Thoughts on the Big Game

As countless Big Game ad reviews flood your social media channels, I didn't want to add another "my take" moment. Instead, I chose to skip watching the ads and focus on watching the people watching the ads. I was lucky enough to spend time with friends of all ages, from my young kids to teenagers to peers and older folks. None of them were advertising enthusiasts like me.

It was fascinating to see what captured people's attention, what quieted the room and what kept them from returning to the seven-layer dip or heading to the bathroom.

What surprised me was that this group didn't tune in to the commercials the way advertising people do. They talked over the ads rather than about them. Sure, the game itself was full of surprises, and there was plenty of buzz about Kendrick Lamar's performance.

But no one was as into the commercials as I was. There were moments when something unexpected caught their attention, but those were rarer than I expected, and most of the time, people looked up and then went back to their conversation. Here are a few that stood out to the group.

Dunkin' Donuts managed to grab the group's interest. Personally, I loved it, having grown up in Boston and enjoyed the trailer before the game. I appreciated their humor and the fun they seemed to have working together. The ad featured many "long-term" (older) celebrities in a good way. I also watched "The DunKings 2" movie and smiled. It might have been longer than necessary, but that's okay. If Dunkin' Donuts coffee is considered dessert in a cup, to me, this commercial was wicked sweet.

My daughter asked, "What do you call a three-humped camel?" when she saw the Coors Light sloth spot. She made a connection between the ad about Mondays and her favorite childhood movie, Zootopia. It was a fun spot, and her connection was interesting and immediate.

The "When Harry Met Sally" ad also quieted the room. The older group loved it, appreciating how true it stayed to the original. The teenagers (mostly boys) enjoyed Sydney Sweeney's cameo at the end, though they hadn't seen the movie and didn't get the joke.

After explaining to my 10-year-old that Beckham has always had those tattoos, we all enjoyed the "Other David" spot for Stella. Beckham and Matt Damon were fun to watch, and their playful jab at Ben Affleck made it even better and more relatable. Felt like we were in on a larger joke. And of course, Affleck directed it. All generations seemed puzzled by the fleshy cowboy hat in the Tubi ad. Some ads, like the flying eyebrows and mustaches, were lost on the group. They were also surprised by the actors (and their ages) featured in many ads. Whether you love him or hate him, Tom Brady was omnipresent throughout the game which is interesting.

Sometimes, there were ads I wanted to watch, but I was in the minority. Like Totino’s Pizza Rolls and GoDaddy, which I went back to watch and really enjoyed.

There were many other ads—some good, some better and plenty of local lawyer commercials. But by the end of the game, I wondered if people at other parties were betting on the best ad or if Big Game commercials have become just another expected part of the event, like the coin flip or a local musician performing before the game. And if that's the case, are we just talking to ourselves at a hefty price tag?