Ram's "Farmer" ad resonated with many Super Bowl viewers on Sunday but missed the mark with some Latino groups that criticized the commercial as a "white-washed" portrayal of a bygone era in America.

The two-minute Chrysler Group spot features a slideshow of mainly white American farmers and their families set to a recording of deceased radio personality Paul Harvey intoning a folksy paean to the ruggedness and determination of the American farmer.

"And on the eighth day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, 'I need a caretaker.' So God made a farmer," went the crackly recording, a speech Harvey made at a 1978 convention of what is now known as the National FFA (Future Farmers of America) Organization, a youth group dedicated to promoting agricultural education. "God said, 'I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, milk cows, work all day in the field, milk cows again, eat supper, then go to town and stay past midnight at a meeting of the school board.' So God made a farmer."

The commercial left some wondering: Where are all the Latinos?

"It's a white-washed ad," said Axel Caballero, founder of Cuéntame, a Latino nonprofit. "(The) composition of America has changed. The faster brands understand that, the better they're going to do."

In response, Cuéntame uploaded its remixed version of the Ram truck ad to its Facebook page, keeping the audio but replacing some of the photos with images of Latino farmworkers. Cuéntame's caption to the post read, " 'God made a farmer' ad - K, we fixed it!"

The video, which also includes a link to the LatinoRebels Facebook page, went viral on the social media network, generating 3.5 million extended network impressions, Caballero said. In the days following the tweaked video's release, users uploaded two more versions that similarly "fixed" the Ram ad with Latino farmworker imagery.

The number of U.S. farms peaked at 6.8 million in 1935. Today, there are more than 2 million American farms, of which about 180,000 account for more than 63 percent of all agricultural products sold, according to data from the 2007 USDA Census of Agriculture.

As for the faces of farmers in America, 71 percent of agricultural workers in the U.S. were born in Mexico and Central America, according to a 2011 U.S. Department of Labor National Agricultural Workers Survey. Just 29 percent of U.S. farm workers were born in the USA and Puerto Rico.

"This is weird," said Julio Ricardo Varela, an NBC Latino contributor and founder of LatinoRebels.com, after he saw the commercial. In a column for NBC Latino, he wrote that "the reaction via the Latino social media space has been overwhelmingly negative for the simple reason that the commercial does not reflect the reality of the farming industry in the United States." 

Chrysler, which manufactures the Ram, has declared 2013 "The Year of the Farmer" in a year-long initiative aimed at bringing national attention to the significance of the American farmer, the automaker said in a fact sheet emailed to TODAY. "The 'Farmer' video uses slices of farming life to remind us of our shared identity and character, the greatness born out of perseverance and determination, and the rewards that come from hard work."

The spot featured documentary photographs of real farmers the brand commissioned from 10 photographers, including William Albert Allard, noted for his National Geographic work, and Kurt Markus, who is celebrated for his images of cowboys.

The Ram truck is built in two plants, one in Warren, Mich., the other in Saltillo, Mexico. Italian automaker Fiat purchased Chrysler Group LLC in 2009 and owns a 58.5 percent share.

Chrysler Communications Manager Eileen Wunderlich said the carmaker is "getting all kinds of requests" about the Ram Super Bowl commercial, and one for Jeep that run during the game, but is "not making any comment whatsoever about the ad." She said the Ram brand makes a donation to the FFA for every YouTube view, download or share and "would like the video and the initiative behind it to speak for itself." The fundraising goal is $1 million to be used for the FFA's hunger relief efforts.

The FFA counts 560,000 members, serving both urban and rural communities, with chapters in 17 out of the 20 major U.S. cities, said Robert Cooper, executive director of the National FFA Foundation. The ad, which has over 6 million YouTube hits and continues to spread three days after the Super Bowl, has “really struck a chord with how important agriculture is in this country” across all sectors, he said.

That includes positive reactions from African-American and Latinos.

“No matter who you are, or where you work in the agricultural industry, this ad is about celebrating your contribution to America and that you are part of America’s number one employer,” said Cooper.

