For nearly three decades, the final episode of "M-A-S-H" ranked as the highest-rated television program ever to air in the United States. But it is been pushed aside by a hulking behemoth in shoulder pads. In each of the last two years, the Super Bowl has broken the record for a domestic viewing audience.
Shortly after the 2011 Super Bowl between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Nielsen Company estimated that 111 million people watched the game. That figure bested the reported 106.5 million from the previous year.
With over 100 million sets of eyes focused on television screens from coast to coast, advertisers do their best to grab everyone's attention with a memorable spot. Even though the 2012 edition of the game won't air for several months, only a precious few commercial slots remain. That cost for 30 seconds of air time? A cool $3.5 million.
With so many people watching and such a hefty sum attached to securing a time slot, it's understandable why advertisers treat this event as their, well, Super Bowl.
Here are some of our favorite Super Bowl commercials. Which is your favorite? If you feel like we missed your favorite, please tell us in the comment section.
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