Rejected Super Bowl ads

GoDaddy, GoBeaver

GoDaddy: The Internet domain name outfit has made a name for itself with salacious ads starring sexy girls in comical situations - but not all of them make it to air. GoDaddy has had 38 Super Bowl ads rejected since 2005.

The rejected ad: GoDaddy's long list of banned ads includes 2008's "Exposure," which features glamorous girls climbing out of limos in a sly reference to starlets getting caught by paparazzi without underwear.

Why it was rejected: "Fox did not approve of the word and references to 'beaver,' which GoDaddy CEO and Founder Bob Parsons did not want to remove," said Fox spokeswoman Elizabeth Driscoll.

Porn stars and plushies

Ashley Madison: The Internet dating service for adulterers recruited porn star Savanna Samson for an ad that Fox rejected for the 2011 Super Bowl.

The ad: In the ad, Samson plays an office worker who catches her husband cheating on her, so she decides to get busy with everybody in sight, including a man and a woman. Inspired by Samson's exuberance, her co-workers mess around with a four-legged friend (in this case, it's another beaver) and a plushie - a person who gets a thrill from dressing up like a stuffed animal.

Why it was rejected: "It's not that the ad itself is offensive in any way, shape or form," said Ashley Madison founder and chief executive Noel Biderman. "The nature of our business is one that they're not comfortable with." Ashley Madison offers an "X-rated" version of the ad on its web site.

Fox declined to explain specifically why it rejected the ad. "We do not provide information about materials that may or may not have been submitted for review, nor do we discuss our broadcast standards policies," said Fox spokesman Lou D'Ermilio.

Veggie Love

PETA: The organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has often used ads with naked celebrities to promote its anti-fur agenda and other animal rights causes.

The ad: In its "Veggie Love" ad for the 2009 Super Bowl, PETA aimed to promote vegetarianism by featuring scantily clad women cavorting with vegetables.

Why it was rejected: NBC rejected the ad because it "depicts a level of sexuality exceeding our standards," according to a copy of the rejection letter provided by PETA. In the letter, NBC listed eight different acts within the 30-second spot that it found unsuitable for prime time, including "licking pumpkin" and "rubbing pelvic region with pumpkin." NBC spokeswoman Liz Fischer told CNNMoney that "the ad was rejected because it didn't conform with our standards."

Naturally, it can still be viewed on PETA's web site.

Mano a mano

Mancrunch: The gay dating site wanted to air an ad during the 2010 Super Bowl, but was rejected by CBS.

The ad: The spot features two men who accidentally touch hands while watching football, prompting a make-out session between the two.

Why the ad was rejected: Elissa Buchter, spokeswoman for the dating site, called the rejection "straight-up discrimination." But CBS denied the allegations. "We are always open to working with a client on alternative submissions," said CBS spokeswoman Shannon Jacobs.

CBS said that finances were part of the problem, because it couldn't verify Mancrunch's credit status. Mancrunch said such charges were ridiculous, because it had offered to pay cash.

Jesushatesobama.com

JesusHatesObama: Richard Belfry, co-founder of a web site that sells clothing and mugs with his inflammatory message, says he's just trying to be funny and "outrageous."

The ad: His company's commercial uses bobble-head figures to represent Jesus and President Obama. the Obama figure ends up submerged in a fish bowl. "I just like to poke fun at some of the things going on in Washington," said Belfry, who describes himself as a "conservative comedian."

Why it was rejected: Fox failed to see the humor and rejected the spot for Super Bowl 2011. Fox spokesman Lou D'Ermilio wouldn't say specifically why his network rejected the ad. Jesushatesobama provided a copy of Fox's rejection email to CNNMoney, which said the "spot does not conform to network standards, so we will not be able to accept it."