11 Super Bowl ads from the past that were actually funny

Gen Alpha kids raised on iPads and streaming services may not get it, but Super Bowl ads used to mean something in this country.

I’m talking about frogs that say “Bud,” “Weis,” “Er.” I’m talking about handsome, shirtless men on horses. And let’s not forget the absolute stranglehold those “Wassup?!” guys had on American culture circa 1999.

So, if you were one of the many people who were largely disappointed with this year’s crop of Super Bowl ads, then join me in looking back on the best Super Bowl commercials from yesteryear — a time before generative AI and legal sports gambling.

Though, I do have to give it up to the “Relax Your Tight End” prostate exam ad featuring Rob Gronkowski.

Doritos “Finger Cleaner”

I feel like this ad should come with a trigger warning, but you really have to see it for yourself. I still see this commercial go viral on TikTok every once in a while.

Now, technically, this Super Bowl ad didn’t actually air during the Super Bowl. Let me explain.

Frito-Lay used to host an annual Crash the Super Bowl contest, which let fans submit their own commercials for a cash prize. The winners would get their ads played during the game. While the unforgettable Finger Cleaner ad was one of the finalists in 2014, it didn’t actually air, which is a damn shame.

Still, it lives on in commercial infamy.

Old Spice and “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like”

This 2010 classic introduced the world to Isaiah Mustafa, aka “the Man Your Man Could Smell Like,” aka that guy on the horse. (Fun fact: Mustafa would go on to star in It: Chapter Two.)

Pringles “Stuck In”

According to very serious scientific research conducted by Pringles scientists, 43 percent of American Pringles customers have had their hands stuck in a tube of Pringles. Who among us hasn’t wondered if there isn’t a better shape for these potato snacks?

This Super Bowl ad dates back to 2022, a time before ChatGPT.

Pepsi and “The Joy of Pepsi”

So, you think you love all things Y2K, do you? Well, is the pre-9/11 Britney Spears “The Joy of Pepsi” ad seared into your brain forever?

Sure, it’s less funny than it is iconic, but we had to include it.

Snickers, Betty White, and The Brady Bunch

Snack food brands really bring out the big guns for the Big Game. Or, at least, they used to. You may remember the late Betty White starring in this Snickers commercial, also for the 2010 Super Bowl.

But that’s not the only Snickers ad worth remembering. The candy bar returned in 2015 for a Brady Bunch-themed commercial that’s also a lot of fun.

Say it with us now: Marcia, Marcia, Marcia.

General Motors hates Norway

There was a time when you could put Will Ferrell in anything, and he could make you laugh. This 2021 electric vehicle ad sees the Saturday Night Live legend taking aim at those bastards in Norway.

Reebok and Terry Tate, Office Linebacker

This classic Reebok Super Bowl ad sees Terry Tate tearing through an office. And while that certainly looks like Oscar from The Office, this ad was made two years before we were introduced to the Dunder-Mifflin accounting department.

Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef?”

The infamous “Where’s the Beef?” ad debuted in 1984 and launched actress Clara Peller to worldwide fame.

E*Trade Dancing Monkey

Who doesn’t love a dancing monkey? This E*Trade commercial was instantly famous for its clever tagline, “Well, we just wasted $2,000,000. What are you doing with your money?”

Volkswagen “The Force”

German car company Volkswagen is famous for iconic ads, dating back to its “Lemon” magazine ad, which even earned a shoutout in Mad Men. But modern audiences may best remember this adorable and hilarious Star Wars-themed ad instead.