Super Bowl ads: Big winners of the big game

From “Mean Joe” Greene downing a Coke to the ETrade baby: A look back at the most successful Super Bowl ads.

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“Mean Joe” Green

The classic 1979 Coca-Cola ad features "Mean Joe” Greene, the Pittsburgh Steelers star and future National Football League Hall of Famer. Child actor Tommy Okon stops him on his way back to the locker room. Thinking the kid wants an autograph, Greene brushes him off, but Okon offers him a Coke, which Greene downs in one gulp. As a reward, he tosses the kid his jersey, to the boy’s delight. After outtakes revealed Greene belching after downing the soda, the ad becomes legendary.

/ Coca-Cola via AP

Apple’s “Big Brother”

Ridley Scott directed this 1984 ad, inspired by George Orwell’s “1984,” to announce the launch of the Macintosh computer. Only aired once, the ad is widely regarded as the best Super Bowl ad ever, and maybe the best TV ad, period. It’s still a staple of Super Bowl ad retrospectives and online video sites. In1984, 30 seconds’ worth of Super Bowl time cost about $370,000, according to Nielsen — for which you got nearly 78 million viewers. In today’s dollars, that costs less than $1 million.

/ YouTube

Louie and Frank starred one of Anheuser-Busch’s longest-running ad campaigns. After the beermaker’s memorable <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=jF5dZRooRWQ&feature=endscreen'>Bud, Wies, Er frogs </a>appeared during the 1995 Super Bowl telecast, A-B’s consulting ad firm came up with a sequel featuring wisecracking chameleons, who were irritated by the frogs’ success. Several other ads ensued with interaction between the lizards and frogs, including one in which a ferret is hired as a hit man to knock off the frogs.

Budweiser chameleons

Louie and Frank starred one of Anheuser-Busch’s longest-running ad campaigns. After the beermaker’s memorable Bud, Wies, Er frogs appeared during the 1995 Super Bowl telecast, A-B’s consulting ad firm came up with a sequel featuring wisecracking chameleons, who were irritated by the frogs’ success. Several other ads ensued with interaction between the lizards and frogs, including one in which a ferret is hired as a hit man to knock off the frogs.

/ Anheuser-Busch Inbev via AP

The 1992 ad featuring the supermodel drinking a <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://youtu.be/gYQbQmtA6IU'>Pepsi</a> in front of two pubescent boys proved that sex appeal sells products. She was the start of many Pepsi-celebrity collaborations including Super Bowl XLVII halftime performer, Beyonce.

Cindy Crawford drinks a Pepsi

The 1992 ad featuring the supermodel drinking a Pepsi in front of two pubescent boys proved that sex appeal sells products. She was the start of many Pepsi-celebrity collaborations including Super Bowl XLVII halftime performer, Beyonce.

/ YouTube

Monster.com

In 1999, the Internet-based job search site came into the world, introduced through its Super Bowl ad in which children are depicted saying what jobs they would like to have when they grow up. The ad was so effective, it cemented the Web site’s name in users minds and helped propel Monster.com into one of the largest employment Web sites in the world.

/ Monster.com via AP

Last year’s Super Bowl Chrysler ad starred actor <a data-xslt='_http' href='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFAiqxm1FDA'>Clint Eastwood</a> talking about a resurgence of American industry. The ad aired during halftime and said: “It’s halftime in America. And our second half is about to begin.” The ad reflected the resurrection of Chrysler, which had emerged from a federally funded bankruptcy, and tied the automaker to the future of American industry. The ad and the company’s car lines proved effective, as Chrysler’s sales in 2012 rose 18 percent.

“Halftime in America”

Last year’s Super Bowl Chrysler ad starred actor Clint Eastwood talking about a resurgence of American industry. The ad aired during halftime and said: “It’s halftime in America. And our second half is about to begin.” The ad reflected the resurrection of Chrysler, which had emerged from a federally funded bankruptcy, and tied the automaker to the future of American industry. The ad and the company’s car lines proved effective, as Chrysler’s sales in 2012 rose 18 percent.

/ Chrysler

Old Spice Man

This 2010 ad featured Old Spice Man, a.k.a. former NFL practice-squad wide receiver Isaiah Mustafa, popping up in a series of loosely connected scenarios. The ad, memorable as much for Musrafa’s pecs as it was for its message, was viewed on YouTube more than 13 million times by July of that year, spawning a social-media blitz that NBC News said “changed the rules of social network marketing.”

/ YouTube

The office chimps

CareerBuilder.com has had a series of Super Bowl ads featuring the hilarious tales of a human employee working in an office populated by chimpanzees. The ads, which encourage people to look for better jobs, got additional attention with the animal rights group PETA called for the company to stop exploiting the chimps.

/ CareerBuilder.com

Detroit native <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmNzZZUmW9E'>Eminem</a> narrated Chrysler’s 2011 Super Bowl ad that talked about the city and its connection to the automaker. The rapper discussed the toughness of Detroit and how although the city’s residents had gone through rough times, they were ready to start new, as was Chrysler. The ad’s ironic tagline, “Imported from Detroit,” fit as Chrysler was being rescued from bankruptcy by Italian automaker Fiat and before owned by German automaker Mercedes-Benz.

