The Best Part of the Big Game

It’s not the chips. It’s not the dip. It’s not the beer. It’s not the cheerleaders. And it most certainly isn’t football.

It’s the commercials.

We’re all well aware the status of the super bowl has in our hearts and minds.

For decades advertisers have clamored for a spot on one of the most watched TV programs of all time (close to 100 million viewers tune in every year).

A thirty-second commercial spot during our country’s game of the year can typically cost millions of dollars. The projected figure for the 2010 game is $3 million.

These high prices pretty much guarantee one of the best commercial line-ups of the year, and are often more anticipated than the game itself.

Characterized by their high quality, innovation and sense of humor, the super bowl ads have charmed us year after year.

So how does 2010 measure up to its long ancestry commercial gold? Super Bowl XLIV saw a great deal of the magic of the previous years, though perhaps no new entries to the hall of fame. In other words, regardless of our favorites, its likely they will be forgotten by next year.

Some common themes were economic depression, manliness, the environment, big budgets and famous celebrities.

We laughed, we cried, we took bathroom breaks. Here are your top ten Super Bowl commercials of 2010. They may not have sold you their product, but that has never really been the point anyway.

10. Dockers: Men Withouot Pants
I’m not sure about the connection between not wearing pants and buying Dockers. Maybe it just went over my head at the sight of all those whitey-tighties. So, maybe not the cleverest of ideas. But there is something about a chorus of pant-less men trouping through a field united in song, “I wear no pants!” that you can’t help but smile at. They were, however, men I would have rather seen in pants than without. But maybe that’s part of the charm.

9. Bud Light: Stranded
Some plane-wrecked islanders are much more excited to find the in-flight stash of Bud Light than the radio. Perhaps a spoof strategically timed with the new season of “Lost?” An enjoyable ad nonetheless.

8. Doritos: Underdog
Who doesn’t love an underdog? We see an average joe enjoying his bag of Doritos and inflicting cruel jealousy on his dog. But the tables turn and we see Fido with the chips and joe wearing the collar. Who’s the underdog now?

7.Google: Search On
We follow the story of one searcher as he travels the world, falls in love, and starts a family, all with the help of the famous search engine. What can I say? I’m a sucker for sap.

6. Denny’s: Chickens Across America
Denny’s warns chickens of its upcoming “Free Grand Slam Day.” Again, a simple idea goes a long way. All it takes is screaming chickens. “Great day to be an American, bad day to be a chicken.”

5. Budweiser: Clydesdale/Fence
“Nothing comes between friends, especially fences.” This heartwarming tale of two friends who over come the obstacles (and fences) that stand between them. You can’t go wrong with that feel good feeling.

4. Coke: Cheering up Mr. Burns
When Mr. Burns looses his fortune, the citizens of Springfeild show him happy life can be, with a coke. If a coke could cheer up Mr. Burns, just think what it could do for you. It’s nice to see the Simpsons characters in something uplifting for a change. It may be out of their comfort zone, but I enjoyed the message, and my coke.

3. Doritos: House Rules
All he wants is to score points with the hot chick, but ends up in a fistfight with a little kid. “Keep yo hands of my mamma, keep yo hands off my Doritos.” Cutest boy of the super bowl? I think so.

2. Bud Light: Voice Box
Girlfriend brings home bud light for the party, prompting boyfriend to break out in his T-pain voice. It’s hard to not entertain with T-Pain’s voice. And topping it all of with an actual T-Pain appearance, makes this my favorite Bud Light ad of the day. Nothing beats T-Pain saying the word “guacamole”.

1. Mars Snickers: You’re Not You When You’re Hungry
Our favorite golden girl takes on a tough beating in this, my favorite ad of the day. When Mike isn’t playing his best, his girlfriend hands him a snickers, transforming him from weak Betty White into his normal self. My only problem with this ad? Betty White is definitely tougher than every one of those guys put together. If the role of White and her “tough” alter ego had been flipped, it may have been a bit more believable. But that’s just me. Kudos to Snickers.

There you have it. These as well as all the other Super Bowl XLIV ads can be viewed at hulu.com/adzone or cbssports.com/superbowlads.com