Let’s be honest here, unless you live in Boston or Los Angeles, there’s not much at stake in this year’s Super…we mean, the big game! Heck, the losing city gets a great consolation prize with free Uber rides. For the rest of us, it’s an excuse to overindulge in chicken wings, chips and guac, pizza and plenty of adult beverages (maybe it’s time for Super Saturday), which makes for an interesting Monday in the office. Since we don’t have a horse in the race, we get to focus our attention on the best part; the commercials!
The going rate for a 30-second ad in 2019 went for a whopping $5.25 million, or $175,000 per second. For marketers, it’s worth every cent since everyone who tuned in will want to talk about their favorite commercials around the water cooler, including the ones that had us scratching our heads (We’re looking at you Devour).
Did you happen to catch a theme in a lot of the ads? In recent years, the focus had been on politics and individualism. However, it appears to have taken a backseat for the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Jason Bateman, Christina Applegate, Harrison Ford, Cardi B, Sarah Jessica Parker and The Big Lebowski all make cameos in big game ads. So, without further ado, here’s the ads that stood out to the PALO Creative team.
In this ad from Hyundai, we learn car shopping doesn’t have to be as painful as getting your teeth drilled. Jason Bateman lends his comedic talents to playing a witty elevator operator who takes us to the bottom floor that is the car lot. We enter a crowded elevator and begin the trip down. Along the way, we make stops at those unpleasant activities that we dread such as serving on jury duty, listening to dad talk about “the birds and the bees” and having to go to a vegan dinner party (wait, that’s a thing?). And as the doors open to our floor, we find ourselves looking out at an abandon car lot with giant inflatables and “Whoomp! There It Is” blaring in the distance. But we’re quickly reminded car buying doesn’t have to be excruciating, but rather a heavenly experience with the Hyundai Shopper Assurance program.
Bumble – The Ball Is In Her Court
Welcome to Super Sunday, Bumble! This marked the dating apps’ first appearance in the big game. What makes this 30-second spot so unique? Well, for starters, the commercial was shot in just six weeks (many advertisers spend a year developing their super special spot) and most impressively, was created by a team comprised of nearly all women. We see tennis great, Serena Williams walk out onto the tennis court while sharing the story of how she made the first move in becoming one of the greatest athletes in sports. And it makes sense as the concept of Bumble puts the ball in the women’s’ court as they make that initial connection with their match. Another takeaway? Bumble isn’t just for dating. We find out you can also make career connections through Bumble Bizz and even make new friends through Bumble BFF.
Hmm, is it just us or do you have a sudden hankering for Doritos? Fast cars, a flashy jet, multicolored smoke, Chance the Rapper and is that really Nick Carter and The Backstreet Boys dancing in a plane hanger?! This ad is promoting the new Flamin’ Hot Nacho Doritos and from the look of things, they got the message across with a lot of glitz and glamour.
Lil Jon does exist! This star-studded commercial also featured Steve Carrell and Cardi B, and the 30-second spot taught us that Pepsi is more than just an average soft drink.
We’ve all done it. You know, send a text to the WRONG person. Talk about anxiety overload, especially when it’s something pretty personal. T-Mobile hit the nail on the head with this ad as Mike gets a text from an unknown number letting him know they are there for him. Wow, that means a lot, right? He interpreted it with the same feelings to find out it’s his Lyft driving letting him know they are outside waiting for him. Awkward….