BLEACHERS BREW EST. MAY 2006

Someone asked me how my blog and newspaper column came to be titled "Bleachers Brew". It's like this, it's an amalgam of sorts of two things: The bleachers area in the stadium/arena where I used to sit when I would watch baseball, football, and basketball games and Miles Davis' great jazz album Bitches Brew. That's how it got culled together. I originally planned on calling it "The View from the Big Chair" that is a nod to Tears For Fear's second album, Songs from the Big Chair. So there.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

My 10 Best Commercials of Super Bowl 51



My 10 Best Commercials of Super Bowl 51
by rick olivares

The spectacle that is the Super Bowl is always heightened by the awesome commercials during timeouts or the halftime break. While humor, animals, and children have always been staples or sure fire ways to grab the attention of millions of viewers, this year, we saw an additional theme added to the milieu – diversity.

Whether as a veiled jab at America’s new president or just merely proclaiming their beliefs, quite a few commercials took that route.

Here is my list of my favorite 10 commercials from this year’s Super Bowl.

1st Quarter
Hyundai – A Better Super Bowl
When a brand has become well known or popular, it can transcend the traditional and engage communities without directly showing the product. There’s a feel good sense to this advert showing US troops in frigid Poland watching the Super Bowl. And if this was done with the soldier’s surprise then it lends a wonderful and heartwarming touch especially in this coldest of months in the Western Hemisphere.


2nd Quarter
Squarespace – Calling John Malkovich
Who doesn’t love John Malkovich? Plus, domain “theft”? The threat is real!


Chrysler Alfa Romeo Guila – Riding Dragons
This one is about dreams and that line of “riding on the backs of dragons” is something that will appeal to the kid in all. Subliminal in saying that this incredible red machine is a dream of yours as well. Especially the red. Witness the red booster engine of the Space Shuttle, the red go kart, and so on.


T-Mobile - #UnlimitedMoves
Humor! Justin Bieber with football stars Rob Gronkowski and Terrell Owens. Plus, the unlimited ways of celebrating a touchdown! Plus, this young dancing girl with plenty of moves. Who doesn’t love “unli” plans? And you gotta smile at this commercial.


General Motors – Buick Under Armour
Makeovers? Seeing is believing? Who would have thought that Buick had it in them? In an advert that has star quarterback Cam Newton and supermodel Miranda Kerr, this is funny. But the message is in there – check out our cars.


Airbnb – We Accept
A very subtle way of championing diversity. No questions asked. Of course, you have to pay.


3rd Quarter
Kia Motors – Kia Eco-Hybrid
In this day and age of being politically correct and eco-friendly (while appealing to one’s civic-mindedness), this one is a winner.


Anheuser-Busch – Born the Hard Way
Says something about immigrants making the United States what it is today. It’s also a heritage story saying that we’ve been here and we’re the working man’s beer.


P&G – Cleaner of Your Dreams
Not really a fan of detergent commercials. But the lady dancing and appreciate a man who cleans gets a tip of the hat to me. And this is also for the dads who work at home.


4th Quarter
Anheuser-Busch – Ghost Spuds
A story of friends and getting together for occasions such as the Super Bowl. Plus, a deceased and beloved pet – Spuds MacKenzie - dispensing some advice. Man’s best friend talking about best friends! A winner.


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