When the Superdome lost power Sunday night during Super Bowl XLVII, viewers quickly turned their attention to Twitter. The 34-minute-long blackout inspired companies, football fans — and Beyoncé fans — to tweet through the delay.

Major brands took advantage of the advertising opportunity, slightly more affordable than commercial placements.

Oreo Cookie, always a favorite on Twitter, garnered close to 15,000 retweets with its subtle reminder that cookies are still delicious — and dunkable — in the dark.

Tide, which earned props for its "Miracle Stain" commercial earlier Sunday night, reminded viewers of the detergent's stain-fighting power.

Others took to the Twittersphere to commend Beyoncé on an electric halftime show. Her hubby, Jay-Z, speculated that it was actually Queen Bey's performance that took out the stadium's power.

And while 22.1 million tweets were generated about the game and halftime show, some used the awkward pause for other viewing pleasures. Specifically, Downton.

Slideshow: Super Bowl entertainment

Super Bowl festivities take over New Orleans, with Beyonce reuniting Destiny's Child at halftime, and Alicia Keys singing a somewhat controversial national anthem.

Launch slideshow

More on TODAY:

• Beyonce electrifies Super Bowl even before Destiny's Child reunion
• Cute or sexy? Vote for your favorite Super Bowl ad
• Sportswriter: Blackout made game ‘memorable’

More than just a contest of athletic might and coaching prowess, the Super Bowl is a test of the of the gladiators of advertising, and last night's was no exception. TODAY experts Donny Deutsch of Deutsch, Inc., Matt Miller of the Association of Independent Commercial Producers, and Laura Petrecca of USA Today weighed in with their picks for the best, the most strategic... and those that had less juice than the Superdome during a thirty-minute power outage.

When the lights were off during the outage, the broadcaster CBS didn't use any of the big budget ads slated to air, but CBS said they would honor their commitments to advertisers who paid an average of $4 million for a 30-second ad hit.

USA Today ran an ad meter that let viewers vote and rank their favorite ads and it generated some interesting results.

Budweiser: "Brotherhood"

Deutsch called it, "A huge story well told"

Tide: "Miracle Stain"

"It's kind of just a wow during the game and it's not a car, not a technology," Deutsch said.

Dodge: "Farmers"

Chatter about this really exploded on Twitter and Facebook during the game.

Petrecca said "The imagery really stood out, great use of Americana."

Deutsch's take was, "It's the same formula as the Chrysler ad [from last year],... you co-opt an essence and own it. You own what's great about farmers, and put it on a car."

Miller said, "There was a little bit of blowback because the brand took an existing piece of art."

Doritos: "Fashionista Daddy"

Petrecca judged it: "Great funny punchline, they really nailed the consumer-created ad."

Jeep - "Whole Again"

Deutsch: "I have an issue with this... it feels a bit exploitivive. Jeep with its heirtage in the military, to copt and own it, felt exploitive."

Miller: "We can all relate - too hard too strong - it is authentic."

Deutsch: "But you're selling a car."

Miller: "I thought it could have gone to bigger places, felt like it could have done something core to the brand."

Which commercials do you think deserved the Vince Lombardi trophy of advertising? Vote now in our online poll and make your voice heard.

Reuters contributed to this report.

MJimages / SXC

Stocking a fridge for a game-day party is all about quantity -- but it should still taste good.

By Kara Reinhardt, Cheapism.com

Some days call for a full-bodied, full-flavored beer enjoyed in long, slow sips. Super Bowl Sunday is not one of those days. Stocking a fridge for a game-day party is more about quantity than quality. Yet, you want to serve something worthy of a celebration and sufficient to dull the sting of a loss. That’s why Cheapism took on a task some might find enviable: sampling 19 brews, from low-calorie light beer to good, old American lager to so-called craft beer. The contenders were presented in that order, so more assertive flavors wouldn’t drown out subtle ones. Most of the beers were cheap (exact prices vary by location) and all were domestically produced and nationally distributed.

