Bridgestone is sponsoring the Super Bowl halftime show, starring those ancient mariners of rock, the Who. So, perhaps it's fitting that one of the tire maker's in-game spots from The Richards Group features a whale. (Yes, that opening was a stretch, but I'm rushing. After watching the Damaris lingerie clip a few dozen times, I've gotten a little behind, so to speak.) In "Whale of a Tale," three dudes speed down the highway with a whale hanging out the back of their truck. They're probably looking for a store that sells tartar sauce. There's a second spot called "Your Tires or Your Life," which appears to offer a noir-ish roadside-peril scenario in which a creepy bald guy brandishes power drills. I'm thinking that's Pete Townsend. We'll know for sure Feb. 7.

—Posted by David Gianatasio