Commercials: The Real Super Bowl MVP?

The real winners of Super Bowl LIX were all the folks out there who proudly admit, "I just watch for the commercials." The game itself was total dud; a one-sided affair that featured no last-minute heroics or suspense-inducing drama.

I know myself and many others across the nation were experiencing a high level of schadenfreude at the poor showing by the two-time defending champion Chiefs, but I'm also happy for the die hard Eagles fans out there – especially my colleagues working at our LEM Products, Inc. and William Frick & Company locations just north of Philadelphia!

But for those of us who wanted to see a good football game, we got skunked. Luckily the commercials were there to provide some entertainment.

The average cost for a 30-second ad at the 2025 big game was $8 million. I tried to get permission to air our own 90-second commercial, but my boss refused to give me the green light. I guess pending $24 million as a company in niche B2B markets for a Super Bowl ad just didn't seem like a savvy business idea ... I'll try again next year!

For now you can watch our Super Bowl commercial, "The Trident Proclamation" right here:

Our commercial focuses on the power of being present and celebrating what a wonderful time it is to be alive! We want to highlight the hardworking people and industries that power our everyday lives—gas, water, electricity, and fiber optic—reminding us that behind every moment of convenience and comfort is a team of dedicated workers keeping the world running.

It's our was a tribute to resilience, progress, and appreciation for the unseen hands that make modern life possible.

My 3 Favorite Commercials from 2025

For their Super Bowl ads, brands will typically target one of two areas of we viewers' bodies: the heartstrings or the funny bone. This year, we saw an ample representation of both styles, each with varying degrees of success.

I think the wide adoption of AI use in the creation of these ads played a role in the perceived mediocrity of many of the spots.

There were some good ones, lots of bad ones, and of course, lots of beer ones. There were even two different commercials that featured flying facial hair.

Every year, USA Today publishes an official ranking of all the ads with scores from their ad meter.

Below are my three favorites. Which ones were yours?

Lays | The Little Farmer

You can't go wrong with a cute kid, a sweet message, and promoting American made products! So many brands go overboard with their ads, stuffing them with celebrity cameos or endless pop culture references (or both).

Lay's kept it simple and sweet, and that's why its my favorite.

Jeep | Owner's Manual

Is it just me, or has Harrison Ford recently become America's grandpa? (Side note: if you have Apple TV, Shrinking is a great show!)

Amidst so many fast-moving commercials that were nausea inducing, Jeep's two-minute spot was a welcome message of calm inspiration.

"Life doesn't come with an owner's manual ... that just means we get to write our own stories."

Michelob Ultra | The Ultra Hustle

This could be expanded into an entire movie and I would watch the entire thing. Catharine O'Hara and Willem Dafoe are perfectly cast in this ad that is very much based in reality.

As an aspiring pickleballer (pickleballist? pickler?) myself, I can testify that I have many a time been completely crushed by a team featuring two older players. In the world of pickleball, experience trumps youth everyday of the week.

Movie Monday, is a weekly newsletter featuring video content from Trident Solutions and our family of brands – always informative, sometimes funny, never boring.

I hope you enjoyed it. Please reach out with any thoughts or comments and keep an eye out for next week's edition.

Have a great week everyone,

Spencer Knott

Creative Director | Trident Solutions [email protected]