Showcasing past Super Bowl ads
The sports fan and non-sports fan alike may get a kick out of the hour-long CBS special, Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials 2012, even though the special itself is somewhat misnamed.
“Greatest” is subject to interpretation, and the ads themselves aired in past years. The special, hosted by Boomer Esiason and fitness expert Jillian Michaels, is not so much a preview of this weekend’s ads as it is a showcase of the best ads from years gone by.
As everyone knows by now, though, most of the 2012 ads won’t air on the Canadian broadcast of the Super Bowl. Even if you have digital cable or a (legal) satellite dish that picks up U.S. signals, you’ll find the U.S. signal blocked and replaced with the Canadian feed, complete with Canadian ads.
The hour-long special is now in its 12th year, but this time there’s a twist. The Top 10 countdown of favourite ads remains, but this time, the winning emphasis will be on brand names and not the ads themselves. The special will count down “the 10 greatest Super Bowl commercial brands” — which will mean more to U.S. consumers than viewers here. (CBS — 9 p.m.)
You won’t see any of the thingamajigs pitched in Dragons’ Den in a Super Bowl ad, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be entertained. Pitches include a specialty clothing line and a shakable pancake powder. (CBC — 8 p.m.)
The family Doyle is stuck with an unwanted house guest on Republic
of Doyle, as Jake (Allan Hawco) plays his ex-girlfriend against his ex-wife, with predictably complicated results. (CBC — 9 p.m.)
The proprietors of the fine-dining eatery Park’s Edge take great pride in their innovative menu and passionate élan in the kitchen — until Chef Gordon Ramsay gives them the full Fawlty, on Kitchen Night
mares. (Global — 8 p.m.)