Super Bowl 46 is nearing, and the ads are already appearing: Seinfeld and Ferris Bueller return in ad form.

On Sunday, February 5 the New York Giants will face off against the New England Patriots for Super Bowl 46, and various Super Bowl ad teasers have been slowly released to the Web. What started with a new nondescript YouTube account was an initial teaser showing Mathew Broderick portraying his role in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

Some thought it was a potential ad to a sequel to the first film, but it became quite clear that it was going to be a teaser for something that would released on February 5, which of course is the Super Bowl. Day later a full or extended version of the ad was published on Honda’s YouTube account showing what the teaser was about.

An ad featuring the Honda CRV, with a 2:30 second modern day version of Ferris Bueller’s day off. Honestly they did in under three minutes what could have been a terrible hour and a half film that may have even incorporated 3D, which would truly ruin our childhood memories associated with this film

No Car For You!

Honda wasn’t the only one brewing up a pot of nostalgia. Acura also released a video showing Jerry Seinfeld portraying himself and a few parts from his show from the 90s, and yes the Soup Nazi is back.

VW is going on the offensive by giving viewers a sneak peak at their upcoming Super Bowl ad. It features Star Wars and dogs.

Ads and the Super Bowl go together like beer and wings. It’s the one time of year when most people can not only tolerate TV commercials, but at times even enjoy them. Last year was not particullarly great when it came to ads, 2010 had some interesting ones, but it looks like the auto company VW is going on the offensive and giving people a treat as to what viewers can expect from their upcoming Super Bowl Ad.

Building on the trend of what people enjoy in viral videos and viral content they clearly pulled this teaser out of the Internets playbook: Dogs barking and howling the Star Wars theme. Also as a bit of trivia each 30 second spot generally costs more than $3 million, and that’s not including the production costs.

Remember the good ole days of radio jingles that really made you love a brands product? Didn’t think so.

While some brands such as Old Navy have made it their job to create the most annoying ads known to man just so you remember who they are, it would appear State Farm has decided to follow suit with their radio jingles. The radio ads have been around for quite some time.

One has to ask, “Are annoying brand building ads truly effective?” Unfortunately the answer is yes. Just as when you saw the obnoxious talking Old Navy manikins or obnoxious mini-musical ads, they get stuck in the back of your mind. In State Farm’s case these jingles can either become catchy or the queue for the exact time to change the radio station. Let’s take a peak at some tweets based on the phrase “State Farm radio.”

Negative

I’m puzzled why there aren’t any reports of someone trying to kill the guy who does those singing State Farm radio ads.

— Bill Mann (@Newsmann) December 10, 2011

Positive – Sort of

It’s sad when you know the words to the state farm radio commercial

— Chelsey Damalas (@chelseydamalas) December 12, 2011

Missing the Point

One of the radio jingles has a sort of musical Mexican theme, and it really has very little to do with insurance. One may wonder why State Farm has created several segmented jingles that seem to be awkwardly geared towards not genres of music, but rather cultures.

Can’t be the only one that gets hungry for chips-n-queso w/guac when that mariachi-themed State Farm commercial plays on the radio…

— Freddy Cruz (@RadioFreddyCruz) December9, 2011

Weezer?

Oddly enough there also appears to be an actual rock song/jingle for State Farm that was created by Weezer. Their continued use of the annoying jingles surely must be a sign that they have been effective for brand building, because why else would you pass on Weezer?
Weezer – State Farm Jingle by aharms

Have you seen or heard a recent ad that sucks? Share it with us in the comments or @playthis and we will feature it.

Charlie, come to sugar mountain with us Charlie!

Don’t get us wrong when we say Microsoft isn’t the spawn of satan, but abusing Charlie the Unicorn is just wrong.

Microsoft is rolling out the ads for IE8, even with IE9 right around the corner. They are now reaching out to the younger crowd by hiring Charlie the Unicorn on sugar mountain. Sure, use a viral video that everyone knows and loves to sell your product, but don’t remove the best parts Microsoft. Rather than the epic awesomeness attached to what Charlie the Unicorn is, they turned the ad into just the letters singing. For shame Microsoft, for shame!

What person on this planet would choose a Mac when Patrick Warburton is selling you a PC. Basically this commercial says that Mac’s never get viruses, which clearly is a lie.  So if you don’t want this voice over celeb to be your salesmen buy this piece of crap that no software runs on. These commercials are still reaching out to people who will never have any use for a Mac. Unless you are editing video, pictures, etc… don’t waste your time.

Ads that suck are back! Well sort of… This is what we call an amazing commercial. While you can only hope a product such as the Comfort Wipe does not physically exist, it ever so awkwardly does.

There is generally nothing ok about this commercial, but there is no hidden messages and their power selling ability is seriously lacking. Come on infomercial directors where is your Vince Shlomi (Sham Wow guy), oops too soon?

Check it out… and if you buy this you most likely own a snuggie:

Comfort Wipe, never again will you dirty your hands.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crfGXmxJ1vM]

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To see them all check this Web site.

Currently in the top 5

Numero Uno! Career Builder: It’s Time Punching small animals did it.

Number Two:  Doritos: Crystal Ball

Number Three: Cheetos: Pigeons video

Number Four: The one second commercial by

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEtBKJ6J1Kc]

Number Five: Official release of Transformers: Rise of the Fallen

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mac_kon5eNA]

H&R Block Grim Reaper

Although Play This had originally intended on posting the Top 10 ads for Superbowl 43, the ads were generally poor and scaled back to the top 5. We also realize that many companies are having to scale back the production value of these ads and while some of them were still humors it’s been years since we have seen a truly original and great Superbowl ad.

Also be sure to check out our Ads that Suck section for the worst ads for this years game.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg-p5Xsct4Y&hl=en&fs=1]

Frank Caliendo

For those who do not have Direct TV, there is a good chance that you are bombarded by the network based commercials from Direct TV featuring the worst impressionist, Frank Caliendo. His show has not only received some of the worst reviews, TBS refuses to let it go, probably as a result of only paying him in food.

Here is an elongated version of his version of Seinfeld.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElWNFgMqGuE]

Clearly this fat bastard type man, is much to large to pose as any character on that sitcom except for George, but his impression on him is terrible! How can you also pose as Kramer and try to wig out like him while being so fat? It just doesn’t work. These ads from Direct TV show that they only have a terrible choice in humor. The best commercials use elaborate subconscious messages to peak the minds of their customer and consumers. Most of the time if you see something in an ad, unless you really like it you will ignore it, but those subliminal messages stick with you whether you know it or not.

The only thing these commercials make you feel is annoyance and the need to work out. By being so annoying often do things stick or stay in your mind; however, this just makes you want to slap Frank. Nothing great has ever come from MADtv. It’s just a matter of time before they go online and stay there.

Ads that suck is a new feature for Play This magazine, we will be explaining to you what parts of an ad really do have an affect on you and how to avoid getting sucked into them. – Play This magazine staff