The Best Super Bowl Commercials of 2012
The New York Giants may have won the coveted Vince Lombardi trophy on Super Bowl Sunday, but whose ads got the most attention?
With companies paying an average $3.5 million for a 30 second spot on the U.S. biggest sporting event, the ads had to be a cut above its competition to stand out and get the attention of the 111 million fans watching. Ads featured dancing animals, kids, big name celebs, sex and humor. Here are some ads that really managed to catch the viewer's interest.
Chrysler. Last year Chrysler rolled out a gritty "Imported from Detroit" commercial starring the rapper Eminem. This year another unlikely star acted as Chrysler's spokesman. Iconic actor Clint Eastwood talked about how it's "Halftime in America" and how Detroit's making a comeback. The inspirational ad was certainly the most heartfelt ad of the night.
"This country can't be knocked out with one punch. We'll get back up again and when we do the world's gonna hear the roar of our engines. Yeah. It's halftime, America. And our second half's about to begin," Eastwood said in his trademark gravelly voice.
Pepsi. Pepsi should be given points for its bizarre spot with the flamboyant singer Sir Elton John ruling over a medieval court where he dismisses entertainers with "No Pepsi for you". The cruel king's reign is cut short when "X Factor" Season 1 winner Melanie Amaro stepped up to wow Elton with her rendition of Aretha Franklin's classic 1965 hit "Respect". King Elton was so impressed he gave her a Pepsi but Amaro denied it and replied with a "No, Pepsi for all." The King is banished to the dungeon with Flavor Flav.
MetLife. MetLife went the nostalgia route with its ad as popular childhood cartoon characters joined forces to shill for the insurance company.
Doritos. Doritos won Mullen's Brand Bowl 2012 based on 400,000 tweets monitored by the Boston agency and it was easy to see why. Dorito's two ads, "Man's Best Friend" and "Sling Baby" were funny and inventive.
M&Ms. Happy humans mingling with the M&Ms mascots was one of the more popular ads during the Super Bowl. In the spot a red M&M shed his shell after mistaking the brown M&M was naked.
H&M. The Swedish retailer turned to the tried and tested method of sex sells by having an ad featuring soccer player David Beckham showing off his gorgeous body in his underwear.