Where it All Comes Together

Ol' Jims might not be jazzed about the Soup Bowl, but the Weis Man and I totally are. Not even for the commercials -- I will leave that for others to analyze.

No, I am talking about the half time show (tm) -- the most absurd abomination of ALL the absurd abominations that make up the spectacle that is the Super Bowl (tm). A show large enough that the time it requires to set up, perform, and break down forces the players to wait a FULL HOUR between the end of the first half of the game and the start of the second half (at least in recent years)!!! Hey Jim -- can you say "integrity of the game"?

I hafta admit - I was all set to talk about how the BEP are NOT my kind of music. How it was grossly unfair that the network (Fox) that has YET to be cleared of complicity in the "wardrobe malfunction" fiasco that led to half time shows becoming lifetime achievement awards for the safe and white bread of the music world (sorry, Sir Paul, even my 17 year old thinks you rocked!), got to be the network that benefitted from last year's meltdown by the frighteningly sadly over-the-hill (to the point of being embarrassing) remaining members of The Who (Fox exec's could be heard humming "We won't get fooled again"!).

I was expecting to spend most of the column (I DO hafta pay off to the Man for letting me have this space, after all!) talking about the fact that more people just heard the phrase "Mazel Tov!" at one time than EVER before in Jewish (or human!) history -- which actually IS a really big deal!

But, truth be told, what I just witnessed was, by far, the BEST half-time entertainment. EVER! The surprise appearance of Slash and Usher were not merely jaw-dropping for their surprise factor, but actually added significantly to the music and entertainment value of the show. The use of the scene that the BEPs choreographed, with the multiple stage elements, with the lighted costumes of the seemingly thousands of extras, and the choreography that so expertly exploited the effect (c'mon, the first MEANINGFUL use of the wave in a football stadium since it was originated!), even the use of the testament-to-Jerry-Jones'-massive-ego truly JumboTron, was outstanding. The seamless musical transitions, and the interweaving not just of different numbers, but especially musical styles, was excellent as well.

And they managed to get on and off and back to football in a little more than half an hour. Even got an inspirational message from Will.I.Am thrown in to boot.

My only carp -- besides the fact that the audio was much slower to hit its stride technically than the Peas were themselves -- was please, please, please, don't ever make me listen to Fergie attempting to rap again! Please leave that to the guys who know what they are doing, sweetie!

But, at least you made us all forget the F- disaster that was Christina mangling (and not just the words!) the national anthem! And thanks, Fox, for forcing a Glee promo down our throats in the form of "America the Beautiful" immediately before the botch job on the anthem. Did we REALLY need them both for any OTHER reason?