A Great Super Bowl Halftime Show in the Works!

The last Super Bowl show I actually watched was #4, when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Minnesota Vikings, confirming what the previous bowl had hinted at: that the old AFL was on a parity with the NFL. I just lost interest in pro football at that time and nothing has re-sparked it since.

But when Super Bowl XXXVI included Paul McCartney, I made a point of tuning in when I guessed he would be on. I guessed right. Surrounding him with inane cheerleaders as Macca prepared to sing the anthemic, Freedom, was a bit silly. But it was good to see the world's most popular and, I think, most accomplished, musician perform at what has become a kind of world celebration.

In the wake of last year's fiasco, the NFL appears to be intent on "cleaning up its act," offering a show not by shallow, would-be musicians like those who headlined last year's halftime program, and to instead, employ McCartney's massive talents. While I can't imagine watching the game, I will check the telly from time to time, watching for Macca's performance.

Below is the press release I received three days ago from McCartney's organization:

NFL SCORES PAUL McCARTNEY FOR
AMERIQUEST MORTGAGE
SUPER BOWL XXXIX HALFTIME SHOW ON FOX

Legendary rocker PAUL McCARTNEY will perform in the Ameriquest Mortgage Super Bowl XXXIX Halftime Show on FOX at ALLTEL Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday, February 6, the NFL announced today.

“We are extremely pleased to work again with Paul McCartney, one of the greatest musicians of our time, to create a memorable show,” said Steve Bornstein, the NFL’s executive vice president of media.

Added Bornstein, who will oversee the show for the NFL, “As one of the world’s most beloved artists and incomparable live entertainers, Paul McCartney will deliver an inspirational performance.”

"There's nothing bigger then being asked to perform at the Super Bowl," said McCartney. "We're looking forward to rocking the millions at home and in the stadium."

"We're thrilled Sir Paul McCartney has agreed to perform at halftime of Super Bowl XXXIX," said FOX Sports Chairman David Hill. "He is the world's most influential rock artist, and his music has been part of our culture for 30 years. He, more than any other musician, lives up to this year's Super Bowl theme of Building Bridges. His music bridges generations, countries, cultures and musical genres. I'm also sure that the duet Paul performed with Terry Bradshaw at Super Bowl XXXVI was such a major event, that he couldn't wait to reunite with Terry in Jacksonville."

This will be McCartney’s second Super Bowl appearance. He provided a memorable pre-game performance at Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans in 2002, the first Super Bowl after the tragic events of September 11.

As the climax to the pregame show and immediately prior to the singing of the two traditional anthems “America The Beautiful” and “The Star-Spangled Banner”, McCartney performed “Freedom,” a new anthem reflecting the spirit of freedom.

Watched by a record 144.4 million viewers in the U.S. last year, the Super Bowl is annually the nation’s highest-rated TV program and the most-watched single-day sporting event. The game also will be broadcast in more than 200 countries worldwide. Game time is 6 p.m. ET.

Emmy-Award winning Don Mischer Productions will produce the Ameriquest Mortgage Super Bowl XXXIX Halftime Show starring Paul McCartney.