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David Mumpower: With the recent advertiser behavior of "leaking" commercials, the specialness (if such a word is applicable here) of Super Bowl commercials is diminishing. I tried not to watch any prior to the night of the event for the same reason that I avoid television spoilers until after I watched a program (stop trying to spoil me on Survivor, Jim Van Nest!). This time, I wish I had watched early to taper my disappointment. I have felt that last couple of years have been lackluster, but they are the Apple 1984 commercial compared to this year's batch.

Yes, the dog and horse spot is cute right up until we realize that the people refuse to keep the cute puppy, instead banishing it from the farm. A decisive horse is required to negate their ruthless choice. It's nice-ish rather than heartfelt. I also felt that Budweiser and Coke were manipulative to the point of cloying with their Hero's Welcome and America the Beautiful spots. I have watched Andy Griffith episodes with more emotional resonance.

I did absolutely love the Radio Shack ad. I probably haven't not been in that particular store in the 2000s, so the commercial felt like a clever acknowledgement that there are a lot of people like me in the world. I was less of a fan of the pointless 80s nostalgia involving the Full House gang although I did enjoy the "she's not right for us" gag.

My other favorites were the afore-mentioned Terry Crews/Muppets commercial, the British Villains ad and the Angel Wings spot. Terry Crews is all that is man; he is also extremely funny so his presence with the Muppets is appointment television. I quite enjoyed that the British Villains were so polite to others as they detailed their strengths as professional movie heels. And the Angel Wings commercial was unexpectedly subversive. The next time it is on -- and let's be honest that will get sick of every commercial shown during the Super Bowl over the next three months -- notice the bathroom sequence. Some of the angels sprout *ahem* larger wings. Sublime.

Kim Hollis: I wonder if my feelings for the overall experience of watching commercials and so forth wasn't tempered by the fact that the game itself was just awful from the start. From that point on, nothing was much fun anymore. I guess that the most damning thing I can say about the entire batch of commercials is that I really can't remember most of them. The puppy/horse one was sweet, and I actually found myself wishing that Budweiser had drawn out the Average Joe thing for two or three more commercials rather than just ending it abruptly at two. But then again that's a hell of a lot of money to spend to tell the story.

I thought Bruno Mars was a great showman with absolutely forgettable music. I couldn't hum any of his music for you if you asked me to. I was happy to see the Chili Peppers, but it was almost like they just put them onstage to make the 40-something segment of the audience happy. It was a lackluster night that followed a pretty depressing day in the aftermath of the Philip Seymour Hoffman news.

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