Guest blogger: RICHARD KIRSHENBAUM

• Richard Kirshenbaum is co-chairman of Kirshenbaum Bond + Partners.

Monday, Feb. 4, 2007, 11:46 a.m.
   I’m not a big Superbowl fan.
I’m the type of guy that can’t tell you who is playing until the day of.
Most of my guy friends are the same way. None of us can tell our kids who are playing or anything about the game. I even thought of hiring a “manny” to help teach them. I usually tell my son, “you mean you want to play football instead of going to the Whitney or Barneys?” But, hey, that’s me.
So I guess it’s true that I really do watch the Superbowl at this stage of my life for the commercials. There’s no denying that.
I wouldn’t even say I’m a half time fan. I kind of get creeped out when all the supposed “fans/dancers” run out onto the field screaming and flailing around for Prince etc.. it’s very “children of the Corn” in my book.
   Anyway, back to the commercials.
   It never ceases to amaze me that since I’m not your typical guy (clearly)-- I really don’t get typical guy humor so most of the commercials don’t appeal to me.
The original GODADDY stuff in  the courtroom a couple of years ago was great, but I think this year they watered it down and  decided to  get in all the “copy points’ this year which is so revolting. Even the strippers, they featured, in my opinion, looked like they were in drag.
   Between the amount of erectile dysfunction information and the FLOMAX Commercial that talked all about the level of your ”stream“ and ”going“ all the time, I felt like I was in a nursing home with old fraternity brothers. I felt embarrassed watching all this with my daughter who asked me ”what do they mean by ’stream“? and I was really not happy when they mentioned the word SEMEN while she was holding her teddy bear.
   Now this is family entertainment???
   I think the Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction was in better taste than that FLOMAX commercial, not to mention two guys deep throating a snickers bar and ripping out their chest hair.  Oh and let’s not forget that ”superfunny“ Sprint spot about Correctile Dysfunction. Gag me again... So, I’m not sure.. Is this ”guy“ humor?
   With all the talk about dicks and  manliness, I happen to think that the superbowl this year was having a sexual identity crisis.
   There were, however, a few bright spots this year. My cashmere hat is off to Nationwide and Kevin Federline...He looked great, The commercial was executed beautifully and he wasn’t a half bad rapper or actor. Not to mention that  HE was on the Superbowl--- Hello, what BOWL was Brittney on? Porcelain?
   I also really loved the Bud Light Hitchhiker spot. Now that felt to me like a real old fashioned fraternity laugh. And yes, I WAS in a fraternity....
   So there you have it, The Superbowl 41, the year of the Sexual Identity Crisis.
   The only thing I have to say is that if next year they go from kissing the snickers to using it in a more perverse way, I’ll tell me kids to turn it off and watch something more family oriented like OZ or The Sorpranos.
   Warmly,
   RK 

February 4, 2007 | Permalink