For some, Man’s Last Stand was well conceived given its target audience – an interesting, albeit exaggerated, depiction of the lives of 20- and 30-something men. For others, Dodge’s rallying cry for guys everywhere to reclaim their manhood came across as emasculating and sexist. And there’s been no shortage of commentary as a result. The most notable was Woman’s Last Stand – a video spoof that sheds light on the other side of the story, delving into the sacrifices women make on a daily basis (well, according to its creator). Part of the response includes: “I will assure you that size doesn’t matter… I will turn a blind eye to your ever-encroaching baldness… I will elect male politicians who will make decisions about my body…” The pointed message was enough to attract more than 250,000 views on YouTube alone, along with thousands of user comments and media coverage. Not too shabby for a spoof, which are typically under-produced and lack any real traction in the realm of viral videos.

What do you think? Is Man’s Last Stand harmless entertainment? Or, does Woman’s Last Stand portray it accurately as misguided and offensive? Furthermore, like it or not, Dodge is receiving added exposure (Man’s Last Stand has garnered more than 1 million views on YouTube) thanks to the controversy. Is this a case of “there’s no such thing as bad PR”? Or, will the uproar further tarnish the brand of a flat-lining car company?

Similar to Super Bowls past, some ads delivered the goods. Take Google’s subtle, sophisticated, and relatively inexpensive reaffirmation of its dominance in the search industry. Others fell short of the pre-game hype, like Taco Bell, while the remaining few were just downright odd. Congrats to Dockers for topping that list.

But that’s just us. You can check out how all of TV’s most expensive commercials scored with Ad Meter focus groups on USAToday.com. Or, read how the Twittersphere ranks the “super” brands that appeared during the Big Game. In the meantime, tell us what you think! Which ad was your favorite? Did any disappoint?

View USA Today’s Rankings

Check Out What the Twittersphere Thinks

The life expectancy of Super Bowl ads has increased over the past few years, thanks to complementary online advertising, galleries, and social networks. The smartest brands even launch sneak peeks of their ads on YouTube to generate pre-game buzz.

In 2010, advertisers will work even harder to maximize exposure and participation via organic search, online videos, Twitter, Facebook, and beyond. Regardless of the final score, it should make for an interesting game. Be sure to visit Stir-Fry early next week to check out our favorites, as well as a few other websites that track the top ads based on public reaction.

Hulu Ad Gallery

Determine what ads are doing best by the number of Tweets:

YouTube Ad Blitz

In the meantime, post your all-time favorites in the comments section.

It’s no wonder why a significant percentage of consumers believe that the sole purpose of advertising is to convince people to buy stuff they don’t need. But despite the challenges, Reebok is attempting to reshape consumer perception with a new product called EasyTone, featuring balance ball-inspired technology. The campaign claims that the shoes work your calves and hamstrings 11% more and tone your buttocks 28% better than ordinary shoes. Simply by walking.

Clearly, the success of Reebok’s efforts will depend heavily on the real-life effectiveness of the product. But are the statistics combined with the sex appeal of the ads enough to even begin to alter the perception of an increasingly skeptical audience? Or, will customers be singing, “My bologna has a first name, it’s R-E-E-B-O-K?”

Our choices for best TV spots: It’s a tie between Adidas’ “Hello Tomorrow” and Dove’ “Evolution.”

Our choice for best viral advertisement: “Tea Partay.”

We also noticed a few omissions from the list. Like the hilarious big German promoting wind energy and a reunited Survivor following around Glen as he chugs Starbucks. Another favorite is the human dominoes line that ends with a man and his Miller Lite. Take a look at Adweek’s list to watch the videos and vote.

What are your favorite ads of the decade?

The microsite is a unique promotional effort by Hasbro to promote the board game’s newest edition – “Team”. As players answer questions to help boost their team’s score, they’ll also see real-time scoring and team updates, as well as viral videos they can pass along to friends. It’s an impressive use of social media to say the least, particularly when the popularity of traditional board games is losing to online gaming.

Check it out and join the battle here.

It’s this unforgettable clip that inspired a recent publicity stunt in New York City to promote the movie’s 20th Anniversary Edition. On November 3rd, a mob of Lloyd Dobler impersonators stormed the Big Apple. Borrowing from the character’s wardrobe, they paraded through Penn Station, NYU, and Union Square in an effort to generate buzz for the upcoming release. The special promotion culminated with a free concert, headlined by The Lloyd Dobler Effect.

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Move over Mac vs. PC. Apple fans, perhaps more than other consumers, have been creating effective advertising for the behemoth brand all by themselves.

    

The campaign is smart and will get buzz. We like it.

But half-truths can easily spread through word of mouth and become “common knowledge” even if inaccurate. Is Tappening going too far with the lying?