Super Bowl XLVII: 3 things to watch for before, during & after the game

Sunday February 3, 2013 9:10 AM By Kirthana Ramisetti

Photo credit: Getty Images | Beyonce performs the national anthem at the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show news conference at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. (Jan. 31, 2013)

Super Bowl XLVII airs tonight, featuring a faceoff between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers. It’s a heavily anticipated matchup, especially since brothers John and Jim Harbaugh coach the Ravens and 49ers, respectively, the first time two siblings have coached against each other in the Super Bowl. And local football fans will be cheering on Ravens' running back Ray Rice, who attended high school in New Rochelle.

There's plenty to see during one of the most-watched televised events on the planet even if you aren’t a football fan. Here are three things to watch for on Super Bowl Sunday.

1. Beyonce’s halftime show: After Beyonce stirred up controversy for lip-synching the national anthem at President Barack Obama’s second presidential inauguration in January -- and just admitted to doing so at a Thursday news conference -- the pop star has a lot to prove at her Super Bowl halftime gig.

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The singer, who owns a home in Scarsdale, has not backed down from the intense interest in her halftime show in the wake of the controversy. Instead, she only added fuel to the fire by promising a genuine performance, saying, "I will also be absolutely singing live." She also has offered tantalizing previews of her upcoming show by posting photos and videos of her rehearsal on her Tumblr page. 

The halftime show also has been beset by rumors of a Destiny’s Child reunion, which was seemingly confirmed Saturday when an NFL cheerleader told Hollywoodlife.com that Beyonce has been rehearsing with former bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.  

With rumors of the reunion and perhaps even an appearance by her husband, Jay-Z, Beyonce’s halftime set might even be more anticipated than the game itself.

Westchester County also will be represented at the game before kickoff, with Bedford's Rob Thomas and his band, Matchbox Twenty, performing during the Super Bowl pregame show.

2. Super Bowl commercials: This year’s batch of ads features the usual suspects, including Anheuser-Busch, Doritos, Go Daddy and E-Trade. There are also quite a few stars making an appearance in the commercials, including Kate Upton and Usher for Mercedes-Benz, the Rock for the “Got Milk?” campaign, Amy Poehler for Best Buy and YouTube sensation Psy (yes, that “Gangnam Style” guy) for ... pistachios. Really.

3. Postgame TV show: It’s a TV tradition to air a special episode of an up-and-coming show after the Super Bowl. This year, it’s the hit procedural “Elementary,” starring Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as his sidekick Watson. The show features a local connection: Aidan Quinn, who has called Palisades and High Falls home, has a prominent supporting role on the show. So if you haven’t tuned in to “Elementary” before, you’ll have your chance after the game.

What are you looking forward to most about this year’s Super Bowl? Let us know in the comments. And if you're looking for somewhere to watch the action, here are some Hudson Valley parties.

Tags: New Rochelle , Scarsdale , Super Bowl , Beyonce , TV