The Budweiser Puppy finds his way home and to the top of the USA Today Super Bowl Ad Meter! See the article from USA Today for more details.
Budweiser 'Lost Dog' finds way to top of Super Bowl Ad Meter
USA TODAY Sports' For the Win crew discuss some of the possible options for Rob Gronkowski in the offseason.
The Budweiser puppy has done what the Seattle Seahawks could not — it won back-to-back Super Bowls.
If you're keeping score, not only is that two in a row for the puppy, but three in a row for Anheuser-Busch and the 13th time in the past 15 years that Anheuser-Busch has won USA TODAY's Ad Meter ranking of all the ads by a consumer panel.
For the 27th consecutive year, USA TODAY'S Ad Meter's consumer panel of 6,703 voters rated the Super Bowl ads — 61 commercials that cost advertisers up to a record $4.5 million per 30-seconds of airtime.
Finishing second was a stereotype-bashing spot for an unlikely Super Bowl advertiser, the Always feminine products brand from P&G. It aimed to make viewers rethink what it means to act "like a girl."
Third, was a humorous Fiat Chrysler commercial about an amorous, elderly Italian man who loses his iconic, blue Viagra-like pill at just the wrong moment.
In the Budweiser "Lost Dog" ad, a puppy gets lost, but makes it back home after being saved from a wolf by his pals, the Budweiser Clydesdales.
Yes, it was a sequel to the "Puppy Love" commercial that won last year's Ad Meter and Bud used the same strategy to build buzz. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," says Brian Perkins, vice president, Budweiser. He says the company again released teaser content weeks in advance and then unveiled the ad itself last Wednesday.
It was a heart-tugger, says Ad Meter panelist Kelly VonDrehle. "I have my own little dog, and seeing the Clydesdales save that sweet, precious little angel brought a slight tear to my eye," says VonDrehle, 30, who works in marketing communications at Texas A&M University in College Station.
WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSBudweiser: 'Lost Dog' | 01:00
"Lost Dog" - A lost puppy finds its way home and then is saved from trouble by some very powerful friends.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSBMW i3 'Newfangled Idea' | 01:00
BMW's Super Bow spot features a couple of former TV stars and a "newfangled idea."
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSBud Light Real Life PacMan | 01:30
In this "Up for Whatever" campaign spot, a dude finds a giant quarter and uses it to become Pac-Man -- at least for one night.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADS#KimsDataStash T-Mobile | 00:30
Kim Kardashian pokes fun at self(ie) in new T-Mobile ad
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSFiat: "Blue Pill" | 01:00
Fiat: "Blue Pill"
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSMcDonald's: 'Lovin' Pays' | 01:00
McDonald's introduces a new heartwarming form of payment.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSMercedes-Benz "Fable" | 01:02
"The Big Race" - To tout a sporty new model, Mercedes-Benz revives The Tortoise and the Hare.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADST-Mobile: 'One-Upped' | 00:34
Chelsea Handler and Sarah Silverman attempt to prove that the other has better cellphone service
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSAvocados from Mexico: "First Draft Ever" | 00:30
Avocados from Mexico: "First Draft Ever"
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSSkittles: 'Settle It' | 00:30
Two men in a town full of people with bionic arms duke it out for the last lemon Skittle.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSBand of Brands | 01:02
"Band of Brands" - Unwilling to go in alone, English beer Newcastle gathered up a bunch of advertisers to combine on a single Super Bowl ad.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSSnickers: 'Very Brady’ | 00:32
When she's hungry, Marcia Brady turns into actor Danny Trejo.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSLoctite: 'Positive Feelings' | 00:30
"Positive Feelings" - Fanny packs, dancing, and super glue -- that's the best way to sum up this ad by Super Bowl first-timer Loctite.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSToyota Camry | 01:00
"How Great I am" - Paralympian Amy Purdy stars in this inspirational, Muhammad Ali-narrated commercial for the Toyota Camry.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSEsurance: 'Sorta Pharmacy' | 00:30
Bryan Cranston reprises his role as the television world's most famous...pharmacist.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSEsurance Sorta Mom Official Ad | 00:30
Lindsay Lohan pokes fun at her persona while playing the most reckless mom in the carpool.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSTurbo Tax: 'Boston Tea Party' | 01:00
TurboTax re-imagines what would've happened if the Boston Tea Party went down a little differently.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSCarnival: 'Return to the Sea' | 01:00
