For those who aren't rooting for the San Francisco 49ers or the Baltimore Ravens – or who aren't named Harbaugh – there is, thankfully, that other competition on Sunday: best Super Bowl commercial.

In what has now become the industry standard, advertisers no longer wait for game day to release their high-priced hilarity – $3.8m for 30 seconds this year – because there are so many eyeballs to be found online for free. Besides, why hold out for all the Monday morning quarterbacking when you can start the conversation during the 336-hour pre-game show?

Not that the early release strategy isn't without its pitfalls – one commercial, for Taco Bell, has already been pulled from the broadcast because it offended that key Super Bowl demographic: vegetarians. (Whiny bastards.)

So grab a six-pack of deer-antler extract, and let's preview a few of the new ads that are sure to be talked about – at least until the Westminster Dog Show.
Volkswagen – 'Get In. Get Happy'


Having established something of a Super Bowl dynasty with the little Darth Vader in 2011 and last year's The Bark Side, the expectations are high for Volkswagen. This year, VW has dropped the Star Wars theme and instead sought inspiration from Jamaica. And as I believe Bob Marley once sang, No Wookiee, No Cry.

In fact, that's the premise behind the ad for the new Beetle, in which a depressed office in Minnesota is told that "everyting will be all right" by a hyper-happy white co-worker who speaks with a heavy Jamaican accent. (And in case the point wasn't clear, Jimmy Cliff's new cover of the Partridge Family theme song, Get Happy, plays in the background.) Some say the ad is racist – "blackface with voices" – but even the Jamaican government said it had no problem with the commercial. In other words, those critics just need to roll a fatty and chill out.
Coca-Cola – 'The Chase'

One of the new ways by which advertisers have built pre-game buzz is by releasing a tease of the ad that will run during the Super Bowl. But this year some have gone a step further, by giving the audience a role in the creative process.

Coca-Cola, for instance, added a Choose Your Own Adventure element to its commercial. In a teaser called The Chase, three teams race across the desert in pursuit of a giant bottle of Coke – the public gets to vote on who gets the prize. The three choices are The Showgirls (think Priscilla Queen of the Desert, but with actual women), The Badlanders (think Mad Max, but without Mad Mel), and The Cowboys (think third place). The winner will be revealed during the game.

 Let’s talk about Leonardo DiCaprio’s commercial for Jim Beam, Asian styles.

By North American standards, this is pure cheese, right? That’s why it’s only for Japan. So far, at least.

Leo snaps his fingers and the ice earth explodes. And a sexy look to camera. Followed by a sexy squint:

“Cool bourbon.”

Toast.

“Jim Beam.”

Is this...Leo parodying Leo?

Ten, fifteen years ago, before the internet was so pervasive, celebrities could get away with overseas endorsements much easier. Now though, with everything going viral so quickly, in theory, they’re trying to be more careful with self-branding, especially the top stars. You would think. Leo in particular, as we’ve seen from his career management, has demonstrated himself to be quite particular about his image. He didn’t want to be a Tiger Teen Beat pretty boy.

But a playboy...?

A playboy maybe he doesn’t mind so much.

Leo’s playboy is a Man.

A bourbon drinking man who smokes cigars with his friends, cool under pressure.

Would he have assessed the consequences of this commercial then, and decided that it would be ok if it were to be viewed in America, because, even though it’s super corny, it still supports the brand message? The brand being I am Leo, playboy. AND he pockets, what?, a couple of million dollars for maybe half a day’s work?

If you were his advisor, regardless of commission, given these circumstances, would you have approved this job?

Similarly, with George Clooney’s ad for his tequila company, a joint venture with his best friend Rande Gerber -- click here for a refresher -- he played on an assumption we’ve all had at one time or another: that these guys share... EVERYTHING. So... it’s consistent branding. And ...therefore easier for the consumer to accept?

How would it go over though if the headlining celebrity playing “swingers” in a commercial was a woman? I’d love to know your thoughts. Send!

Turns out the other day it was just a photocall for the Spring Breakers premiere in Madrid but last night was the real premiere. So how should points be awarded? Since I just make up the rules to this imaginary competition which instills

so much hatred in Ethan Hawke, I’m just giving Vanessa Hudgens half a point. So now it’s .5 for Vanessa Hudgens, 1 for Selena Gomez and 2 for Ashley Benson because she won this time. I think I need to make a prize pack for the winner at the end of this competition. Maybe a bag full of condoms and Windex. That seems pretty standard nowadays.

At least 28 fans were injured after a violent crash at Daytona International Speedway Saturday caused debris from a race car to fly into the grandstands. Fourteen were taken to area hospitals. Two are listed in critical condition. One of those has a life-threatening head injury, the other is a child. Both are stable, according to Byron Cogdell, a spokesman at Halifax Health.

At least nine ambulances rushed to the rear of the Campbell Grandstand as emergency workers scurried to help fans injured in the rows closest to the track after Kyle Larson's car violently tore through the fence, leaving his engine and tire behind. Other safety workers evacuated the scene of race fans.

