It’s about that time. It’s the time of year where we gather around the biggest screen in our social group with dozens of our closest friends and/or acquaintances we at least trust to bring the good beer. Time to share all of those great recipes you’ve been working on — whether for guacamole, wings, or a lovely new strain of a communicable disease.
Ahem.
Yeah, let’s not do that. Let’s stay home, make a small batch of guac for your own fam, and spring for the good stuff yourself since you don’t need to account for the one guy who brings a sixer of Natty Light when you’ve stocked the fridge with artisanal growlers.
Since the crowds won’t be too rowdy, you can finally pay attention to both the commercials and the big game. We’ll have live-ish coverage of the automotive-adjacent ads during the game, but as usual, some automakers have released their ads early. Check ’em out!
One note — some automakers (and others) are making a big deal of the fact that they aren’t running commercials during the Super Bowl. Kia has announced that they’re making two million dollars in donations to homeless youth organizations. And, apparently, high-school football — they’ve released a video where they’re pulling at the heartstrings by showing sad footballers and cheerleaders. As the dad of a sousaphone player, I have to ask: WHAT ABOUT THE MARCHING BAND?
Volvo isn’t running an ad during the game either — instead encouraging you to actually watch the game. Calling their campaign #VolvoSafety Sunday, they ask you to build-and-price a Volvo online. If a safety is scored during The Big Game (they’re careful to not call it the Super Bowl) then Volvo will give away two million dollars of cars to those who’ve built and registered their dream builds. I didn’t register, since Volvo won’t let me build a Tom Walkinshaw Racing 850 wagon.
Further, Jeep has announced that they will have an ad in the second half…but no hints or teasers are available yet. Literally, their press release is as follows:
The Jeep® brand will debut one commercial during this Sunday’s (February 7, 2021) Big Game telecast. The spot will air in the second half of the game.
Sounds exciting.
On to the videos!
First up: Vroom, a used-car marketplace, playing on the old “buying a car at a dealer is torture” trope.
Next, Weathertech brings their usual rah-rah American manufacturing stories to the big stage.
Ford highlights the front-line workers who have suffered the most through the pandemic, as well as their corporate efforts to help stem the tide. Hearing Bryan Cranston’s voice amid visuals of people in PPE really brings back memories.
General Motors promises a pair of spots during the game – one apparently focused on Cadillac’s Lyriq EV, and another discussing GM in general – and the various corporate EV models coming. And Will Ferrell crapping all over Norway.
As a dad who had a pair of girls in the target market for Disney a few years back, my only thought of Norway is the Frozen film. I was fully expecting Ron Burgundy singing Let it Go when I saw the teasers, so I’ll give this a pass.
Ford of Norway responded on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Ford_Norge/status/1357417563509182464?s=20
Toyota brings us the story of Jessica Long, a multiple Paralympic gold-medalist swimmer.
Cadillac teases an Edward Scissorhands throwback with their new Lyriq crossover:
That’s all we have as of press time. As always, check back Sunday night, where I’ll be liveblogging the entire game.
[Image: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com]
Remember when GM made a Super Bowl ad where a factory robot got fired for dropping a bolt and then had to take low-level gig jobs until it became so depressed that it committed suicide?
That sounds more like a reality show.
Things that seemed surreal just yesterday today become a part of everyday bleak reality. Robots will commit suicide but after wiping all us out from the planet. What happens with big tech is just beginning.
Dude, you going to bring something up that funny, post a link.
[vimeo 22532415 w=640 h=360]
Wow. Those people are violating all sorts of CDC protocols for Super Bowl watch parties.
Better call the commissar, the proletariat is well aware enjoying their lives is forbidden.
Like, consuming chicken wings with whomever they want whenever and wherever they want? Pure braveheart stuff right there.
Make sure one of your friends is always holding a football while watching the game.
Be sure that there are representatives of all ethnic groups there, too, (except for Native Americans and Asians) because that’s what Madison Avenue is doing to try to be relevant in the 21st century.
You deplorables have to crawl in a hole and and keep your mouth shut.
Not exactly the language of “ReUniting” our nation there, ILO.
…you don’t need to account for the one guy who brings a sixer of Natty Light when you’ve stocked the fridge with artisanal growlers…
People like that would get booted from our circle of friends in college…let alone today. Hopefully the list of missed social events will be coming to an end soon…
All of them look like trash.
Great roundup. I think GM is my fave.
This technology will never take off:
https://www.sportsbeams.com/past-installations/raymond-james-stadium/
I love the pandering in the WeatherTech “Family” one. I have found any company that says we are “family” will treat you like the red headed step child by expecting you to work more for less.