A panel of 13 beer fans surprised even themselves with their conclusions in the blind taste test. Here are their favorites:

• Miller Lite ($7.99 for a six-pack of 16-ounce cans) emerged victorious in the lackluster light-beer division, where the entrants were judged flat, watery and flavorless overall. This brand stood out for tasting at least vaguely of hops. It’s a decent choice for anyone trying to limit their calorie intake.
• Pabst Blue Ribbon ($4.79 for a six-pack of 16-ounce cans) beat out eight competitors -- many of them bigger names and bigger sellers -- to take the top spot among American lagers. Panelists considered this beer highly drinkable and enjoyed the mild, balanced flavor.
• Natural Ice ($16.49 for a 30-pack of 12-ounce cans) was one of the cheapest beers in the bunch, at less than a nickel an ounce. Not one panelist had ever considered buying this brand and many were stunned to find they had declared it a favorite. Aficionados who have reviewed the beer online suggest that the light body and 5.9 percent alcohol by volume might hold more appeal than the taste, providing a quick, cost-effective route to a nice buzz.
• Kirkland Signature IPA ($18.99 for a case of 24 12-ounce bottles) comes in a sampler from Costco, along with three other “handcrafted” beers. It triumphed over its compatriots, as well as a couple of brews with higher prices and more craft-beer cred, to take the top spot in that category. Like any India pale ale, this store-brand IPA put off some drinkers with its hoppy bitterness. Advocates appreciated the relatively complex, balanced flavor, which included notes of citrus.
• Kirkland Signature German-Style Lager (see above) comes from the same Costco variety pack, which lets party guests choose their preferred style of beer. This one caters to drinkers who enjoy a bready and slightly sweet malt flavor. The tasting panel described it as smooth and rich.

A couple that missed the cut:

• Miller High Life ($13.99 for 24 12-ounce bottles) was judged boring at best and resembling a certain other golden liquid at worst.
• Rolling Rock ($4.99 for a six-pack of 12-ounce bottles) displays a light, crisp sweetness ruined by an aftertaste one panelist compared to eraser shavings.

More from Cheapism:

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With tickets to the Super Bowl hitting the $3,000 mark, staying home may make a bit more financial sense. But choosing to watch the big game on the small screen doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be missing out — especially if you’re catching the game from a man-cave worthy space.

Barn
3289 Cr #121 Overton, Texas
For sale: $925,000

Zillow

Head out to the barn to watch the big game. The rustic space is filled with eclectic details, including a sign proclaiming the man cave as “Glenn’s Barn.” The Overton home was custom-built and has four bedrooms and four bathrooms on a 3,292-square-foot floor plan.

Scream for ice cream
Address undisclosed, Camden, Maine
For sale: $4.95 million 

Zillow

Prefer ice cream to chips and dip? Catch the big game from the counter of a diner, with soda fountain pull, in this Camden home. The Maine home also includes a four-lane bowling alley and arcade, not to mention home theater and salon. Measuring 16,443 square feet, the home perches on 13 acres above Penobscot Bay.

Miami man cave
15770 SW 216th St, Miami
For sale: $3.299 million

Zillow

Whip up some snacks in the gourmet kitchen upstairs, then head down to the man cave, where jerseys and memorabilia give homage to several sports teams. A pool table, bar, overstuffed leather furniture and flat-screen TV round out the rest of the room.

Trophy room
28009 N 90th Way, Scottsdale, Ariz.
For sale: $7.725 million

Zillow

Sidle up to the bar in this Scottsdale home. The 3,000-square-foot game room has space for all of your Super Bowl guests, as well as room to display your hunting trophies. The 15,395-square-foot mansion in North Scottsdale also has a movie theater that seats 10, five fireplaces, a putting green, pool, barbecue and smoker.

Place to party
330 S Mapleton Dr, Los Angeles
For sale: $26 million

Zillow

You can cheer at the top of your lungs in this party space; it’s detached from the main home. Featuring enormous fish tanks, arcade games and a dance area, the home could host a Super Bowl party to top all parties. Five minutes from Rodeo Drive, the Westwood mansion is 27,816 square feet of over-the-top amenities.

