Super Bowl XXIII halftime show

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Super Bowl XXIII halftime show
Joe Robbie Stadium
ThemeBeBop Bamboozled in 3-D
SponsorDiet Coke
DirectorDan Witkowski
ProducerMagiCom Entertainment
Super Bowl halftime show chronology
XXII
(1988) 		XXIII
(1989) 		XXIV
(1990)

The Super Bowl XXIII halftime show took place on January 22, 1989 at

magic trick
.

Selection of MagiCom Entertainment as producer

The NFL was looking to find new producers and ideas for its halftime shows in the years 1988, 1989, and 1990.[1] NFL officials met with several individuals, among them was Dan Witkowski, a veteran stage illusionist and owner of the small company MagicCom, [1] He did not give them specifics for a show at the meeting, but rather asked for the opportunity to give a formal presentation to them, which was granted.[1] To pique the interest of the league officials, Witkowski put a padlock on the leather-bound pitch books he sent to the member of the league's halftime show selection committee ahead of his presentation.[1][2] After his presentation, Witkowski and his company were given the opportunity to co-produce the 1988 Super Bowl pre-game show (as a dry-run of sorts) in addition to the 1989 halftime show.[1]

Production

The halftime show created was titled "BeBop Bamboozled".[1][3]

It was decided that the show would have a

choreographer for an individual cast, who had previously played Elvis on Broadway.[1] When that individual backed out, Cole was cast in his place.[1] The vocals of "Elvis Presto" were pre-recorded, performed by Jody LoMedico.[1]

The show featured roughly 2,000[2] South Florida-area dancers and performers.[1][3] Among the choreographers was June Taylor.[2] Donald Pippin was in charge of the music.[1]

A number of magic tricks had been considered by Witkowski.

card trick.[1]

The show also featured the use of 102 custom-made

motorcycles, as well as pink Cadillacs and fireworks.[1][2][5]

Several scenes included computer generated

1988 Writers Guild of America Strike.[1] This made the show the first 3D television event to be broadcast.[6] Coca-Cola manufactured 26 million pairs of 3D glasses, despite the Super Bowl having a much greater audience.[1]

Synopsis

The show began with a pre-taped introduction by Bob Costas, followed by the 3D Diet Coke commercial.[1]

The show then began with "Elvis Presto" (an Elvis Presley impersonator), the performance's emcee, appearing from inside a jukebox.[1]

Various songs were performed. Ironically, none of them were Elvis Presley songs.

Among the stunts in the show was the appearance of dancers defying gravity by leaning horizontally against

parking meters.[1]

3D visual graphics were incorporated into the broadcast.[1]

A card trick was performed. Presto urged the stadium audience to pick one of four cards, and an

applause meter indicated which card the audience had chosen.[1]

Setlist

Critical reception

Writing for the Sun Sentinel, Jack Zink compared the show to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He also opined that the "pregame entertainment was more enjoyable".[7] Many outlets have retrospectively ranked the show as among the worst halftime performances.[8][9][10][11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Rossen, Jake (February 4, 2018). "Oral History: The Strangest Super Bowl Halftime Show Ever". Mental Floss. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e Mandell, Nina (24 January 2014). "25 years ago, a Super Bowl halftime show changed halftime shows forever". For The Win. USA Today. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Super Bowl History – Entertainment". National Football League. 2011. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  4. ^ Andrews, Travis (February 2, 2018). "From Elvis Presto to Michael Jackson: How the Super Bowl halftime show found its groove". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  5. ^ Tebbutt, Chris (2 October 2020). "Elvis Presto to Political Statements: The Growth of The Super Bowl Half Time Show!". Gridiron Hub. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  6. ^ J. Knapfel. "How an Elvis Impersonator Helped Change Super Bowl History". VIPTickets.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  7. ^ Zink, Jack (January 23, 1989). "COULD CALL IT: 'BEFLOP BAMBOOZLED' IT WAS A FINE TIME TO WAIT FOR BEER". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  8. ^ King, Matt (27 January 2013). "10 Worst Super Bowl Halftime Shows Ever". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  9. ^ Pevos, Edward (5 February 2017). "These trainwrecks are the 10 worst Super Bowl halftime shows ever". mlive. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Watch: The best and worst of all 51 Super Bowl halftime shows". Dallas News. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  11. ^ Tallent, Aaron (9 February 2021). "Ranking Every Super Bowl Halftime Show". AthlonSports.com. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
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