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The Five Best Commercials From Super Bowl XLV

The Super Bowl, as you may or may not know, is a big deal for advertisers and their wallets – this year, a 30 second spot during the game costs $2.9 million. And while their cost-effectiveness isn’t always clear – last year’s Betty White Snickers commercial was tremendously popular, but didn’t provide a noticeable bump in sales – their reach is unquestioned.

And while advertisers try to get more bang for their buck through strategies like leaking spots in the week leading up to the game (VW’s leaking their awesomely-cute mini Darth Vader commercial on YouTube paid off in the form of millions of views), the Super Bowl itself is still the biggest showcase. And with another game – and another round of ads – in the book, it’s time to look back at our five favorite of the night.

5. CareerBuilder: Driving (and poorly-parking) chimps block a guy in

Because really – would it even be the Super Bowl without a CareerBuilder ad featuring chimps being the bane of some poor stiff’s existence? We’ll have to say no. Chimps! In suits! Will other animals acting like humans ever stop being amusing?

4. Bridgestone Tires: Reply All

Sure, it’s embarrassing when you send an e-mail to someone you don’t mean to, but would you go quite to these lengths to “fix” things? This must have been one really embarrassing e-mail.

3. NFL: Sitcoms get a football infusion

Tremendous mashup. Tremendous insertion of a whole lot of NFL insignia. Some of America’s most beloved shows plus America’s favorite sport – you’ve got to admit, the combination is tough to resist.

2. Volkswagen: Mini-Darth Vader

Yeah, we called it the best ad of the night before. Not now. Still plenty good, mind you, but we’re gonna pull the ol’ switcheroo and crown a different ad the night’s best. No offense, VW – you still helped yourselves greatly with last night’s effort. Here’s the extended version:

1. Chrysler: This Is The Motor City (feat. Eminem)

We’re very sorry, Detroit.