Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller) for Honda
More than 25 years after Ferris Bueller took a day off, Matthew Broderick called in sick one more time for a new Super Bowl ad. Having traded Cameron’s father’s Ferrari for a Honda CR-V, Broderick’s hooky plans include tons of Bueller references—such as singing on a parade float—and that iconic “Oh Yeah” soundtrack by Yello. And with more than 10 million YouTube views before Super Bowl XLVI even kicks off, the spot proves that Ferris is still a righteous dude.
Jerry Seinfeld and Larry Thomas (The Soup Nazi) for Acura
Considering Jerry Seinfeld played a version of himself on his eponymous sitcom, one could argue he is reprising the role whenever he appears in a commercial. But in his new Super Bowl ad, Seinfeld leaves no doubt. Determined to be the first person to own the new Acura NSX, the car-collecting comedian isn’t above bribing the customer who has first dibs on it. Among the enticements he’s willing to throw in? Actor Larry Thomas, who played the Soup Nazi. In the end, however, Jerry loses out—to a comedian who loves automobiles even more than he does.
Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo (The Griswolds) for HomeAway.com
Having appeared in four Vacation movies together, Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo revisited Clark and Ellen Griswold 13 years after they last hit the road for Vegas. Appearing in a short film for HomeAway.com—which was also cut down for a Super Bowl commercial in 2010—Chase and D’Angelo suffer countless indignities on their Hotel Hell Vacation (“A Bible surcharge?!”) until they finally make it to their son Rusty’s house on the beach. And look carefully, he’s wearing a Walley World T-shirt.
Christopher Lloyd (Doc Brown) for Garbarino
Great Scott!! More than two decades after the final Back to the Future movie, Doc Emmett Brown is still riding around in that DeLorean. Only these days he’s left Hill Valley, Calif., for Argentina. Last year Christopher Lloyd, who portrayed Brown in the BTTF trilogy, appeared in a series of ads for the Argentine electronics store Garbarino. And while Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly doesn’t make a cameo in the spot, Garbarino did set up a way for customers to donate to Fox’s Parkinson’s charity. Also for Fox’s charity, Lloyd appeared as Brown in a 2011 Nike commercial for the MAG shoe along with Saturday Night Live’s Bill Hader and NBA star Kevin Durant.
Kathy Bates (Annie Wilkes) for DirecTV
Kathy Bates won an Academy Award in 1990 for playing Misery’s Annie Wilkes, the psychopathic fan who kidnaps her favorite novelist (James Caan) and breaks his legs to prevent him from running off. Eighteen years later, Bates was back as Annie in a creepy DirecTV commercial—and, yes, she was still packing that sledgehammer.
Christopher Guest (Nigel Tufnel) for Volkswagen
Long after the seminal 1984 documentary Spinal Tap wrapped, the band has reunited several times. And in 2006 Christopher Guest went solo as Tap’s lead guitarist, Nigel Tufnel, in a “V-dubsrocks” commercial for Volkswagen. In honor of Nigel, turn up the volume of this ad to 11.
Richard Dean Anderson (MacGyver) for MasterCard
Fourteen years after MacGyver went off the air, star Richard Dean Anderson showed he could still cut through a thick rope (with an air freshener), create a zip line (with a tube sock), and work miracles with a paper clip, nasal spray, a rubber band, tweezers, and a turkey baster in a priceless commercial for MasterCard. Three years later, Anderson also had a cameo in a Pepsi Super Bowl commercial featuring Will Forte’s Saturday Night Live parody character, MacGruber.
Kyle MacLachlan (Agent Dale Cooper) for Georgia Coffee
In David Lynch’s cult television series Twin Peaks, Kyle MacLachlan’s FBI agent Dale Cooper appreciated “a damn fine cup of coffee.” He seemingly found one in a series of 1993 commercials for Japan’s Georgia Coffee. But the most surreal part of the ads? They were directed by Lynch himself.
Arnold Schwarzenegger (Terminator) for Super Bowl XXXVII
Beginning in 1984, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator always promised he’d “be back.” And for the 2003 Super Bowl, Arnold hopped on his motorcycle, put on his menacing sunglasses, and cross-promoted the game and the third movie in the Terminator series. By the end of the year, however, Arnold had a new job—governor of California.
Yoda for Vodafone
Has modern technology rendered Yoda’s powers useless? Not needed they are? In a January 2012 commercial for Vodafone, the 900-year-old Jedi master tries to help a couple in a Japanese restaurant transfer some numbers to their new mobile phone. But his Star Wars magic isn’t required—the device does the job automatically. And Star Wars fanboys take note: Master Yoda’s distinctive voice is not provided by Frank Oz (who is heard in the movies) but by Tom Kane, who speaks for Yoda in the Clone Wars TV series and video games. Dejected, he sighs, “How strong with them the Force must be.”
