If you found yourself feeling underwhelmed by yesterday’s Super Bowl LVIII, it’s possible that you were watching the wrong broadcast. While the actual game may have consisted mostly of trading field goals and ended predictably, the right team in the booth can make all the difference. And I’m not referring to the usual commentators, Jim Nantz and Tony Romo. If you didn’t switch over to the Nickelodeon feed during the game, you missed out on a truly entertaining and unique experience.
The Nickelodeon broadcast of the Super Bowl was the best to date, and a large part of its success can be attributed to the presence of Tom Kenny and Bill Fagerbakke, the voice actors behind Spongebob Squarepants and Patrick Star, in the booth. The entire broadcast was centered around the idea that the Super Bowl was taking place in Spongebob’s hometown of Bikini Bottom, and the graphics team did a fantastic job in creating a visually immersive experience. Bubbles and floating jellyfish would drift lazily across the screen, often in comical situations, such as Andy Reid frantically chewing on his mustache while adorable sea creatures floated past.
The broadcast kicked off with a performance of the beloved “Sweet Victory” song, which has become a musical hit among Millennials, Gen Z, and even Gen X parents. While Spongebob Squarepants is primarily targeted towards kids, there is plenty of subtext and humor that appeals to adults as well. The Nick broadcast managed to strike a perfect balance between being informative and entertaining for children while also keeping adults engaged.
The announcing team of Noah Eagle and Nate Burleson, alongside Kenny and Fagerbakke, brought a youthful and energetic vibe to the stream. They asked “kid” questions like whether the players were nervous or how many yards were needed for a first down, and Eagle and Burleson provided clear and concise answers that were accessible to children. They even encouraged kids to pay attention to the clock, comparing it to watching the clock at the end of the school day.
Dora The Explorer also made appearances throughout the game to explain terms like “offsides” and “holding” in a way that was easily understandable for young viewers. The broadcast used colored lines on the screen to represent field position, making it easy for kids to transition to the adult broadcast, as they already knew what each color represented.
But it was the moments where Eagle and Burleson simply called the game in a way that kids could understand, along with ongoing commentary from Spongebob and Patrick, that made the broadcast truly special. Their witty remarks and playful banter added an extra layer of fun to the game. They would make humorous observations like a player going the wrong way or recite helpful tips like firmly gripping the ball. Even during overtime, they changed the words to one of Spongebob’s famous songs, “Best Day Ever,” and the entire booth joined in singing.
The Nickelodeon broadcast also incorporated various characters from Bikini Bottom, such as Sandy Cheeks as a sideline reporter and Squidward spending most of the game in line for the bathroom. The whole experience was chaotic, unhinged, and utterly delightful. It provided a pitch-perfect entry into the world of professional sports for kids who may have been interested in the Super Bowl for the first time.
While the Nickelodeon broadcast was undoubtedly entertaining, it’s important to remember that it was driven by advertising dollars and the goal of turning young viewers into NFL fans. However, having a broadcast like this available every week would undoubtedly make the NFL and society as a whole more enjoyable. It would bring back the element of fun that sometimes gets lost in the midst of the commercialization and seriousness of professional sports.
In conclusion, if you found yourself feeling cold towards yesterday’s Super Bowl LVIII, it’s because you were watching the wrong broadcast. The Nickelodeon feed, with its unique and entertaining approach, provided a refreshing and fun experience for both kids and adults. It’s a broadcast that I would love to see more often, as it reminds us that sports are meant to be enjoyable and entertaining.
