Just when Japan was ready to forgive us for the whole atomic bomb thing, this happened. Circa 1987, Robocop started breaking into the homes of single moms across Japan through the televisions and stealing their fried chicken as well as their refrigerators.

I used to think the strange media culture in Japan was a surreal post-mortem on the state of American popular culture. After seeing this commercial though, I think they may just have a very tenuous grasp as to what our TV and movies are about, and imitate what they think they are seeing. Exhibit A, it was Max Headroom that moved around through televisions, not Robocop.

I think this theory could explain a lot, like Japanese game shows. “You guys get people on a game show, then torture them right?” No Japan! That’s not what is going on at all! You’re making a terrible mistake!

I guess I would watch this TV show.

Instead of leading off with some thoughts about the commercials, I would like to begin by saying the remnants of The Who sounded pretty terrible at half time. I think it’s clear CBS decided that the band should play to level up their synergy with CSI: Miami (since their opening theme is Baba O’Riley) but failed to make sure none of the surviving band members were dying from a disease that first becomes symptomatic with a horrible, grating death rattle that occurs when the infected attempts to sing.

Terrible. Just terrible.

There were a lot of large rodents in the Super Bowl 2010 commercials. There was at least one beaver, two prairie dogs, and one ground hog. There were also many shots of men in underwear, and men being emasculated. Then several ads shared the theme of the faux-cheap production. I think the connection amongst these three themes is clear. I won’t condescend to anyone by spelling out the obvious.

As usual, Taco Bell did not fail to disappoint. Click here to watch Charles Barkley take you his own strange Willy Wonka boat ride through the magical land of refried beans and globs of melted cheese. Watching this I was reminded of Burger King’s strange attempt to simultaneously resurrect and re-kill Hootie’s career several years ago.

For some of the best of the faux-bad, Boost Mobile should be embarrassed forever that it made this. Gross guys, just gross.

And I really wish Godaddy would put their designs on their on-going campaign to bed. I assume it’s working for them but it is overkill on the lowest common denominator. Class it up, jerkasses. Why do I have to be the only classy thing what cares about what is classy and what isn’t classy.

Buy this home or go rot

I really love this spot, thought it’s so perfect I had to doubt it was for a real company. Cullman Liquidation Center does have a website, though my investigative effort ends there. I’m not buying a mobile home just to find out if these guys are for real. I do find it odd that their commercial is so well produced, and their web is so well..something else.. but it does continue to make the case that these people keep it real.

Take that free press

This well-done commercial calls attention to censor-mad Australia, whose government has apparently decided to wage war on free speech. Living in America, whose founding mission statement was freedom of speech, it’s hard to get a handle on such a similar nation taking such a dissimilar attitude to what we frequently proclaim to be the most sacred of all human rights.

Australia is fast on track to rival such nations as Iran and China for their stance on government censorship on the Internet. We’re sorry about goatse guys, really sorry, please come back from the brink.