Indoor/outdoor cave
17804 Willow Lake Dr, Odessa, Fla.
For sale: $1.15 million

Zillow

Enjoy the game indoors or out: The entertainment room in this home is on ground level with French doors opening out to a patio seating area with an outdoor grill and fire pit. The Odessa home is over 6,000 square feet with four bedrooms and 3.5 baths.

Amazing arcade
25085 Ashley Ridge Rd, Hidden Hills, Calif.
For sale: $8.195 million

Zillow

No need to save your quarters for the arcade; this Hidden Hills traditional has an entire room filled with  arcade games. Next door, a full bar area and pool table provide even more man-cave space. Outside, master your swing on the home’s putting green.

What stays in Vegas
47 Soaring Bird Ct, Las Vegas
For sale: $2.999 million

Zillow

Follow the action with not one, but two flat-screen TVs in a classy entertainment space with full bar and pool table. This Las Vegas home is in a coveted neighborhood but still a short distance from the lights of the strip.

Marked-down man cave
10608 Marine View Dr, Mukilteo, Wash.
For sale: $2.1 million

Zillow

A man cave for a discount! This home overlooking Seattle's Puget Sound is currently being sold as a short sale. Last sold in 2007 for $3.8 million, the 9,163-square-foot house has 5 bedrooms, 6.5 baths and “all the other luxury items one would expect in a modern luxury home.”

Great garage
6921 W Emile Zola Ave, Peoria, Ariz.
For sale: $415,000

Zillow

No grease stains here. This sparkling-clean garage has been transformed into a man-cave workshop complete with a TV to catch highlights of the game. The rest of the Peoria house has four bedrooms, four bathrooms and three fireplaces on a 3,128-square-foot floor plan.

 More from Zillow:

• NFL Stars Score With Super-Size Homes
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GoDaddy's reputation, and infamy, has been built in large part due to its lewd, mammary-filled Super Bowl ads. This year's, while still trading in the "sex sells" mentality, is a little different. But not so different as to fail to meet the expectations everyone has for a GoDaddy Super Bowl ad.

Featuring model Bar Refaeli in a drawn-out smooch with a tech geek, one of GoDaddy's two 2013 Super Bowl ads once again cashes in on sex appeal. Compared to its earlier efforts, though, this one is classy, even sweet.

The commercial also stars race car driver Danica Patrick, who regularly appears in commercials for GoDaddy. The ad opens with a statement from Danica:

"There are two sides to GoDaddy. There's the sexy side represented by Bar Refaeli.  And the smart side that creates a killer website for your small business, represented by Walter. Together, they're perfect.”

Cue the kiss.

At the end you're not left hating (but remembering) GoDaddy. Instead, you're rooting for the nerdly, curly-haired, bespectacled "Walter," played by Hollywood extra Jesse Heiman, who gets to do the lingering intense kiss with the blonde Refaeli.

"I told Jesse that he's a very good kisser," said Refaeli on the TODAY show, appearing via satellite from Tel Aviv.

"I actually had this very strange dream that all my friends know about. I always wanted to go to a club... look around, choose the one guy it's most unlikely that I'll ever kiss ... and kiss him in front of everyone, so he will be happy and he'll remember it for the rest of the week," said Refaeli, who was voted #1 on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 list of 2012. "GoDaddy made my dream come true."

The scene apparently took 65 takes.

"We tried to get it as perfect as possible," said Heiman, who smiled and shook his head when asked if he purposely messed it up in order to keep the kisses coming.

Bar Refaeli, a 2009 Sports Illustrated cover model and the former flame of Leonardo DiCaprio, does reveal a hint of cleavage in her taut, pink cocktail dress. However, there's no wardrobe malfunctions or down-the-shirt shots. Make no mistake, the centerpiece of the ad is an act of sexuality, a long kiss, but it's less "Girls Gone Wild" and more in the awkward rom-com vein you might see in a Judd Apatow-produced film.

Has GoDaddy grown up?

