Superbowl Commercials tame down for 2005
FedEx and Ameriquest provide highlights
Amberley Kowalski
Issue date: 2/17/05 Section: Entertainment
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Look at what $2.4 million can buy you these days...a 30-second commercial spot during the Super Bowl! Personally, there are many other things I'd rather fork over $2.4 million for than something that lasts a measly 30 seconds (though I must say, 30-seconds alone with Johnny Depp would be tempting). However, that didn't stop companies from Anheuser-Busch to Frito-Lay to Cialis (we just had to have at least one erectile dysfunction pill commercial-this is a very manly sport after all) from throwing millions at FOX for some precious airtime. Even with ad prices of about $80,000 a second, there were many advertisers that clamored about to claim one (or more) of the coveted 59 30-second slots to be seen by approximately 90 million Super Bowl watching consumers, many of whom would be intoxicated when the commercials aired.
Not only were these ads more expensive than in recent years, but due to the infamous Janet Jackson/Nipple Gate scandal last year, the ads were definitely toned down and more family-friendly. Sadly, no crotch-biting dogs or flatulent horses this year, which I'm sure was a letdown to everyone. These safer, nicer commercials came as a disappointment to many of the viewers who watch the Super Bowl solely for the advertisements. But, of course, not all of these squeaky clean commercials were anticlimactic failures. Here I'd like to offer some commentary on a few of my very favorite Super Bowl 2005 commercials.
Third place is a 3-way tie between Subway, GoDADDY.com, and FedEx/Kinko's. First Subway, which I picked mainly because I am just so proud of them for having a commercial that doesn't feature Jared, their once-chubby mascot that I am so sick of seeing. The commercial that Subway ran during the Super Bowl was to promote their new toasted subs. We watch in anticipation as cops walk up to a car with steamed up windows to see what's going on inside. What they find is not something we expected-two guys eating their delicious Subway toasted subs while romantic music plays loudly in the background. What a very touching moment.
Not only were these ads more expensive than in recent years, but due to the infamous Janet Jackson/Nipple Gate scandal last year, the ads were definitely toned down and more family-friendly. Sadly, no crotch-biting dogs or flatulent horses this year, which I'm sure was a letdown to everyone. These safer, nicer commercials came as a disappointment to many of the viewers who watch the Super Bowl solely for the advertisements. But, of course, not all of these squeaky clean commercials were anticlimactic failures. Here I'd like to offer some commentary on a few of my very favorite Super Bowl 2005 commercials.
Third place is a 3-way tie between Subway, GoDADDY.com, and FedEx/Kinko's. First Subway, which I picked mainly because I am just so proud of them for having a commercial that doesn't feature Jared, their once-chubby mascot that I am so sick of seeing. The commercial that Subway ran during the Super Bowl was to promote their new toasted subs. We watch in anticipation as cops walk up to a car with steamed up windows to see what's going on inside. What they find is not something we expected-two guys eating their delicious Subway toasted subs while romantic music plays loudly in the background. What a very touching moment.