It’s time for the biggest holiday of the year! Well, okay, maybe without Christmas trees and presents Super Bowl Weekend isn’t quite there yet. But make no mistake – with millions of people all over the world tuning in and the eyes of the world on New Orleans, Super Bowl Sunday has become a holiday unlike any other. With that in mind, here are the 10 things we’re most looking forward to this weekend:
The DirecTV Annual Celebrity Beach Bowl – Believe it or not, this is the seventh year that the television provider has done this thing – and as we learned from the Bud Bowl, once a tradition lasts this long, it never goes away, right? Anyway, this year’s roster for the Saturday flag football game on “the world’s largest indoor beach” includes Nina Dobrev, Snoop Lion (formerly Snoop Dog, formerly Snoop Doggy Dogg, formerly Calvin Broadus), Josh Hutcherson, Ian Somerhalder, Chace Crawford, Artie Lange and more.
Cameron Diaz feeding Alex Rodriguez Popcorn – Yeah, we know – this actually happened a couple years ago in the middle of the big game, and these two aren’t even dating anymore. But with A-Roid’s latest scandal, his always-dependable, always-misguided attempts to win the public back over to his side, and the eyes of the world on the Super Bowl, we wouldn’t put it past the disgraced slugger to come up with another watercooler-worthy moment.
Leather and Laces 2013 – One of the most amusing things about the enormity of Super Bowl weekend is all the secondary parties that try to play off the big game – and the next tier down, which have even less to do with it. One of these is the “Leather and Laces” party, billed as a “swanky, celebrity-filled party with an open bar, desserts and live entertainment” and charging “$450 for Lounge tickets, $950 for VIP tickets, $2,000 for Ultra VIP tickets.” Wow, I’d sure be bummed if I dropped a grand to be a VIP and found out that “Ultra VIPs” were getting better treatment than me. Anyway, all we know is that Audrina Patridge, Rachael Leigh Cook and Brooklyn Decker are all supposed to be there – which should at the least make for some very beautiful red carpet photos.
Gridiron Celebrity Hoops XV – Only on Super Bowl weekend could you have a bunch of celebs approved by the NFL getting together to play a rousing game of…basketball? Featuring a diverse crowd that ranges from Jamie Foxx to an “R&B Superstar” named Tank, where else but Gridiron Celebrity Hoops XV can you find “The world’s youngest DJ” trying to dunk on Terrell Owens?
Movie Trailers – Over the years, we have fond memories of first glimpses from movies like “Transformers,” “The Fifth Element” and “Alice in Wonderland” that lasted in our memories long after the game. So, which upcoming flick will be this year’s big winner? The most anticipated is undoubtedly “Iron Man 3,” after a teaser promised a darker look at Tony Stark’s adventures. But let’s not underestimate Brad Pitt in the zombie flick “World War Z,” or Johnny Depp in “The Lone Ranger” or James Franco in the “Wizard of Oz” prequel “Oz the Great and Powerful.”
Bar Rafaeli and the World’s Greatest Extra – One of them is gorgeous enough to be a movie star. The other is a red-faced nerd, but has actually been in way more movies. Believe it or not, Go Daddy has already launched a shot across the bow at other watercooler-worthy ads with another eyebrow-raising ad, this time having the supermodel make out with Jesse Heiman, long beloved by the Internet as “the world’s greatest extra.” Bar Rafaeli used to make out like that with Leonardo DiCaprio; Jesse reportedly needed 45 takes to get the right shot. Who do you think got the better end of that deal?
Samsung Ad With Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd and Bob Odenkirk – Three very funny men set out to make a high-profile commercial – only problem is, the words “Super” and “Bowl” are trademarked, so they need to substitute others. The result might just be the funniest commercial to come out of this year’s El Plato Supremo:
Budweiser Weepies – Every year, Budweiser and those freakin’ horses figure out a way to make us cry. In a matter of seconds, and in front of everyone we know – honestly, it’s quite embarrassing! And wait a minute, this year’s ad is set to “Landslide”? No fair! Get the tears out of your system now by watching this year’s “Brotherhood” commercial 5 or 6 times, and maybe by Sunday you’ll be jaded enough to not cry all over your 250-pound Uncle Walter.
Beyonce – In case you’ve been living under a rock, allow us to let you in on a little news: Beyonce is doing this year’s Halftime Show. And this time, she might actually sing for real. There are rumors of a Destiny’s Child reunion, guest stars like Jay-Z (who should be fairly easy for her to get if she wanted him), and much more. How will it all play out? We’ll find out Sunday at halftime – or, for those with weak bladders, a few minutes later on DVR.
Super Bowl XLVII between the Ravens and 49ers – Wait a minute, you mean there’s actually a game too?