Knowing that the singer reportedly spent an extra $7m of his own money to ensure the show was everything he wanted explains just who it’s even more extravagant than usual. There’s also the issue of space, more to play with than usual. He’s on the pitch now with his creepy lookalikes, changing tempo yet again. It’s time for his biggest hit to date Blinding Lights, performed ambitiously with choreographed chaos surrounding him.
One of the benefits of the plastic surgery masks worn by his many many many dancers is that at least they’re being safe but in a way that’s also part of the performance. Kind of genius really.
A segue into I Feel It Coming, more fireworks and the impressive Broadway stage style setting keeps on transforming into something slightly different. A quick burst of Save Your Tears then some more restrained strings leading into Earned It, the 50 Shades song. There’s something both old-fashioned about the crooner style performance but also contemporary with the effects that surround him. Impressive thus far.
The choir have removed their creepy helmets and a change of lighting has transformed the stage. He’s going full-energy without a dance routine (there is plenty of dancing behind him).
He’s headed to a hall of mirrors style set now. One of the plusses of the lack of genuine audience is that he’s allowed to play with his surroundings more. He’s going way back with Can’t Feel My Face joined by surgery-masked lookalikes, playing into his recent plastic face escapades. It’s a lot but it’s a good lot!
The Weeknd is here to save the weekend
No more reds vs whites (?) for a bit as the main event finally comes into play. After being shunned by the Grammys – no noms despite being one of the year’s biggest artists – The Weeknd is here to show them what an embarrassing mistake they’ve made (he’s called them corrupt since).
And wow what a stage, a neon city (with a Pepsi logo), quite possibly the most ambitious one we’ve seen for years during a half-time show. The Weeknd arrives with a an eerie choir heralding him. First song is Starboy. Fireworks already – both figuratively and actually.
Adam Levine set up Blake and Gwen
What Gwen Stefani, dating again, tells The Voice co-host Adam Levine she’s looking for: “from another country, and someone cultured and sensitive and not threatened by a strong confident woman.” Over his spotty network, Levine hears “country,” “uncultured,” and “threatened by a strong confident woman” — and comes up with Stefani’s real-life boyfriend, country singer Blake Shelton, playing up his stereotype in boots and spurs in this smart T-Mobile riff on celeb gossip.
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Amy Schumer is the Fairy Godmayo
Amy Schumer sweeps into a guy’s half-stocked fridge with a jar of Hellman’s mayo, that bland yet indispensable condiment, to whip up some dips (and a chocolate cake?) As a Midwesterner raised on mayo I can confirm it goes into more than you might think.
A quick reminder here of the sensational five star half-time show from last year. Can The Weeknd top it?
Brad Garrett is Tony Bolognavich, King of Cold Cuts
Jimmy John’s, the speedy make-your-own-sub chain, imagines its dethroned competition as Tony Bolognavich, a cold cuts kingpin played by the ultra gravel-voiced Brad Garrett. It’s a well-made spot, but nothing in the mob homage holds a candle to Garrett’s snide, dismissive “I’ve got this Jimmy’s Johns showin’ up on my turf.” Never calling it singular Jimmy John’s again.
Dr Squatch pitches to “real men”
Direct-to-consumer soap company Dr Squatch argues its personal care products are for real men — you know, the kind who open pickle jars on the first try, don’t use dish detergent for body wash, and let their daughters braid their hair.
Jason Alexander hoodie
The Tide commercial about a hoodie with Seinfeld star Jason Alexander on it reminds us of all the ways a sweatshirt can be abused — as a seat, home plate, or dog toy — and the many pained expressions Jason Alexander’s face is capable of making.
Paralympian Jessica Long pulls heartstrings for Toyota
In one of the more emotional and earnest spots of the night, Toyota profiled Jessica Long, the champion US Paralympic swimmer and double amputee below the knee. Long, winner of 13 gold medals, swims through scenes from her “upstream” journey: the call from a Siberian orphanage revealing her disability, jumping into a pool without prosthetics, her American parents’ choice to adopt her, as “there is hope and strength in all of us.”
Tracy Morgan aims for certainty
For Rocker Mortgage, Tracy Morgan explains the difference between “pretty sure” and “certain.” Pretty sure on whether mushrooms are safe to eat, whether the parachute is secure, whether you could take on wrestler Dave Bautista? Not gonna cut it. Assumedly the same can be said for affording a house.
Daveed Diggs serenades the Sesame Street neighborhood
Hamilton’s Daveed Diggs sings the praises of Sesame Street’s local eats — the famous cookie shop, empanadas down the street, mango smoothies, mom and pops bringing it to you a la carte — with the help of Big Bird, Grover, Cookie Monster, and other stars.