Super Bowl XLIII

February 1st, 2009 | 6:55 pm by Kate Spencer (@katespencer)

Jennifer Hudson Returns To The Stage At Super Bowl

We just got chills watching Jennifer Hudson sigh deeply before belting out a stunning version of the national anthem. Tonight’s Super Bowl performance was the first time that the Oscar winner has performed publicly since the brutal murder of her mother, brother and nephew, and she kicked some serious anthem booty. The singer owned the tiny stage, looked stunning in navy and gold and discreetly flaunted her massive engagement ring. But the most spectacular part of her performance was her voice, which was crisp, clear and crowd-pleasing. Jen’s still got it, and we’re glad she’s back to share her gift with us. [Photo: GettyImages]

January 30th, 2009 | 5:02 pm by Kate Spencer (@katespencer)

Ladies Love The Super Bowl Too

Lest you think football is just for the guys, we present to you this awesome “Single Ladies” parody, called “Steeler Ladies,” of course. To be fair, we’ve posted the “Cardinals Super Bowl Anthem” below too, so you can pick a favorite.

Scandalist will be here on Sunday afternoon, snacking on nachos and dishing on the best of the Bowl – commercials, cute stars, crazy fans – and oh yeah, the game. See you then!

January 30th, 2009 | 4:40 pm by VH1

5 For Friday: Rihanna Kicks Off Super Bowl Weekend

This morning, we gave you photos of Rihanna wearing a RoboCop version of her “Disturbia” getup at last night’s Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Bash in Tampa. Now we have a clip of the concert. (Full show here). Check out Rihanna twisting and gyrating her way through a live stage performance of “Disturbia” and “Breakin’ Dishes,” then kill time until Sunday’s kickoff by watching five of Rihanna’s hottest music videos after the jump.

2009 Wing Bowl Winner John Squib Eats 203 Chicken Wings

Congratulations, John Squib! “Super Squib” just won the the 17th Annual Wing Bowl in Philadelphia today by eating 203 chicken wings in 30 minutes—over 20 more wings than the runner-up. Squib almost didn’t get to compete at the competition, after he failed his initial attempt to eat six pounds of cottage cheese (one must complete such a feat to receive the honor of “Wing Bowl contestant”).

Squib promises to defend his title next year, which will see the return of professional eaters to the competition after the strictly “amateur” line-up of Pennsylvanians and Jerseyites today. Two-time winner Joey Chestnut, who downed 241 wings in 2008 is expected to be Squib’s primary challenger.

The Wing Bowl was created by a Philadelphia radio DJ in 1993, after he decided the Philadelphia Eagles would never make it to the Super Bowl, and that the city deserved an alternative sporting event to enjoy. Only in Philly, folks.

Meet some of the amazing contestants in the gallery below. Warning: not for the sauce-phobic.

January 30th, 2009 | 11:46 am by Matt Muro

RoboCop Rihanna: Hot Or Hideous?

Rihanna kicked off the Super Bowl festivities last night at VH1′s Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Bash in Tampa Bay wearing a futuristic wardrobe that’s almost impossible to describe. Is it made of some combination of plastic, satin and leather? We have no idea. But we like her Barack Obama fingernail and we’re pretty sure her knee pads are sturdy enough to survive a parachute jump gone bad. Does Rihanna make a hot RoboCop or should she put this look to rest?

Related Content: Rihanna’s Top 30 Hottest Outfits Ever

January 29th, 2009 | 3:38 pm by Anthony Miccio

Only One Cheerleading Team At The Super Bowl?

Is a cheer curse afoot? For the fourth year in a row, only one of the teams competing in the Super Bowl has its own cheerleading team. The Arizona Cardinal Cheerleaders have been thrusting its pom-poms for over thirty years, but the Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t had their own squad since the Steelerettes disbanded in 1969.

With only six of the thirty two teams in the NFL without squads, you’d think this wouldn’t be as common an occurrence as it is. But between the Steelers, the Packers (using college teams at home games since ’89) and the New York Giants (who’ve never had ladies on the sidelines), one sided cheering has happened at almost half the Super Bowls over the last twenty years. It’s practically a cheer crime!

While this obviously hasn’t hurt any of teams mentioned—though some Chicago Bears fans blame twenty-odd years without a Super Bowl win on the firing of the Honey Bears in 1986—it must be demoralizing for the Cardinals ladies to have no one to compete against at the big game (Steely McBeam doesn’t count). Should every team be forced to have cheerleaders, or should the NFL get rid of the objectification parade all together?

Related Scandalist Content: The Hottest Cheerleaders of 2008

[Photo: Getty Sport]

January 29th, 2009 | 3:17 pm by Matt Muro

Banned Super Bowl Ads: Too Sexy For TV?

Spike has done us all a favor by aggregating years worth of Super Bowl commercials. We’re sure sociologists could break down the sum total of American culture by watching them. But here at Scandalist we’re interested in only one question: Are the following ads too dirty for prime time or proof that America is one big puritanical beast? Watch the videos below and let us know whether you agree with our logic.

GoDaddy’s Basic Instinct Girl: Ban-Worthy Or Puritanical?

Synopsis: GoDaddy gratuitously gives you a Basic Intinct-esque glimpse between the legs of a model while urging you to buy a new web domain. Sure, it’s dirty. But is it any dirtier than the average cheerleader routine? Mark this down in the “puritanical” column.

Miller Lite Lesbian Mud Fight: Ban-Worthy Or Puritanical?

Synopsis: Comical violence. Girl-on-girl kiss. This is definitely explicit. But an action-filled Sapphic satire does us all a little good sometimes, no? Maybe Scandalist staffers are perverted, but we think the only dirty aspect of this ad is the mud in the tub.