Monday Morning Musing: The Super Bowl

 

Football is not my game. When Hubs watches--college football, usually--I read or play computer games. Except when it comes to the Super Bowl. Do I watch the game? Sort of. I watch the commercials. 😊

Am I alone?

Last night, we went to our son's. While he and Hubs watched the game, our daughter-in-law and I critiqued the commercials. Most were meh, some stood out.

The Budweiser commercials usually rate pretty high with us. But we agreed that the wounded Clydesdale, while heartwarming and memorable, was too short. 

Doritos commercials are always worth a good laugh. No exception last night.

So did the Toyota truck commercial with the Joneses. Of course, it helps if you recognize all the drivers. You know you're getting old when you have to ask your son who people are. 

Still, my all-time favorite car commercial is the boy dressed as Darth Vader who tries to use "The Force" to start his dad's car, while Dad, in the kitchen, uses his remote. 

Sometimes, the thought-provoking commercials are the ones to remember. Ty Burrell buying everything he sees until he's broke was the point of the Greenlight commercial.

I googled the commercials to see if I missed any memorable ones, which is kind of contradictory, isn't it? I couldn't believe how many commercials I didn't remember seeing. I mean, we were with family. We talked. I played with the kiddos. But, sheesh, I missed a lot. Obviously, not memorable.

How about you? Game or Commercials? Your favorite/memorable?

Monday Morning Musing

Random thoughts on the week that was.

A nasty virus can make you not care that you missed posting on Monday for the first time in four years.

You can be too sick to read.

You can sleep through TV shows you wanted to watch. The DVR is your friend.

Drinking LOTS of fluids means LOTS of trips to the bathroom.

Sharing the nasty virus with your spouse means you’re both too sick to go anywhere except the doctor’s and the pharmacy.

Soup, crackers, and tea can get boring.

Cough syrup with codeine helps.

Getting better takes time. Don’t push it.

Super Bowl commercials aren’t as good as they used to be. None as good as little Darth Vader starting his dad’s car with the “Force.”

Best PSA: woman who calls 911 and orders a pizza; dispatcher smart enough to know she’s being abused and needs help.

Best Super Bowl moment: the look on Tom Brady’s face when he realized the Patriots won.

Worst Super Bowl moment: the fight that broke out at the end.

Winter Storm with the worst timing: Super Bowl parties cancelled.

Best Monday Morning: waking up to sunshine after a winter storm.

Laughter - the Best Medicine

Do you have enough laughter in your life? Medical studies tell us that laughter releases endorphins, nature’s natural pain killers. Laughter relaxes the skeletal system, reduces stress, lowers the blood pressure, and regulates the heart rate. According to inspirational speaker Marilyn Meburg, your liver needs laughter because it gets no exercise. The liver is the organ in your body that gets rid of toxins. So, if you’re not laughing you’re neglecting your liver.

With the weather we’re having—snow, snow, cold, more snow—I need more laughter in my life, which is why I always look forward to the Super Bowl commercials. Forget the game. I think Denver would be very happy to forget the game.

Warmhearted ads are fine, like the Budweiser commercial with the puppy and the Clydesdale—cute but lacked impact because the Today show aired it earlier in the week. The Chrysler ad with Bob Dylan made me proud rather than embarrassed that I’m from Detroit. The Chevy ad with the cancer survivor was touching.

But I’d rather laugh. For me, nothing can top the little Darth Vader who uses the “Force” to start his dad’s car. I guess the ad from a couple of years ago wasn’t very effective since I can’t remember which car.

The ad makers for Doritos never fail to make me laugh. This year’s with the girl and the dog made me laugh out loud. So did the pistachio commercial. Other than that, I was disappointed in the ads.

How about you? What made you laugh or tear up? Besides the game.

Super Bowl Commercials

Most people watch the Super Bowl for the game. I suppose if the Detroit Lions ever made it to the big game, I'd actually watch it. Although I knew little about the two teams, I rooted for the Ravens because of our friends who live in Baltimore. I'm sure die-hard football fans think that's lame. No, I watch the Super Bowl for the commercials. Actually, Hubs watches the game while I read and look up during the breaks. I was disappointed with this year’s commercials. They may have been the most expensive spots in Super Bowl history, but none really grabbed me or made me crack up. Last year’s mini-Darth Vader “starting” the car with the Force was better than any this year.

I always look forward to the Budweiser commercials especially with the Clydesdales. The one with the horse reuniting with his former owner (?) wasn’t as heartwarming or tissue-grabbing as they’ve been in past years but was pretty good. I liked Space Babies where the kid asks Dad where babies came from. Don’t Tell Mom did make me laugh. The blond kissing the nerd was gross. I’m tired of the e-Trade baby and I expected better from Doritos. Coke's race across the desert with its homage to old movies was good. Of all of this year’s commercials, my favorite was the stain on the shirt. Great ending.

What makes a memorable commercial? Is it the twist at the end that makes you laugh? The pull on your heartstrings?