Just For Fun:

STEP 1 - INVITE FRIENDS

This step is relatively important. Since 130 million Americans will be watching the game, chances are your friends will be too, so give them adequate notice. And, just as die-hard football fans will no doubt be wearing the duds of their favorite team, encourage your friends to come dressed in gear designed to show their loyalty to their all-time favorite big game ad. Look, it’s Mean Joe Greene!

STEP 2 - EMBRACE THE MIRACLES OF TECHNOLOGY (OPTIONAL)

Maybe you already dropped two grand on a widescreen, high-definition plasma TV. If so, congratulations! Now chip in another 50 bucks (after most rebates) and get yourself a digital video recorder (a la TiVo). Now you can pause and rewind your favorite commercials, thus doubling your SpotBowl party pleasure!

By the way, just to prove that we’re not secretly working for the DVR industry, we should remind you that you don’t even have to subscribe to the monthly service in order to enjoy the previously mentioned pausing and rewinding features.

STEP 3 - PREPARE APPROPRIATE COMMERCIAL WATCHING FOOD

The first rule of food for a SpotBowl party: There’s no such thing as too much grub. The second rule: Just like Thanksgiving, this hallowed Sunday feast is a no-holds-barred smorgasbord of gluttony and indulgence. Check your diet at the door and let your stomach get down with its bad self.

STEP 4 - PRINT SpotBowl BALLOTS

Go to SpotBowl.com and print out ballots to help your friends keep track of their favorite commercials. After the game, or during half time, they can visit the website to register their votes.

STEP 5 - GET YOUR GAME ON!

It’s a necessary evil, but every few minutes the network insists on interrupting the fun by airing a football game. To pass the time, gather your pals and play a variety of commercial-related games. Suggested pastimes include “Ad Trivia,” “Ad Charades,” or “Ad Improv” (have friends blurt out products, characters and settings to test your on-the-spot acting skills).

When the commercials come back on, separate the real fans from the poseurs by doing shots of nacho cheese sauce for every spot that features an animal or a pop star. (NOTE: If you took Step 3 to heart and went a little crazy at the grocery store, feel free to substitute the condiment of your choice during this exercise. After all, you’re never going to use an entire half-gallon of mayonnaise by yourself!)

STEP 6 - POST-GAME WRAP-UP

Guilt your friends into cleaning up while you collect the SpotBowl ballots and enter their selections at SpotBowl.com. Or have friends take turns entering their own ballots so you can “supervise” the cleaning efforts.