Top Ten Superbowl Commercials of All Time

The NFL season is winding down- and as we inch nearer and nearer to the end, it becomes time to focus on the aspect of the game that will have the greatest impact. No- I'm not talking about zone defense or powerful quarterbacks- the most important part of the superbowl is of course, the commercials. With no guarantee to the type of advertising success we will see this year, let us find enjoyment in looking through past Superbowl commercials... Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you- the ten greatest Superbowl commercials ever.
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10. Xerox Monks

This is the oldest on the list. I have no shame in saying that I was not born when it was initially aired, but it is by all accounts iconic.  Certainly, the numbers advertised, ala "two pages per second," demonstrate how outdated this commercial is, but it is simple, funny, and seems to be one of the best commercials in the early days of the Superbowl.

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9. Cat Herders

What impresses me the most about this commercial is that no one even remotely remembers what product was being sold.  By that regard, it is probably not the best commercial.  That being said, the hilarity level is exceptionally memorable.

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8. E*Trade Baby

This original commercial is funny, but what solidifies its spot on the list is the successful marketing campaign that has been birthed from the original.  E*Trade has, to date, been using the talking baby commercial scheme for almost half a decade, yet people still laugh.

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7. The Man Your Man Could Smell Like

Speaking of funny... "Hello Ladies." Enough said.

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6. "When I Grow Up..."

This commercial aired in 1999- using the internet to find a job or a career at that time was a novelty.  A lot of our second-nature tendencies to look for everything online, such as jobs, began during this time.  This commercial is hilarious, and successful.

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5. Terry Tate: Office Linebacker

The Reebok brand name has not been in significant doubt in recent memory, so this commercial was not ground-breaking in getting the name out for a fledgling company, but it is certainly one of the funniest Superbowl commercials ever.  What makes this commercial exceptionally great to me, is the potential for people not just to talk about it at the office water-cooler, but the potential to act it out...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2602229974531953634

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4. The Showdown

This is the point in the list where we get to the really iconic stuff... These were two of the greatest athletes of the twentieth century, and two of the biggest names of the time, on the screen at the same time, playing a simple game of H-O-R-S-E, over a simple meal from McDonald's.

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3. Cindy Crawford Drinking Pepsi

Why Cindy Crawford stopped for gas and a Pepsi at the 'Halfway Cafe,' we will never know; however, I'm sure I speak for all of when I say, I'm sure glad she did.

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2. Budweiser Frogs

This is about as iconic as they come and could be the definition of name recognition.  To this day, when I hear someone say "Budweiser," I hear the frogs in my head.  Perhaps I'm crazy.  Perhaps this is just an incredible commercial.

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1. 1984

Remember when household computers weren't a big deal? This commercial truly marked the shift to the technology age, and is the definition of an elaborate, over-the-top, memorable, iconic Superbowl commercial.

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Honorable Mentions:

Mean Joe Green was not included because of a technicality. Coca-Cola had been airing this commercial for about a month before the actual Superbowl.  Don't argue, it's my list.  Speaking of technicalities, the video is still on my list. Enjoy:

Budweiser has had a number of incredible commercials, and since the Frogs were prominently featured on the list, I kept any other Budweiser ads off... Don't worry, I have included below the second, third and fourth best Budweiser Superbowl commercials.

When you're watching for great commercials this year, listen with the volume on high and be attentive.  As soon as the commercials are done though and the actual game is on, mute your TV and tune in to AM 1290 KOWB.  Coverage of the AFC and NFC Championships begins at noon this Sunday, and we will be airing the Superbowl on Superbowl Sunday, February 5.