Heinz’s “Weiner Stampede” commercial was a favorite for many Super Bowl fans this year.
Panthers? Broncos? Who cares! While football was the big draw for most of the millions who tuned into Sunday night’s Super Bowl, plenty of Monday morning quarterbacking is going on this week about the evening’s (very expensive) commercials.
Among the standout spots: A race among dachshunds, a parody of the year’s political season and an intergalactic take on avocados.
The Washington Post was one of many publications to put together a best of list for the ads. Here are some of that paper’s top picks, along with some takeaway for businesses without a super-sized ad budget. Read more.
KISSS — as in, Keep it Simple, Stupid or Silly. Heinz’s “Weiner Stampede” showed up on many critics’ best list this year. The image of dozens of dachshunds, outfitted in hot dog costumes, running across a field to their owners, dressed as condiments, seems to have hit the perfect blend of funny, silly and sweet. Likewise, the Bud Light parody of politicians stumping, featuring Amy Schumer and Seth Rogen, also stood out for its lighthearted take and slightly racy humor — and a spot for avocados from Mexico, complete with aliens and a cameo by the actor Scott Baio made for an unexpected giggle. The takeaway: Make people laugh and they’ll associate your company with that good feeling. (And, an adorable dog or popular spokesperson never hurt either.)
Pluck the Old Heart Strings. Audi’s “Commander” ad showed an aging astronaut reinvigorated by a ride in his son’s Audi. The ad cuts between the astronaut’s first mission to the moon and the late night car ride, and it was set to “Starman,” by the late David Bowie. “It’s not just the recent loss of Bowie that made us misty,” the Post opined. “There’s a real melancholy that comes from watching a man whose best days in life have passed by, and a resolution in watching him be his younger, courageous self again.” The takeaway. Studies have shown that people have all kinds of positive emotions tied to both giving and receiving flowers. Remind customers about those feelings — and the role flowers can play in important life milestones.
Other ads — a Doritos commercial that featured an unborn baby craving chips, a Mountain Dew ad with a bizarre “puppymonkeybaby” character— generated fewer accolades, but did gain attention online after airing, and that counts for something, especially when you consider 49 percent of American households with TVs tuned in to the game, said Lubars, chief creative officer of BBDO Worldwide, to the State.
“The best Super Bowl pieces – what they have in common is that they’re all incredibly different,” Lubars said. “In fact, the best ones don’t travel on paved paths; they go into uncharted country.”
See all of the Post’s top picks, and watch the videos.
And, read more about the worst of the ads, according to the Post.