Somewhat. They're still up to their old teasing tricks. GoDaddy said CBS rejected a version of the ad that showed Refaeli and Heiman's tongues wrapped around each other's in an extended close-up, footage which the company shared with our producers. A "non-Frenching" version will air during the Big Game. But Heiman was quick to remind viewers of the TODAY show during his appearance this morning that they can go online to see more than what will be allowed during the Super Bowl.

GoDaddy's previous ads have had Danica Patrick slowly unzipping her jacket and then appearing to cut away right as she was about to show her breasts. Those ads told watchers to go online to GoDaddy.com to "see more."

The first time GoDaddy's ad appeared in the Super Bowl, visits to their website surged 400 percent, and orders shot up 100 percent, according to data by comScore.

"I would be very much fine with the second one airing and not the tamer one," Refaeli said. "When we do something like that filled with a lot of humor, and we are joking about ourselves, I'd rather we go all the way." For those viewers who agree, GoDaddy will have something waiting for them on their website after the ad airs on the game, along with their ready and waiting online cash registers.

Santitas Tortilla Triangles come in white corn or yellow; both are good bets.

By Kara Reinhardt, Cheapism.com

This Sunday, the Super Bowl will bring together the Ravens and the 49ers, the Harbaugh brothers as head coaches, and (if reports are to be believed) Beyoncé and the rest of Destiny’s Child in a halftime-show reunion. Fans from Baltimore to San Francisco will watch the spectacle with another notable combination: tortilla chips and salsa. It’s a cheap crowd-pleaser, provided you don’t wind up with bland, flimsy chips that snap off into something resembling tomato soup.

To find the best pairing for fans on a budget, Cheapism conducted a blind tasting of cheap name-brand and national store-brand chips and salsa. An 11-person panel sampled 14 varieties of tortilla chips and 19 salsas from stores including Costco, Kroger, Safeway, Target, Trader Joe’s and Wal-Mart (prices vary by location).

Here are the favorites, based on appearance, texture/consistency, and, of course, taste:

• Santitas Tortilla Triangles from Frito-Lay ($2 for an 11-ounce bag) beat out so-called restaurant-style, natural, and organic chips, as well as other traditional options, to take the top spot. Tasters described these chips as sturdy and crispy, with just the right amount of salt and a pleasing corn flavor that holds its own even without any dip, yet won’t overpower mild salsa. Both white- and yellow-corn versions earned near-universal praise.
• Kirkland Signature Tortilla Strips ($3.59 for a 48-ounce bag) boast the lowest price per ounce and come in a package big enough to feed a large gathering. These Costco store-brand chips buck the triangle trend with their rectangular shape, which may help partygoers dip and eat them more neatly. They drew the most kudos from panelists who like their chips on the salty side.
• Calidad White Corn Tortilla Chips ($1.99 for a 12-ounce bag) are light in both color and texture, with a delicate crunch and mild flavor. These chips didn’t exactly stand out but elicited no negative reviews from the panel on any front, making them a safe choice for a finicky group.

• Great Value Mild Chunky Salsa ($1.98 for a 24-ounce jar) proves true to its name, with large veggie chunks and a mellow taste. The price of this Wal-Mart house brand was among the lowest, yet unlike with some inexpensive salsas, there was no comparing the consistency to spaghetti sauce. This was the only variety that satisfied every palate on the panel.
• Simple Truth Organic Mild Salsa ($2.59 for a 16-ounce jar) delighted about half the panel with a combination of sweetness and a smoky flavor tinged with spice. This Kroger-brand salsa is somewhat thin but does contain vegetable pieces. Overall, tasters voted this the best salsa marketed as organic or natural.
• Simple Truth Organic Tomatillo Medium Salsa ($2.59 for a 16-ounce jar) was declared the best salsa verde in the bunch. Panelists appreciated the nice, thick consistency, compared with others that were too runny. While this should appease guests hankering for something spicier than mild salsa, it also displays a slight, almost fruity sweetness.

More from Cheapism:

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Our Life Inc. readers don't think Volkswagen’s new Super Bowl ad is offensive, and, as it turns out, neither do many Jamaicans.

