Halftime entertainment at the Super Bowl has soared in the last decade or so, with so many big names taking to the stage, it rivaled the big names in the prospective locker rooms mere yards away.

I'll be really interested to see this year's program, since it'll be the first outdoor event in a northern location - yep, winter elements are in play!

Bruno Mars will be this year's headliner, and I think he's a good choice. Bruno, a journeyman performer from Honolulu, has a lot of old-school '70s and '80s influences, and should put on a great show. He boasts such chart-toppers as "Just The Way You Are," "Grenade" and "When I Was Your Man."

Mars, joined by Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Red Hot Chili Peppers, will pick up the torch left by Beyonce and Destiny's Child, who performed last year at the Superdome. Madonna headlined in 2012, and The Black Eyed Peas gave it their all in 2011.

But for my money, the magic time began in 2004, when Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction stole the show from Kid Rock and Justin Timberlake. Paul McCartney crooned the following year, The Rolling Stones invaded Ford Field in 2006, Prince headlined next and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers pulled off a great set in 2008. Bruce Springsteen towed the E Street Band into Tampa for the 2009 event and tore the place down, and The Who finished the decade of monster rock at the big event in 2010.

Prior to all this, marching bands strutted their stuff more often than not, just as they did during college bowl games of the era. Up With People headlined a few times in the '70s and '80s, and such non-rockers as Carol Channing, Ella Fitzgerald and Andy Williams finally gave way to large extravaganzas like Disney's big shindig at the 1984 event at Tampa Stadium.

Disney added its magic to a few more events, and then in 1992, Gloria Estefan performed along with ice skaters Brian Boitano and Dorothy Hamill at the Metrodome.

They were followed by Michael Jackson's "Heal The World" production at the Rose Bowl in 1993, and ever since, the event has featured over-the-top entertainment for the crowd at the stadium and all those sitting at home with a beer in one hand and a hot wing in the other.

This year's event comes at you on Feb. 2, from East Rutherford, N.J., home of the New York Giants. And there are plenty of ways to enjoy the game:

* If you're a fan of one of the teams participating.

* If you just like to sit on the arm of the sofa and concentrate on the witty-but-oh-so-expensive commercials that run throughout the broadcast.

* If you've been invited over and you just showed up to snarf up free pizza, beer, wings, nachos and maybe a chocolate lava cake for dessert (before you spend the second half indisposed).

* If you're only tuning in to see another wardrobe malfunction (this might be tough - I suspect there'll be multiple layers involved in the chilly environment this year).

Whatever the case, enjoy the Super Bowl, which I predict 10 years from now will be played about a month before training camp opens for the following season.

Jerry Hitchcock will enjoy the game in the office, but the pizza and other goodies will be present as always. Don't try to reach him at 664-8176, Ext. 2017, or via email at [email protected] during the game - he'll be too busy critiquing the commercials for a future column.