[This guest post was written by Fresh Take Intern Ajer Qureshi.]
On Sunday February 3, many have tuned in to the Super Bowl to see the New England Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams in the lowest scoring Super Bowl match in history. Or if you’re like me, you tuned in to see the Big Game commercials and see just how far certain companies go to advertise their products in the biggest commercial spots they could buy. This year saw many unique Big Game ads, featuring big names, crazy concepts, or warm messages that inspire. Here is a list of some of the Super Bowl ads that caught my attention:
Verizon’s Message to First Responders:
In this emotional ad, Los Angeles Chargers coach Anthony Lynn shares his story about being in a near-fatal car accident in 2005 to a group of first responders. To his surprise however, it turns out that the first responders he was sharing his story with were in fact the very same first responders that saved his life. It was a tearjerker moment, which not only served to promote Verizon as a reliable phone service, but also a reminder to the first responders who race to save lives like Coach Lynn.
Ridley Scott’s The Journey – Turkish Airlines:
In their latest Big Game promotion, flight service Turkish Airlines goes big by teasing a brand new six-minute espionage advertisement released on their Youtube page. Titled The Journey, the ad sees two women in a game of cat and mouse that takes them to many iconic locations in Istanbul Turkey. The entire six minutes was a well crafted short film, with great editing and a real sense of tension, speed, and adventure. How did Turkish Airlines achieve this? By hiring three-time Academy Award nominated director Ridley Scott to direct the short of course!
Pepsi More Than Okay:
We’ve all been in that scenario where you ask for a Coke in a restaurant, but it only serves Pepsi and asks if it’s okay with you. What we probably have not been through is Steve Carell appearing next to you going on a long rant on how Pepsi is more than okay, going so far as to bring in Lil John and his “Okay!” and Cardi B with her iconic “Okurr.” And yet that is exactly what happens in Pepsi’s pre-halftime show Big Game spot. And it was pretty funny!
Toni Harris and Toyota:
Yet another emotional piece, this ad for Toyota tells the story of Toni Harris, the first female football player to receive a football scholarship for a skilled position. In this inspiring tale, we follow Harris as she overcame all sorts of obstacles to get where she is now, from being told she was too little and how she aspires to eventually become the first female player in the NFL. It’s a very inspiring ad, urging viewers to overcome their obstacles and achieve something greater, just like Toyota, and just like Toni Harris.
100 Years of NFL:
Super Bowl 53 was the not only thing celebrated by the NFL. 2019 marks the official centennial of the NFL, and to celebrate, they played an ad where a formal dinner celebration suddenly goes overboard when everybody in the room chases after a golden football. This hectic and funny ad boasts a large cast of many NFL icons, from Tom Brady to Eli Manning, as well as other big name sports celebrates like eSport gamer Tyler “Ninja” Blevins and internet sensation Sam Gordon.
Bud Light + Game of Thrones:
In one of the most ingenious crossover ads that took a lot of people by surprise, Bud Light’s latest promotional mascot, the Bud Knight, crosses over with HBO’s Game of Thrones and it goes just as well as you’d expect. After starting off relatively light with the Bud Knight riding in to a joust with his head high, he later ends up knocked off his horse by a character from Game of Thrones and has his head…crushed. Follow that with a dragon incinerating the arena while the iconic Game of Thrones theme plays, and you have a surprisingly dark double promotional ad.
These were just some of the ads that I enjoyed while watching the big game. Any particular memorable ads you saw? Let us know in the comics or via email at freshtake1150@gmail.com