Kyle Larson's car (32) gets airborne during a multi-car wreck at Daytona. (AP)In the front row of the grandstand about 20 feet past where Larson's engine had stuck, emergency responders wearing firesuits and helmets tended to several fans sitting on old metal chairbacks. Stretchers were being rolled in from ambulances arriving behind the grandstands while police and other track security ushered  fans from the scene.

"We responded appropriately according to our safety protocols and had emergency medical personnel at the incident immediately," track president Joie Chitwood said. "We're in the process of repairs to the facility and will be ready to go racing tomorrow."

The accident occurred as drivers raced toward the checkered flag of the Drive4COPD 300 in NASCAR's Nationwide Series. Regan Smith was leading the race, but got turned as he approached the finish line. That sparked a multi-car accident that sent Larson's car flying into the air. Tony Stewart won the race, but refused to celebrate in victory lane.

Fans were both shocked and gawking at the accident scene that happened just minutes before when Larson's car got airborne and hit nose first in the catchfence designed to keep fans safe. His car spun wildly to the infield and came to rest with the nose of the car completely torn off, leaving two major support poles bent and a smoking, flaming mess. Fans, about ten rows up, quickly waved to emergency personnel for assistance after a tire apparently had flown through the metallic netting, landing in Row 9.

"It was like a war zone there," said fan Terry Huckaby, whose brother Eddie was hit in the leg by a three-foot piece of metal. Terry used his belt as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.

One woman wearing a Jimmie Johnson shirt appeared to have a foot injury as she was wheeled on a gurney to a waiting ambulance. An older man, wearing an oxygen mask while laying on a stretcher, also appeared to have suffered a leg injury. Another gurney transported a man in a neck support wearing a sling over his left arm. All appeared to be conscious.

"The engine came right through the fence, injuring about six people," said a Daytona International Speedway supervisor, speaking under the condition of anonymity.

 Mindy McCready's funeral has been scheduled for Tuesday in her hometown of Fort Myers, Fla.

The funeral for the late country star will be held at Crossroads Church. A Friday news release says a Nashville memorial organized by friends and the music community is tentatively scheduled for March 6 at Cathedral of the Incarnation.

McCready committed suicide Sunday at her home in Heber Springs, Ark., days after leaving a court-ordered substance abuse treatment program. The 37-year-old mother of two died from a single gunshot to the head about a month after her longtime boyfriend David Wilson was believed to have killed himself in the same location.

Following enthusiast site Jalopnik posting clandestine shots of the 2014 Cherokee, Jeep released official shots of the SUV today, showcasing a style that’s a shocking departure from the square-jawed model of the ‘80s.

Originally slated for an unveiling at the New York Auto Show this March, the Cherokee will replace the Liberty, reviving a nameplate that’s been out of use for over 12 years. Featuring two-tiered headlights reminiscent of Nissan Juke and a kinked 7-slot grill, the 2014 Cherokee eschews conventional styling in favor of a fascia that looks like a grimacing Decepticon. It’s built on the same underpinnings as the Alfa Romeo Guilietta, and boasts up to a 45 percent improvement in fuel economy over the Liberty (likely with a selection of either a four-cylinder or a V-6 powerplant).

After the Jeep was revealed online, Chrysler design chief Ralph Gilles used Twitter to share a stream of positive reactions; it's certainly the most daring design Jeep has unveiled in decades. But the old Cherokee was beloved by Jeep enthusiasts, and the brand's previous attempts to stretch itself with vehicles such as the Compass and Patriot have fallen short of expectations due in part to their roots in passengers cars. We'll know more about the capabilities of the new SUV in a month, but with a polarizing face like this, the Cherokee will need every technical edge it can get.

Proud parents Amber Rose and Wiz Khalifa welcomed son Sebastian Taylor less than 24 hours ago. And the couple have already shared the first photo of their little guy, whom Wiz has affectionately nicknamed "the Bash."

Early Friday morning, Rose tweeted "Best daddy ever.... Up with the baby so Muva can go back to sleep :-)," along with an adorable Instagram picture of Khalifa holding Sebastian.

Khalifa later tweeted, "Thanx for all the love guys. Bash took his first poop, had a good meal now he's peacin ✌" (thanks for sharing, Wiz!).

He also joked, "My wife sed she juss wants a jacc & coke, a cheesesteak, and a ciggarette :-) Thass why im marryin that woman!"

Rose and Khalifa have been chronicling their pregnancy via social media since they announced they were expecting last September. Though they revealed Sebastian's name only yesterday, they hinted at their baby-name choice during an interview on the radio show "Big Boy's Neighborhood" in January. "It's a total boss name for a boy," Rose said. "It's funny because I came up with the name for our boy and immediately he came up with a rapper [nickname] for him.”

A former contestant from Season 2 of the extreme makeover/beauty pageant hybrid "The Swan" says the reality show ruined her life, and is speaking out about the celebrities who are slated to appear on Fox's two-hour special "Celebrity Swan."

