going on a date? 2) Wouldn’t it make more sense to asume the childs babysitter is already in the house if they are going out? 3) What about the lady or anything in this comercial implies this woman brings new men home often? 4) What is wrong with a woman wearing a mini skirt? 5) How does going to put flowers in water constitute leaving a child alone with a stranger? 6) How do you know it hasn’t taken months of knowing this guy before she even accepted a date with him or let him meet her kid? and7) What the hell is wrong with you that you accept the premise of a dog putting a collar on his master over a bag of doritos, or a blonde ripping her shirt off over a domain name website but you become a social worker on steriods about a funny farce about dating
Hotlanta native
February 8th, 2010
5:47 am
Or you could look at it in a totally different light, instead of the “whole world is evil” light you seem to see everything in. The boy’s dad died a war hero, instantly thrusting him into the role of the man of the house and protector of the nurturing mother. She has finally met a new love and, after dating him for months, finally brings him home to meet her son, not wanting to introduce them too soon, being the kind, caring person she is. The boy instantly takes charge setting the rules of the house…respect my mother and don’t take Doritos that don’t belong to you. It’s an uplifting story… wuss
robo slop
February 8th, 2010
5:48 am
Why were we not given the choice to vote for the kid slapping the guy taking his moma out!!
Hotlanta native
February 8th, 2010
5:53 am
Sista – I’m a “typical white guy” too. Does that lump us all together? thanks for throwing me in the pot with Robin.
King of my own shadow
February 8th, 2010
5:57 am
forget comercials ! i thought the fieldgoal kicker was the mvp because he put the first nine points on the board by making three forty+yard goals!! that kept them alive and in the game and made them believe!!
prettier sista
February 8th, 2010
6:16 am
Hotlanta native
No, but many still see most blacks through the prism of their own racist outlook on life.
Hotlanta native
February 8th, 2010
6:36 am
I guess an “I’m sorry” is out of the question?
No Rose Racist Glasses Here
February 8th, 2010
6:50 am
The Doritos commercial was a true slap in the face. Evidently the little boy had seen or knows enough other woman that had been slapped around by their boyfriends. He obviously felt compeled to set the new boyfriend straight. It was truly a sad reality. Or was it stereo typing? You decide. Doritos has already decided.
lynda steaple
February 8th, 2010
6:54 am
why isn’t the little boy who slapped his momma’s boyfriend one of the commercials to vote on? it was the best one by far!!
Dave
February 8th, 2010
7:08 am
Florida Dawg – doesn’t suprise me you didn’t get it, I’m sure that must happen to you often.
Relationship Expert
February 8th, 2010
7:08 am
The commercials run the range of creative to boring. Again this year, the worst commercial is better entertainment than the half time show.
Linda Statham
February 8th, 2010
7:15 am
I was disappointed in how much violence was in so many of the ads, especially knowing that many children were watching the ads. And what percentage were beer commercials? We want to have a great America and yet we push violence and alcohol to the world. Even Tebow was seen crashing into his mother? I don’t get it. Let’s clean up the airwaves and show the world that we are above trash on on our stations. If we refuse to watch the garbage shows, TV will improve. If not, it will only continue to get worse.
Nash Tenn
February 8th, 2010
8:10 am
The Little Boy:
Don’t mess with my Doritos
and
Don’t mess with my mama!
CLASSIC!!!
mugglemikki
February 8th, 2010
8:28 am
I loved all the Doritos commercials..I especially like the one with the guy that steals the Doritos out of a locker and his buddy is killed by a Doritos “flying death star”…hilarious!
Kar
February 8th, 2010
8:37 am
This was probably nothing compared to the tensions when Carson retired. Now the jokes should’ve been expected by both sides.
sr citizen dawg
February 8th, 2010
8:53 am
Liked the Budweiser “friendship” ad with the steer and clydesdale…………also liked the Doritos ad
robo slop
February 8th, 2010
9:31 am
no rose racist glasses- dude it is just a comercial fool! you are proving pretty sists’s point!
Chuck
February 8th, 2010
9:48 am
Y’know, I wasn’t crazy about the Dodge Charger ad, but it was a refreshing change to see an ad where Dad/Husband wasn’t depicted as a barely functional moron. Then again, it would only air during a football game, I’m guessing.
dianan
February 8th, 2010
10:00 am
i think that the *etrade commercial was the best… ‘milk-a-wha???’ haha…
dianan
February 8th, 2010
10:05 am
here’s the website to ck it out if you missed it. : http://www.i4u.com/article30699.html
null
February 8th, 2010
10:16 am
all the Doritos ads were just plain stupid
Sorry Dodge….real men don’t cars you designed to be Hertz rentals. Come back when you design a real car, and save the advertising dollars until you pay back the damn money the government gifted you.
The Leno/Oprah/Letterman commercial should have had Oprah with the food in her lap. Letterman should have knocked her fat ass on the ground while he beat Leno’s unfunny face with a tire iron.
the E-trade “talking baby” crap was funny when it first came out a few years ago. now they’re reaching.
Bud/Bud Light. Blah. Crappy commercials for 2 VERY crappy beers. Fitting.
Tebow ad was a little overblown. But I still fail to see how a domestic terrorist group like Focus On The Family (what a misnomer!) needs airtime.
Why does the CENSUS need to advertise, during the SuperBowl, no less? Great use of my tax dollars, Washington idiots.
the SuperBowl Shuffle spoof with the players in wheelchairs was kind of funny, but I wouldn’t say it was great.
GoDaddy commercials sucked, as expected. And if you went to the website to see the “unrated content” you were probably even more disappointed.
ABC
February 8th, 2010
10:38 am
Betty White rules!
timthebrave
February 8th, 2010
10:42 am
1. Doritos-with kid
2. Leno/letterman
The 2 best commercials and neither one got on the list
Barnacle Bill Bavasi
February 8th, 2010
11:18 am
The Doritos casket was just really, really dumb. Surprised it passed muster and made it on the air. I liked the Betty White and Abe Vagoda spot.
Barnacle Bill Bavasi
February 8th, 2010
11:20 am
Oh, heck, I liked the Farve commercial where it’s 10 years from now and he’s still wondering whether to retire. Pretty funny.
iRun
February 8th, 2010
11:31 am
The Tebow commercial was stupid. I mean, he TACKLES his mom? Really? He’s a quarterback. He doesn’t tackle anyone! Stupid.