Upon the announcement of an alternative Super Bowl Halftime Show, the thought topping all my thoughts is this– “Why didn’t someone do this sooner!?” There’s an answer for that but for now I’ll just say I’m fascinated that, for the first time in Super Bowl history, there will be a choice for which performance to watch between the two halves of football. Such a genius idea. Bad Bunny might call it brillante. Except that Bad Bunny is the reason anyone even dreamed to have another option for a halftime show.
There have been 59 Super Bowls before the upcoming championship game and not once (that I can remember) has there been an event promoted as a halftime alternative. One reason there’s a swell of support for an alternate show, as stated above, is Bad Bunny. He was chosen to perform and almost immediately the NFL received backlash about picking a performer who’s purposely not performed in the U.S. (for whatever political reasons) and doubled down by telling viewers they have a few months to learn Spanish. The second reason is that for the last few years (not coincidentally lining up with the year Jay Z’s Roc Nation became the halftime show’s production company), the halftime shows have… how would people say this… they’ve sucked! It goes back to 2020 with Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. The list of performers since then doesn’t get any better. The Weeknd, who couldn’t find his way out of a mirrored maze. West coast rappers, who are all in their 50s and 60s and probably have arthritis (now 50 Cent is “in da club”… the arthritis club!). Rihanna, walking around as if she was lost in IKEA. Usher, I don’t remember this show at all. Kendrick Lamar, all his music is starting to sound the same.
So why not offer fans an alternative? Part of the reason it’s not happened before is ROI. Return On Investment. It wouldn’t have been beneficial in any way to try competing with the ratings of acts like Maroon 5, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, The Who, Prince, Bruce Springsteen. Bands and performers that appealed to a wide variety of NFL fans. And yes, those were halftime performers before Jay Z took over.
Right now the only brand offering an alternative is Turning Point USA but I can envision years in the future where there are even more options. Especially if Roc Nation remains in place as the official production company for NFL Super Bowl Halftime Shows.
-Out of the Wilderness
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Out of the Wilderness 
I do not understand why people get so upset about an alternative halftime show? If you don’t like the alternative don’t watch it. Watch the bunny guy. It is called free choice – just like free speech. Instead of demanding no alternative show or keeping alternative view points from speaking to people let people decide for themselves.
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Exactly! Let the people decide what they want to watch or not watch.
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