The Black Eyed Peas' Super Bowl Half-Time Show Flopped

For the first time since the "Nipple Gate" debacle at Super bowl XXXVIII in 2004, the halftime show for America's biggest sporting event decided to reach outside of the AARP-eligible crowd for performers. Unfortunately for fans of quality entertainment, the Black Eyed Peas were chosen.

From the moment Fergie, Will.i.am., apl.de.ap, and Taboo dropped from above and were handed their microphones by luminescent people who actually walked out of view instead of dancing, ascending to the ceiling or muzzling the group, the show had "worst halftime show in recent memory" written all over it. I found myself wishing that Christina Aguilera could come back out and manage to extend the "National Anthem" to a full 10 minutes with her overkill variety of vocal gymnastics and selective memory. The Black Eyed Peas were honestly that bad.

I disliked The Who's performance last year, but I would have been waving a glow stick in support of The Who had I known this would follow.

It isn't because I don't like the Black Eyed Peas.

I don't, but I can appreciate a good show when I see one. I didn't see one.

Of the four members of the group, only Will.i.am. presented himself well during the program. When he performed his lyrics, he was largely on target, effective and consistent. When Fergie was on the microphone, she was almost always off-key, disconnected and scary. Some may seek to blame this on audio issues, but that the show was plagued with audio problems was a blessing in disguise that allowed fans to enjoy the glow stick dancers without having to fumble for the "Mute" button whenever Fergie came into focus.

The show did manage to perk up slightly when Usher appeared to sing "OMG." I hoped that the Peas were done at this point and Usher would manage to somehow salvage this catastrophe, but, after a killer split-move, he evaporated and the Black Eyed Peas continued with their over-packed medley (there were snippets of at least six songs performed).

Between the halftime show and Christina Aguilera's nearly unforgivable performance, the NFL has demonstrated that the entertainment portions of the telecast need to be outsourced to professionals who can ensure audio quality and performance quality. How the Black Eyed Peas and Aguilera's stylizations of the "Star-Spangled Banner" made it past their first rehearsal is a testament to this.