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Worst Super Bowl Commercials
We have already celebrated the five best Super Bowl
commercials of all-time so I figured I would give you
ladies and gents out there a look at five of the worst
Super Bowl commercials in the history of the big game.
While some of these might get you to chuckle, the
overall ad doesn’t accomplish what it sets out to do in
most cases. Instead, it offends various large groups in
the process. I hope I don’t offend you by ragging on one
of your favorites, but I’m sure you’ll get over it.
Here’s the list:
1. Just for Feet – Kenyan runner ad (1999)
If you have never heard of this company, you’re about to
find out why. A band of soldiers in a Hummer are chasing
after a native Kenyan running barefoot on African
terrain. They drug him to an unconscious state and force
a pair of running shoes on him. This ad didn’t
accomplish anything it set out to do. Critics thought
this add was extremely racist and the company even later
acknowledged the mistake it had made. When someone
admits their mistake, you know they did it bad. The same
year Just for Feet filed for bankruptcy after suing the
ad firm which created the commercial. This lawsuit was
ultimately dropped and Just for Feet was forced to sell
its stores.
2. Burger King – “Find Herb the Nerd” (1986)
While Burger King has a talent at making some delicious
burgers (the rodeo cheeseburger creation with onion
rings and barbeque sauce for a buck is my favorite),
advertising is not its strong point, and it especially
struggled with this mid-80’s ad. The fast-food burger
giant urged its loyal customers to find Herb, who
supposedly was the only person in the world who had not
had the joy of tasting BK’s burgers. The actor who
played Herb annoyed the heck out of audience members.
When you spend tens of millions of dollars on funny and
you get annoying, it’s just not going to work. Luckily,
they have the great tasting Whopper to fall back on.
3. Holiday Inn – Sex Change ad (1997)
Holiday Inn lit a fire under the butts of the most
liberal with this ad. A female high school student is
revealed to actually be a man in this commercial that
ties her sexual preference to Holiday Inn’s
transformation of its hotel chain. Oddly enough, the add
made almost no reference to the hotel chain (which may
have been to its benefit). Besides getting negative
publicity from media critics, the add really upset
homosexual groups with its insensitivity.
4. Frito-Lay –Dan Quayle ad (1993)
What better way to launch your new Wavy Lays potato
chips than to get former Vice President Dan Quayle to
crack a joke about not being able to spell the word
“potato.” While this may get a chuckle out of you now,
back in 1993 Quayle was in the same league as Lorena
Bobbitt as far as popularity goes. Someone didn’t do
their research.
5. Budweiser – “upside Down Clown” (2003)
Because Budweiser has made so many great commercials,
when they drop one not quite as clever as the rest, it
really tends to stand out. The clown with an upside-down
suit appearing to drink a brew from his bum didn’t quite
do it for me. Scientifically it is somewhat funny as I
learned on Spike TVs “Manswers” that drinking through
your butt will get you more drunk way faster. But as far
as getting me to want to enjoy an ice cold Bud, drinking
through my butt doesn’t do it. That’s alright to give
Bud one slap on the wrist as it only inspires this top
notch marketing group to come up with better and better
material each year.
January 22nd, 2008
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