At 34 years old, Lorrie Arias appeared on "The Swan" in 2004, and underwent more plastic surgery procedures than any other contestant -- going on to get a face lift, nose job, brow lift, upper lip lift with fat transfer, upper/lower eye lift, full body lift, breast implants, tummy tuck and liposuction on her knees -- but did not go on to compete in the beauty pageant component of the show.

Today, Arias told the New York Post that her surgeries were for nothing, since she's "a 300-pound mess of a person who is afraid to go outside.”

The former reality show contestant is speaking out about Fox's decision to revive the show, which was once called "the most sadistic reality series of the decade," with a two-hour special that will feature celebrities. The show is currently still casting, but producers allegedly have their sights set on stars like former White House intern Monica Lewinsky and "Happy Days" alumna Erin Moran.

Arias told RadarOnline, it's not the plastic surgery that's the problem, but the lack of psychological support during and after the series that left her spiraling downward. The former reality show cast member claims producers offered only four 15-minute therapy sessions during the two-and-a-half months of filming, and she couldn't afford therapy when she returned home.

Arias told the website, she believes Moran -- who is currently broke, homeless and living like a recluse -- will need major therapy before and after the show, calling the former actress "unstable," but thinks former White House intern Monica Lewinksy will be "fine."

Saying "I Do" can be a libido booster, so he might want even more sex now.

You've stopped obsessing about how you look, so you're enjoying sex more than ever!

It's easy to get lazy about taking your birth control-that surprise pregnancy is less of a big deal now.

You'll do things that you never thought you'd do (hello, sex toys!) to keep things exciting.

Quickies are the new norm, and you love 'em.

How many calories does sex burn?

You have random romps that are so hot it's like the first time all over again (only better).

You'll dream about sex with old boyfriends once in a while. (Don't worry, it's normal!)

His obsession with oral sex will never go away, even after you've been married for years.

At times you'll feel like your husband is cheating on you…with porn.

None of this sound familiar? For some couples married sex is exactly the same as it was before they were married.

Misunderstanding, misstatements and all the classic contortions of partisan message management surround the sequester, the term for the $85 billion in ugly and largely irrational federal spending cuts set by law to begin Friday.

What is the non-budget wonk to make of this? Who is responsible? What really happened?

The finger-pointing began during the third presidential debate last fall, on Oct. 22, when President Obama blamed Congress. “The sequester is not something that I’ve proposed,” Obama said. “It is something that Congress has proposed.”

The White House chief of staff at the time, Jack Lew, who had been budget director during the negotiations that set up the sequester in 2011, backed up the president two days later.

“There was an insistence on the part of Republicans in Congress for there to be some automatic trigger,” Lew said while campaigning in Florida. It “was very much rooted in the Republican congressional insistence that there be an automatic measure.”

The president and Lew had this wrong. My extensive reporting for my book “The Price of Politics” shows that the automatic spending cuts were initiated by the White House and were the brainchild of Lew and White House congressional relations chief Rob Nabors — probably the foremost experts on budget issues in the senior ranks of the federal government.

Obama personally approved of the plan for Lew and Nabors to propose the sequester to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). They did so at 2:30 p.m. July 27, 2011, according to interviews with two senior White House aides who were directly involved.

Nabors has told others that they checked with the president before going to see Reid. A mandatory sequester was the only action-forcing mechanism they could devise. Nabors has said, “We didn’t actually think it would be that hard to convince them” — Reid and the Republicans — to adopt the sequester. “It really was the only thing we had. There was not a lot of other options left on the table.”

A majority of Republicans did vote for the Budget Control Act that summer, which included the sequester. Key Republican staffers said they didn’t even initially know what a sequester was — because the concept stemmed from the budget wars of the 1980s, when they were not in government.

At the Feb. 13 Senate Finance Committee hearing on Lew’s nomination to become Treasury secretary, Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) asked Lew about the account in my book: “Woodward credits you with originating the plan for sequestration. Was he right or wrong?”

“It’s a little more complicated than that,” Lew responded, “and even in his account, it was a little more complicated than that. We were in a negotiation where the failure would have meant the default of the government of the United States.”

“Did you make the suggestion?” Burr asked.

“Well, what I did was said that with all other options closed, we needed to look for an option where we could agree on how to resolve our differences. And we went back to the 1984 plan that Senator [Phil] Gramm and Senator [Warren] Rudman worked on and said that that would be a basis for having a consequence that would be so unacceptable to everyone that we would be able to get action.”

In other words, yes.

But then Burr asked about the president’s statement during the presidential debate, that the Republicans originated it.

Lew, being a good lawyer and a loyal presidential adviser, then shifted to denial mode: “Senator, the demand for an enforcement mechanism was not something that the administration was pushing at that moment.”

That statement was not accurate.

On Tuesday, Obama appeared at the White House with a group of police officers and firefighters to denounce the sequester as a “meat-cleaver approach” that would jeopardize military readiness and investments in education, energy and readiness. He also said it would cost jobs. But, the president said, the substitute would have to include new revenue through tax reform.