Featuring a stirring speech by JFK, this spot implores America to embrace water travel.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSNationwide: 'Invisible' | 00:46
Nationwide’s Super Bowl ad titled Invisible featuring Mindy Kaling.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSCoca-Cola: 'Make It Happy' | 01:00
Coca-Cola imagines a world with a lot more positivity.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSNissan: 'Father and Son' | 01:31
"Father and Son" - A racecar driver attempts to balance his career and fatherhood.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSSquarespace: 'Cliff' | 00:30
Jeff Bridges stars in this ad for the web site building company Squarespace.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSSkechers: 'Relaxing with Pete Rose' | 00:15
Even while relaxing at home, Pete Rose is hounded about belonging in the hall.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSToyota: 'My Bold Dad' | 01:00
Toyota: 'My Bold Dad'
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSSprint: 'Apology' | 00:31
Sprint calls out other cellphone carriers with the help of some noisy animals.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSJeep Renegade: 'Beautiful Lands' | 01:31
Jeep takes a look at the beautiful lands across the globe.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSDodge: 'Wisdom' | 01:01
Centenarians offer advice on the next hundred years.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSDoritos 'When Pigs Fly' | 00:30
One of the finalists for the Doritos spot in the Super Bowl
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSDoritos 'Middle Seat' | 00:30
One of the finalists for the Doritos Super Bowl spot
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSSquarespace: 'Om' | 00:30
Jeff Bridges tests out meditation techniques in this spot for website builder Squarespace.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSNo More: 'Listen' | 00:30
A powerful public service announcement from No More, an organization committed to raising public awareness of and ending domestic violence and sexual assault.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSBudweiser: 'Brewed the Hard Way' | 01:02
Budweiser: 'Brewed the Hard Way'
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSGoDaddy: 'Working' | 00:30
GoDaddy salutes the hard working business owner.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSChevy: 'Colorado' | 00:30
Trailer for Chevy's new 'Colorado.'
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSSupercell: 'Angry Neeson' | 01:00
Liam Neeson stars in a spot for mobile game
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSGeico: 'Push It' | 00:14
Geico trailer called 'Push It'
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSDove: 'Real Strength' | 00:30
"Real Strength" - Proud fathers interact with their laughing, crying, and smiling children of various ages.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSNationwide's "Boy" commercial | 00:47
This Nationwide Insurance Super Bowl ad packs an emotional punch while appealing for prevention of childhood injuries from accidents.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSTrailer: 'Pitch Perfect 2' | 00:30
Super bowl spot for the film 'Pitch Perfect 2'
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSMachine Zone: Game of War | 00:30
Trailer for 'Machine Zone: Game of War'
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSTrailer: 'Jurassic World' | 01:00
Super Bowl spot for the film 'Jurassic World'
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSTrailer: 'Furious 7' | 00:59
Trailer for the film "Furious 7"
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSTrailer: "Minions" | 00:31
Trailer: "Minions"
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSCarl's Jr. All-Natural Burger Super Bowl spot | 00:31
The all-natural burger Super Bowl spot for Carl's Jr. Carl's Jr.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSThe most popular Super Bowl ad is... | 01:53
We all know how Super Bowl 49 ended by now, but what did people think about the Super Bowl ads? The votes have been tallied and the winner of USA TODAY's Ad Meter ranking is...VPC
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSNFL: 'Rally" | 01:01
Football fans around the country express vocal support for their favorite teams.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSPepsi: 'Halftime Touches Down' | 00:30
A massive UFO arrives in Phoenix just in time for Katy Perry's halftime show.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSLexus "Make Some Noise' | 00:31
"Make Some Noise" - This 30-second spot showcases the new Lexus NX and features music created with noises actually made by the vehicle.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSVictoria Secret | 00:30
"Let the Real Games begin" - Victoria's Secret returns to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2008 with this 30-second spot, which arrives just in time for Valentine's Day shopping.