The commercial, which features carefree office workers speaking in inexplicable Caribbean accents to the background tune of Jamaican singer Jimmy Cliff's "C'mon, Get Happy," has been characterized by some media critics as racist.

During an appearance Wednesday on TODAY, Barbara Lippert, editor-at-large at mediapost.com, said she was "shocked" by the ad.

"My problem with it is there's no link to Volkswagen. It's a German car!" she said.

"It's just saying that black people are happy."

New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow told CNN that the advertisement was like "blackface with voices." 

But on Wednesday, Jamaican lawmaker Edmund Bartlett told the Associated Press that the commercial "is a perfect illustration of Jamaican culture's global reach and our uncharacteristic penchant to be happy even in challenging situations."

Jamaica's Minister of Tourism and Entertainment Wykeham McNeill has endorsed the one-minute spot. "I think this is a very creative commercial which truly taps into the tremendous mass appeal that brand Jamaica and its hospitable people have globally,” reports Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner.

A spokesman for Volkswagen of America said the company has no plans to pull the Super Bowl spot, which is scheduled to run during the second quarter of the big game.

"We went out with confidence and did our homework," said Scott Vazin, a company spokesman, adding that the response to the spot has been "overwhelmingly positive."

Information from TODAY contributor Paul Eisenstein and the Associated Press was included in this report.

Related content:

5 buzziest Super Bowl ads you'll see this Sunday 

For Super Bowl ads, it's go viral or go home

Super Bowl commercial shocker: Sex sells 

Scott Smith, Account Director Social@Ogilvy at the Ogilvy & Mather ad agency in Chicago

In all the Super Bowl ad "leaks" and "teasers" getting pushed out before the big game Sunday, the one thing that stands out is how many Super Bowl advertisers are trying to tap the power of social media to amplify their advertising dollars.

With all the hashtag fights, online voting, drawing script ideas from user tweets, fan videos and pictures making it into the Super Bowl ads, you start to wonder whether the ads during the game itself matter anymore. At an average of $3.7 million for a 30-second shot at fame, advertisers are putting earnest money down betting that they are. From the legendary Ogilvy & Mather ad agency, Scott Smith, Account Director at Social@Ogilvy, joined TODAY viewers in a live online chat to break it all down and share his top Super Bowl ad picks this year.

TODAY: Scott, this year advertisers seem to really be trying to push the social media component of their ads, although perhaps the key word is "trying." Is the attitude among Super Bowl advertisers 2013 "go viral or go home?"

SMITH:  In the same way that we saw the presidential election as the first real socially-driven election and the Olympics as the first socially-driven Olympics, the 2013 Super Bowl seems to be the first socially-driven Super Bowl.

Question from viewer Ken: Does previewing a full ad online before the game diminish the message of the ad?

SMITH: I don't think it diminishes the message. If anything, it gives the advertiser some immediate feedback they can use to inform their in-game social strategy.

Over 50 commercials will air during the Super Bowl this year, all screaming, preening, and strutting for your attention. But there's five that are definitely worth skipping out on re-filling the chip and dip trough and watching with your full attention, Matt Miller, President & CEO of the Association of Independent Commercial Producers told TODAY. This year, it's all abut the social, and getting people to pass on the ads and replay them, for free, online.

"It's all about the engagement, we're teasing spots, people are watching using a second screen, and we're hoping they will pass them on. And the numbers say they are," said Miller. "35 percent are looking at the ads beforehand and 40 percent are sharing them after."

Coke is really getting into the social media game with their fun ad, "Mirage." It features three teams racing to be the first to the Coke desert oasis and viewers can vote in Twitter via hashtags whether the "Showgirls," "Cowboys," or "Badlanders" are the winners.

"It brings in gamification of advertising," said Miller. "It's a real buzzword, people are watching and voting as the ad airs."

