Super Bowl 2010 predictions and observations

Last week, I put together a few thoughts, predictions and observations about Super Bowl XLIV, but unfortunately, I didn't get around to posting it. I considered scrapping it altogether, seeing as though the game happened yesterday, but I thought this one was too clever (and my predictions too accurate) to let it go to waste. Sorry for the tardiness, but if you're looking for a smile to make your Monday morning a little more bearable, please read on.

So, you say, this is probably going to be about what the Super Bowl can teach us about managing talent, right? Well you'd be wrong there, too. There are probably some great football analogies, but I'll leave them to someone else. Instead, how about a few predictions and observations that have nothing to do with the actual game, plus a few fun facts you can share with friends and family?

Prediction #1: More really bad commercials. Alright, this is not really a Nostradamus-type prediction. The Super Bowl seems to be one of the last places where ad agencies can really let it all hang out. And it seems they miss more often than they hit. (I've already seen the casual day at the office commercial. Believe me, it's your worst nightmare.) Which I guess is why we watch.

I know this: If the teams are around the 50-yard line, I might get up and grab a beer. But if I hear the start of a beer commercial, or maybe one of the E-Trade baby commercials, I'm staying put. And don't get me started on GoDaddy.com. It's unbelievable to me that for domain name registrations that cost $6.99 a pop, they have millions (about $3 million to be exact) to spend on soft-core commercials. (BTW: If you want one of those catchy .info domain names, you can get one for about a buck now.)

Bottom line: If you're going to spend a few million, anything with a monkey is probably a bad idea. Unless, of course, you happen to sell monkey chow. Oh, and apparently sex does sell.

Prediction #2: A "beige" halftime show. You know what happens when you can't decide -- you go with something that won't offend anyone, the color beige. OK, before you start in on me, I'm a musician, and I know The Who is deservedly in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Class of 1990). However, Roger Daltrey is one month shy of 66 years old! Forget singing, how about chewing? Does he even have his real teeth? (I also believe Pete Townshend is pretty much deaf at this point -- no joke.)

But I can't help thinking that they were a little cheaper than some other bands, and hey, in this economy, that's got to matter! Besides, everyone is sick of Taylor Swift at this point. My big prediction for next year: Neil Diamond gets the call. (Fact: He sang the national anthem in '87.)

Bottom line: Nothing wrong with The Who. But any real Who fan can't remember the 60s, and anyone else only knows them from the CSI theme song.

Prediction #3: The next "big" non-hit reality show follows. Alright, "Undercover Boss" seems mildly interesting. I like the idea of the CEO of the garbage company having to spend a day sifting through trash. But really, how long before someone catches on? Have they never seen the CEO's face before? Don't they see the cameras? Too contrived. I give it two, maybe three episodes.

Besides, most people are not in any condition to sit and watch a new show after four hours of Super Bowl super-eating and super-drinking. How about some soothing music to finish putting us to sleep, or maybe something to keep us awake. Come to think of it, that's when we need The Who. They are, after all, officially the loudest band in the world. (Really, look it up!)

Bottom line: Broadcast television is killing itself. Do we really need another reality show? This is why we watch The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Shield on Netflix.

So there you have it. Not really much about talent management. Unless of course, you count my pick for next year's halftime show. But at least now I can say I used the phrase "monkey chow" in a blog post. :)