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADSTrailer: 'Ted 2' | 00:30
Trailer for the film 'Ted 2'
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WATCH AGAIN: 2015 SUPER BOWL ADS50 Shades of Grey Trailer | 00:30
50 Shades of Grey Trailer
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Next Video
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Budweiser: 'Lost Dog'
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BMW i3 'Newfangled Idea'
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Bud Light Real Life PacMan
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#KimsDataStash T-Mobile
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Fiat: "Blue Pill"
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McDonald's: 'Lovin' Pays'
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Mercedes-Benz "Fable"
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T-Mobile: 'One-Upped'
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Avocados from Mexico: "First Draft Ever"
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Skittles: 'Settle It'
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Band of Brands
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Snickers: 'Very Brady’
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Loctite: 'Positive Feelings'
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Toyota Camry
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Esurance: 'Sorta Pharmacy'
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Esurance Sorta Mom Official Ad
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Turbo Tax: 'Boston Tea Party'
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Carnival: 'Return to the Sea'
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Nationwide: 'Invisible'
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Coca-Cola: 'Make It Happy'
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Nissan: 'Father and Son'
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Squarespace: 'Cliff'
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Skechers: 'Relaxing with Pete Rose'
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Toyota: 'My Bold Dad'
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Sprint: 'Apology'
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Jeep Renegade: 'Beautiful Lands'
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Dodge: 'Wisdom'
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Doritos 'When Pigs Fly'
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Doritos 'Middle Seat'
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Squarespace: 'Om'
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No More: 'Listen'
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Budweiser: 'Brewed the Hard Way'
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GoDaddy: 'Working'
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Chevy: 'Colorado'
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Supercell: 'Angry Neeson'
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Geico: 'Push It'
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Dove: 'Real Strength'
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Nationwide's "Boy" commercial
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Trailer: 'Pitch Perfect 2'
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Machine Zone: Game of War
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Trailer: 'Jurassic World'
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Trailer: 'Furious 7'
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Trailer: "Minions"
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Carl's Jr. All-Natural Burger Super Bowl spot
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The most popular Super Bowl ad is...
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NFL: 'Rally"
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Pepsi: 'Halftime Touches Down'
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Lexus "Make Some Noise'
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Victoria Secret
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Trailer: 'Ted 2'
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50 Shades of Grey Trailer
Overall, the advertising came up a bit short on energy, and on the entertainment that viewers have come to expect from brands spending the big bucks to appear on the biggest live stage in advertising — the NBC broadcast was expected to be watched by about 110 million viewers in the USA.
It was first and foremost the Super Bowl of commercial kumbaya. Many of the spots were the commercial equivalent of hug. McDonald's literally showed hugs in its ad promising free food to random customers who bestow acts of kindness. Coca-Cola showed how snarkiness and hate on the Internet turns positive and happy thanks to a bottle of Coke.
It also was the Nostalgia Bowl. There's Snickers paying homage to The Brady Bunch. There's Bud Light literally bringing Pac Man to life. And BMW brought back the early days of the Internet with help of Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel.
These advertisers apparently saw the times now right for optimism, fun, even silliness.
But not sex. This was a PG-rated Super Bowl, Arguably, there wasn't a national ad too racy for kids' eyes or tasteless for grandma's ears.
In fact, several of the spots were downright inspirational. Toyota lauded paralympic snowboarder Amy Purdy with an uplifting speech by a young Muhammad Ali. The voice of John F. Kennedy talks of humanity's connection to the sea in a stylistic spot for Carnival cruises.
But amid the sea of happiness and hope, some cleverly-crafted humor kicked butt with traditional Super Bowl entertainment. Doritos ad, about a savvy kid who earns a bag of Doritos by actually figuring how to make pigs fly.
Advertising stereotypes died hard in this Super Bowl — particularly those about dad as a clueless clod. Just months after the NFL's image was severely tarnished by domestic abuse incidents involving players, several advertisers opted to show Dads in a good light. Nissan spent 90 seconds on the tale of a race car driver balancing work and family — all to the tune of Harry Chapin's Cat's in the Cradle. And Dove Men+Care's spot showed dads of all kinds responding to the oh-so-familiar cry from their kids of "Daddy!"