Doritos, for the 7th year in a row, is reprising their "Crash the Superbowl" campaign which lets fans submit their own home-made commercials and the best one gets aired during the big game. The winner gets $1 million and a chance to work with director Michael Bay on the next "Transformers" movie. Almost a decade later, the mere fact that the ad is user-created no longer automatically makes the strategy compelling. But with the cost of prosumer cameras falling, the production quality on some of them is actually pretty good, and the jokes aren't half bad either. This year's features a father whose daughter bribes him with a bag of Doritos to turn down hanging with the bros and play pretty princess instead.

"It's a sitcom brought to you by Doritos," said Miller.

The "Crash the Super Bowl" campaign, "jumped the shark for a while with professionals jumping into the act," said Miller, "but this year's is a student piece."

GoDaddy, the king of cheeky Super Bowl ads that have drawn flack for pushing the "sex sells" maxim a bit too far, is back again, and this time they're going to play it classy. The domain name registration companies new spot focuses on "Your Big Idea," and while there's beautiful women aplenty in the ad, based on the leaked online previews they all seem to be fully clothed. In SuperBowl ad land, this counts as maturity. Then again, the ad does end with a rich guy on a private jet shouting, "More everything, sky waitress!"

"It's a great punchline," said Miller. Danica Patrick has appeared in 12 of their Super Bowl ads over the past 9 years, but, said Miller "GoDaddy always made them in-house but this year they went with the Deutsch agency to bring in some new ideas." Which is good, he said, because with the ads before "we didn't really know what GoDaddy was about."

(Speaking of controversy this year, does the "Jamaican flavor" of Volkswagen's Super Bowl ad go too far? Watch and vote.)

Taco Bell has already "leaked" the online teaser for its 60-second "Viva Young" ad, and with over 350,000 YouTube hits, it's officially gone viral. It features 87 year-old Bernie Goldblatt and friends on an epic nighttime adventure. They escape from their retirement home, take some unauthorized dips in someone else's pool, hit the dance club and tattoo parlor, and finally cruise to Taco Bell for their "Fourth Meal."

When you think SuperBowl ads, you think Budweiser, and when you think Budweiser Super Bowl ads, there's gotta be some of their famous Clydesdales in there. The brand has launched its first Twitter account and its first tweet was a photo of a new Budweiser Clydesdale born January 16. The beer brand is asking fans to submit their name suggestions via Twitter using #clydesdales. The foal, along with its user-generated moniker, will appear on Sunday.

By Ian Sager, TODAY

Super Bowl ads are no stranger to controversy, but Volkswagen's newly released commercial is already raising eyebrows.

In it, "Dave" – a white man from Minnesota – speaks in a fake Jamaican accent as he implores his co-workers to "get happy" and overcome "the Mondays." Eventually, office life brightens and Dave takes his boss and some co-workers for a spin in his Beetle. Each speaks with a Jamaican accent as the commercial ends.

More: Super Bowl commercial shocker: Sex sells 
So clucked up! Chicken wing prices up ahead of Super Bowl 
Fingerlickin' good! Best chicken wings in America 

The news this week that a watchdog group was criticizing a sexy Super Bowl ad had some readers grumbling – about the quality of the ad.

The Parents Television Council raised a red flag over a Mercedes Benz ad showing Kate Upton using sex appeal to get a group of guys to wash her car. The ad has already been viewed online millions of times.

Some readers raised a red flag about the ad, too, but not because it was inappropriate. They just thought it wasn’t that good.

 “Boring commercial. Girl is attractive, but music is annoying,” one reader wrote.

Others just said the ad wasn’t very original.

“I'm amazed no one ever thought of using sex to sell something before. Brilliant marketing,” another wrote - sarcastically, we assume.

Still, most readers said they wouldn’t have a problem with the ad airing during the Super Bowl, with many noting that there have been plenty of racy ads in years past

About three-fourths of the nearly 10,000 people who took our poll said they didn’t think the ad was inappropriate for the Super Bowl.

Those who said the ad was inappropriate argued that it’s a bad message to be sending young women.

“It's getting harder and harder to raise confident young girls when all they see that is valued in women is their looks,” one reader noted.