The mother of all Super Bowl commercials

I plan to watch Super Bowl XLIX because I’m a sports fan. This year’s matchup is between two powerhouses, one old and one new. The Patriots are perennial favorites aiming to end a decade-long drought. The Seahawks are defending champs hoping to carry over a fourth-quarter comeback. Even without the Deflategate scandal, this game has compelling stories. I wouldn’t be surprised if 115 million or so viewers watch the broadcast at some point.

Of course, a lot of these viewers are only interested in the commercials. The tradition of companies making exclusive Super Bowl ads all started with “1984.” This ad was the brainchild of Chiat/Day and directed by Ridley Scott. If you’re reading this post, then you’ve already seen it. Instead of a low-quality video of the original, here’s an interview with advertising guru Lee Clow:

The commercial is historic because it’s memorable. It has strong imagery in the form of an imaginative, dystopian setting and a bold, sexy heroine. Its wording takes advantage of the fact that the year is also the title of George Orwell’s literary opus. That book happens to be an obvious inspiration for the commercial’s theme. The geopolitical context, limited broadcast, and revolutionary impact all add to the mystique.

I’ve done some reading about the behind-the-scenes history and found interesting trivia.

1. The heroine, Anya Major, also starred in the music video for Elton John’s “Nikita.”
2. Lee Clow envisioned a baseball bat being used to destroy the screen. Ridley Scott believed that a sledgehammer would have universal appeal.
3. During production, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak offered to pay for everything themselves.
4. Chiat/Day planned to continue airing the commercial after Super Bowl XVIII. Apple’s board of directors ended this plan and unintentionally added to the legend.
5. “1984” was close to not airing at all. The Apple board of directors hated it that much.

People watch Super Bowl commercials hoping to see the next “1984” whether they realize it or not. I don’t think we’ll see anything with comparable lasting appeal, but at least I have a football game to watch.