For Super Bowl 50, one of the Carolina’s are playing the Peyton Manning – and I’m only watching this for the commercials and half-time show.
Lady Gaga started off the festivities singing the National Anthem with her beautiful, pitch-perfect voice but she looks like a cross between the wheel on The Price Is Right and Disney’s version of Davy Jones.
My original tweet actually gained a lot of traction as #8 on BuzzFeed’s “16 Things Lady Gaga Looked Like During the National Anthem” listicle.
Lady Gaga's hair @SuperBowl looks like Davy Jones' beard from Pirates of the Caribbean #SuperBowl #APiratesLifeForMe pic.twitter.com/QPJJu0eYDc
— Chloe Palma Sommers (@ChloePalma) February 7, 2016
The second surprise of the evening came from this Snickers ad parodying the iconic scene where Marilyn Monroe playfully holds her skirt down against the brush of wind coming up from the subway grate.
Way to go @SNICKERS def thought @Caitlyn_Jenner was playing Monroe in your #superbowl ad BUT IT WAS Willem Dafoe!! pic.twitter.com/cV8bHKxYI2
— Chloe Palma Sommers (@ChloePalma) February 7, 2016
Here’s the commercial in its entirety:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhfntLl6xx0
I think advertisers give viewers too much credit. This Audi commercial brings a former astronaut and his son together over their love of high speeds in the Audi R8. Now, is this Buzz Aldrin? I mean, he’s only 86 and I don’t remember exactly what he looks like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB8tgVqmKzw#action=share
Nope, it’s not Buzz and according to the YouTube video description it’s about, “a retired astronaut has lost his zeal for life…But when his son shows up and hands over the keys to the new 205-mph Audi R8 V10 plus.” — Smart. Put an old man in a car that drives 205 mph and, at least you won’t need to pay for detailing the ride, just give grandpa the wheel for a day and he’ll get his own side swipes on it. the highlight of this commercial is supposed to be the late David Bowie’s ‘Starman’ soundtrack.
And there is a tie for the winner of the dumbest Super Bowl commercial targeting prepubescent boys: Doritos and Mountain Dew.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko7GuDOv4BM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nlfaqBGBsc
On a serious note, I’ve reported extensively on concussions and injuries in the NFL. I spoke with former players Kyle Turley and Gerome Sapp and they told me how many pain pills they are pushed by team doctors just to get them to the point where they can continue playing. Since writing that story for The Marijuana Times, I saw Concussion, with Will Smith. I thought it was brilliant, emotional, and a smart way to convey the juxtaposition between science and sports. That said, a commercial for Opioid-Induced Constipation (OIC) ran during the Super Bowl and I think it’s offensive to all the athletes that have been and are currently on doctor prescribed Opiates.
I could stop there – but as a journalist on the cannabis beat, I must point out that medical marijuana could be a natural remedy to many injuries, including concussions. It just needs more clinical research, research that The Gridiron Cannabis Coalition hopes will come from Mr. Goodell at the NFL.
My final critique of this big pharma sponsored Super Bowl ad is the title ‘Envy’, as in, the guy with OIC is envious that other people and dogs can go while he’s stuffed up with pharmaceutical crap – and poop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr78_7Kip3Q
Now for the good stuff, the HALFTIME SHOW!!!
Call me a negative Nancy, but why did Coldplay start off the show with Viva la Vida if it’s not 2009? For the record, I was obsessed with that song, when it was popular, in 2009.
Beyonce and Bruno Mars pair well together, like ordering a good flatiron steak and Cabernet – dependable and delish.
Nothing earth shattering, but a great collaboration. However, with the largest musical platform in America available, on would think it would attract a new array of stars. Beyonce and Mars have already done their Halftime shows.
If the NFL is looking for repeats then where the heck was Left Shark?!?!?!
Watching Coldplay, Bruno Mars & Beyoncé during the #PepsiHalftime show & waiting for left shark like… #SB50 pic.twitter.com/tudUb3HhB2
— bet365 (@bet365) February 8, 2016
And who left Chris Martin’s costume designer out of their leather-dominated decision?
Coldplay rocks colorful #PepsiHalftime show with help from Beyoncé and Bruno Mars #SB50: https://t.co/0aXx0uyAFu pic.twitter.com/JlJLCgHz3v
— ABC News (@ABC) February 8, 2016
The high-energy show was an overall win.
Why?
Because we all know that when you’re binge drinking and elbow deep in wing sauce, a boost of energy is what’s getting you through the next half of the game.
In summary, the horsies beat the kitties and the old man who got his second Super Bowl ring so eloquently said, “I’m going to drink a lot of Budweiser tonight, I promise you that.”
Why Bud when Colorado is home to Coors?
Manning owns a part of two Anheuser-Busch distributors.
This is Chloe Sommers, signing off.
Chloe Sommers is the Executive Editor of the Never Daunted Radio Network. You can reach her on Twitter @ChloePalma