This opinion was written by Kelsie Horner, Audrey Trevarthan, Aden Graves, Jackson Small, Taina Rivera, Casey Schroth, Hannah Saadey, Savana Capp, Annalexis Davis, Addison Foreman, Anneliese White, Emily Yanchak and Alton Northup from KentWired’s editorial board. After reading this article and its companion article, be sure to vote in the poll below so we can settle this debate once and for all. 

While the Super Bowl is meant to be a night dedicated to the best two football teams in the NFL, you’re better off tuning in for the entertainment side of things.

Iconic halftime performances, hilarious advertisements and embarrassing versions of the National Anthem are what the Super Bowl is all about.

Ads, ads and more ads

Some of the most unhinged advertisements run during the Super Bowl. Do you remember when the Planters mascot, Mr. Peanut, died and came back as a baby peanut? That kind of content in an advertisement would not be acceptable during a regular day of television, but it is completely on-brand for the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl commercials are also a moment for American innovation to shine. In 1984, Apple ushered in the computer age with an ad introducing the Macintosh. An iconic ad that one could classify as cinema, even Epic Games parodied the commercial as it geared up for its 2020 lawsuit against the company.

And, much like the half-time show, the commercials are a way to celebrate American culture. In 2020, legendary Bostonian actors helped launch Hyundai’s smart park feature, or as they called it, “smaht pahk.” The Super Bowl is one of the few events where the country can come together to enjoy its unique humor.

Not only are there funny commercials that bring people together, but Kent State had students come together to create its very own super bowl commercial. In 2018, digital media production students and alumni made up more than half of the production team for the commercial. It was all completed in-house and in less than a week. 

The halftime shows

Rihanna’s halftime show last year gave pop culture fanatics a lot to talk about. With a great performance came unfortunate pregnancy speculations and zoomed in clips of her backup dancers falling. This year, Usher will be our main source of entertainment. 

Taking the stage at the Super Bowl is considered an iconic performance. Not only do performers usually go all out for the event – but it’s a way to get non-sports fans to watch the game. While Super Bowl LVII netted an average 113 million views, 118.7 million people turned in for Rhianna’s performance – the second most watched in Super Bowl history.

Having entertainment unrelated to the game is what brings sports fans and non-sports fans together, and a huge reason why the Super Bowl is so celebrated with gatherings and watch parties.

Kelsie Horner, Audrey Trevarthan, Aden Graves, Jackson Small, Taina Rivera, Casey Schroth, Hannah Saadey, Savana Capp, Annalexis Davis, Addison Foreman, Anneliese White, Emily Yanchak and Alton Northup contributed to this editorial. Contact the editorial team at [email protected].