”Imported from Detroit”

Detroit native Eminem narrated Chrysler’s 2011 Super Bowl ad that talked about the city and its connection to the automaker. The rapper discussed the toughness of Detroit and how although the city’s residents had gone through rough times, they were ready to start new, as was Chrysler. The ad’s ironic tagline, “Imported from Detroit,” fit as Chrysler was being rescued from bankruptcy by Italian automaker Fiat and before owned by German automaker Mercedes-Benz.

/ YouTube

ETrade baby

The online stock brokerage has run a series of Super Bowl ads featuring babies talking about investing. Although the ads are attention-catching, they also have come with a bit of controversy. In 2010, actress Lindsay Lohan sued ETrade for an ad that featured a baby named Lindsay who was depicted as a “milk-aholic.” Lohan, who has been treated for addiction, claimed the ad was based on her situation. An undisclosed settlement was reached.

/ ETrade

The 2012 ad featuring English soccer star <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl-commercials/09000d5d8268e196/HM-David-Beckham'>David Beckham </a>got the attention of many Super Bowl watchers, especially women, as he posed to support his David Beckham Bodywear Collection at retailer H&M. In the ads, the highly fit Beckham left little to the imagination.

David Beckham

The 2012 ad featuring English soccer star David Beckham got the attention of many Super Bowl watchers, especially women, as he posed to support his David Beckham Bodywear Collection at retailer H&M. In the ads, the highly fit Beckham left little to the imagination.

/ YouTube

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

A police forensics officer investigates a crime scene where one man was killed in Woolwich, southeast London May 22, 2013. British Prime Minister David Cameron has called a meeting of his government's emergency Cobra security committee after the killing of a man in south London, his office said on Wednesday. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth (BRITAIN - Tags: CRIME LAW POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Terrorism cited in London cleaver attack

Two assailants hacked to death a man reported to be a British soldier on a busy East London street Wednesday afternoon before delivering an apparent...

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 21: Statues on display on the Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden in The Great Pavilion at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show on May 21, 2013 in London, England. The Chelsea Flower Show run by the RHS celebrates its 100th birthday this year. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Photos of the day

Chelsea Flower Show, face transplant in Poland, Oklahoma residents cope with tornado aftermath and more.

ANNAPOLIS, MD - MAY 20: The Herndon Monument Climb is the traditional culmination of plebe year at the United States Naval Academy. The plebes climb to the top of the lard-covered 21 foot high monument and remove the 'dixie cup' hat at the top replacing it with an upperclassman's hat. After completing this, the freshmen are called 'fourth class midshipmen.' This class completed the task in 1 hour 32 minutes and 43 seconds. The hat was placed by Patrick Lien from Orlando. (Photo by Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

The Herndon Climb

The Herndon Monument climb is the traditional culmination of plebe year at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Lea Bessinger salvages a picture of Jesus as she and her son Josh Bessinger sort through the rubble of the elder Bessinger's tornado-ravaged home Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Moore, Okla. A huge tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburb Monday, flattening an entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Tornado near Oklahoma City causes more damage

Rescue workers are searching for survivors after a twister carved a long path of destruction in a suburb of Oklahoma City. It was part of the...

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 21: Ken Marino, Erica Oyama, Ben Stiller, Chris Harrison, and Mike Rosenstein aceept the Webby Award for 'Burning Love' at the 17th Annual Webby Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on May 21, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for The Webby Awards)

Eye on entertainment

Ben Stiller, Jerry Seinfeld, Emma Stone, 2 Chainz, Tyrese Gibson, Susan Boyle and more.

This combination of Associated Press photos shows left, a neighborhood in Moore, Okla., in ruins on Tuesday, May 4, 1999, after a tornado flattened many houses and buildings in central Oklahoma, and right, flattened houses in Moore on Monday, May 20, 2013. Monday's powerful tornado in suburban Oklahoma City loosely followed the path of a killer twister that slammed the region in May 1999. (AP Photo)

Okla. tornado loosely followed path of 1999 twister

Monday’s powerful tornado in suburban Oklahoma City loosely followed the path of a killer twister that slammed the area in May 1999.

A Burrowing owl tries to perch on a protective rope in a public park in Cooper City, Fla. Monday, May 20, 2013 as rain falls. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Animal views

Fun and fascinating creatures around the world.

A man walks on sulphur and mineral salt formations near Dallol in the Danakil Depression, northern Ethiopia April 22, 2013. The Danakil Depression in Ethiopia is one of the hottest and harshest environments on earth, with an average annual temperature of 94 degrees Fahrenheit (34.4 Celsius). For centuries, merchants have travelled there with caravans of camels to collect salt from the surface of the vast desert basin. The mineral is extracted and shaped into slabs, then loaded onto the animals before being transported back across the desert so that it can be sold around the country. Picture taken April 22, 2013. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola (ETHIOPIA - Tags: BUSINESS SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

ATTENTION EDITORS: PICTURE 2 OF 30 FOR PACKAGE 'ETHIOPIA'S ANCIENT SALT TRAIL'
SEARCH 'DANAKIL DEPRESSION' FOR ALL

Ethiopia’s salt trail

For centuries, merchants have traveled to Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression with caravans of camels to collect salt from the surface of the vast desert basin. The mineral is extracted...

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