First of all, CONGRATULATIONS to the city of New Orleans and their Saints. The annual ritual seen by nearly 1 billion people worldwide has again lived up to its billing. In many years the commercials can take center stage versus the actual game; however, this year the game was definitely worthwhile.

This is not a sports site like some others named for popular cable channels, we won’t offer much of a critique on the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints. Let’s talk advertising.

Judging by the reaction of the rest of the group I was with in attendance at the Super Bowl party in Lake Tahoe, the winner is Doritos with the anti-bark collar :

There were the traditional Go Daddy Danica Patrick ads, competing commercials from major car companies- with the notable exception of General Motors- and the freaky baby ads of E*Trade. Personally I give a very close 2nd place to the first of the E*Trade ads with the “milkaholic” Lindsey:

Luckily at Ad Age’s Super Bowl ad page and YouTube you can relive the ads, although they will probably be shown more than once in the upcoming months. Only time will tell if the actual value of the $30 million is realized, but it is another diversion for those who may not be as interested in the game.