To some, watching the superbowl is not about the food or the score, but about the wit, charm, and even controversy of the ads. According to the Washington Post, just one second of airtime costs $133,000. It might seem outrageous or disgusting as we watch from our couches, but it is definitely worth the money to the advertisers. ESPN estimated that 111 million people tuned in to watch the game. Catering to so many viewers proves a valuable tool for advertisers, even if it costs millions.

Many ads were presented this year, but only those which questioned the status quo were truly memorable- whether they were heartfelt, scandalous, or violent. We all remember scenes like the Budweiser puppy being followed home by a passel of Clydesdale horses, but no one remembers the “ode to dads” commercial by Hyundai or T-Mobile’s newfound leadership in network speed.

Most Super Bowl ads are judged just as strongly as the big game itself, especially on social media sites. There were a few ads that caused quite a lot of controversy, including the “Gracie” Cheerios ad which featured a young girl using Cheerios to bargain with her father for a puppy. The conclusion shows her mother looking concerned by the bargain. But wait– the mother was a different race than the father. To most people, including me, it wasn’t a big deal. In fact, it didn’t concern me at all. However, it outraged many viewers. General Mills did not expect the negative feedback they received, specifically in tweets. MSNBC tweeted “Maybe the right wing will hate it, but everyone else will go awww: the adorable new #Cheerios ad w/biracial family.” According to the Boston Herald, “The assumption, of course, is that racism is endemic in conservative circles and that Republicans are sickened by biracial families.”

However, many ads, especially the Budweiser puppy ad, were successes. Budweiser showed the story of a runaway puppy  from an adoption center who becomes friends with a Clydesdale horse. From that moment on, they are inseparable. It was a truly touching ad, even though it didn’t have anything to do with what Budweiser sells. It is poignant ads like those that really make us want to watch the Super Bowl, and they are the ones that we really remember.