Written by Chris Albrecht
Posted Sunday, February 1, 2009 at 6:50 PM PT

Hulu Reveals its Super Secret

Well, it took almost the whole game, but during the fourth quarter, the Hulu Super Bowl ad ran. It brought in some star power courtesy of Alec Baldwin. The bit involved a secret Hulu HQ where they plot to turn your brain into a cottage cheese-like substance. Here it is if you missed it.

Give Hulu credit for monetizing its high-profile content. Before I could actually re-watch the ad on Hulu I had to sit through a soda ad.

Speaking of soda pop. The Super Bowl ad I thought that was more interesting was the “Pepsuber” commercial. I guess last night’s Saturday Night Live skit is today’s Super Bowl spot. The MacGuyver spoof was interestingly (and absurdly) sponsored by Pepsi in last night’s show. Evidently Pepsi got a little more mileage out of it and re-ran it during today’s big game.

UPDATE: Those MacGruber spots were indeed just commercials disguised as content. Variety has more on these commerskits.

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Topic: Networks & Studios, Shows & Stars

Comments (4)

I thought the Hulu ad was funny and effective. I was surprised they could afford a Super Bowl ad.

I didn’t like the Pepsi ad, at all.

virginian9000 — 7:35 PM on February 1, 2009 Reply
- I don’ think Hulu actually had to pay for the spot. NBC, which broadcast the big game, has a stake in Hulu.
  
  Fox, the other partner in the JV got some nice screen time with the ad. “Family Guy” was pretty prominent in the spot.
  
  UPDATE: There are different reports floating around the web, but it looks like Hulu paid for its Super Bowl ad time.
  
  LATER UPDATE: The money for the ad came out of NBC and Fox’s original Hulu investment that was earmarked for advertising on those networks.
  
  Chris Albrecht, NewTeeVee — 8:20 PM on February 1, 2009 Reply
Um, yeah ok — for both of them, especially that MacGruber drivel, sheeeesh…

Numbers — 8:39 PM on February 1, 2009 Reply
I didn’t like the McGruber/Pepsuber ad because I was already tired of the pointless McGruber SNL skits. That said, the other people at the Super Bowl party I was at (who are less websessed than me) thought it was awesome. I guess the novelty hadn’t warn off yet for them.

Casey McKinnon — 12:05 PM on February 2, 2009 Reply

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