By Steven Bryan, Contributing writerThe Super Bowl is one of those rare sporting events that attracts millions of television viewers who normally don't care about football.
In addition to a head-to-head confrontation between the top two NFL teams, the game features great commercials plus a memorable musical halftime show.
Class Acts, Fines and Wardrobe Malfunctions
In February 2008, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers delivered what can only be called a stunning performance that included such classics as "Free Fallin'" and "I Won't Back Down." This musical interlude arguably generated more buzz at the watercooler the next day than the game itself.
Petty's class act was in stark contrast to the months of controversy that haunted Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson after their halftime performance at Super Bowl XXXVIII on Feb. 1, 2004. At the end of the song "Rock Your Body," Timberlake removed part of Jackson's outfit, exposing her right breast.
CNN reported that FCC Commissioner Michael Powell ordered an investigation of the incident on the day following the game. Powell, who was watching the game with his children, was quoted by CNN as saying, "We have a very angry public on our hands."
Four years after the term "wardrobe malfunction" became part of American culture thanks to this halftime show, The New York Times reported that a federal appeals court overturned the $550,000 fine the FCC ordered CBS to pay for Jackson's exposure.
"Be Bop Bamboozled in 3-D" (Super Bowl XXIII -- Jan. 22, 1989)
Long before the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XXIII on Jan. 22, 1989, fans were preparing for the halftime show, an event called "Be Bop Bamboozled in 3-D." Promising a magician called Elvis Presto and computer-generated special effects, viewers picked up complimentary glasses from Coca-Cola to enjoy the 3-D visuals. While it turned out to be an interesting diversion during the battle between the Cincinnati Bengals and San Francisco 49ers, Elvis Presto and his magical effects didn't quite live up to all the pre-game hype.
Prince and the Florida A&M Marching 100 (Super Bowl XLI -- Feb. 4, 2007)
As the official NFL.com Web site reported, there really was "Purple Rain" at Super Bowl XLI as Prince gave a spirited performance with the Florida A&M "Marching 100" during a rainstorm. Associated Press Entertainment Writer Douglas J. Rowe wrote that Prince "delivered one of the best Super Bowl halftime shows -- ever."
Prince's performance did generate a bit of controversy, however. The moment in question came when the singer appeared behind a beige sheet holding a guitar shaped like his trademark symbol. According to the Associated Press, the silhouette had some phallic connotations to it, but it didn't generate nearly the buzz that Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" did a few years earlier.
