By now, you’ve probably seen and heard enough about most of last night’s Super Bowl commercials (maybe you’ve even seen this ranking of the top 10 commercials) that another Super Bowl commercial post is the last thing your hangover needs this morning. After all, you saw a great deal of the spots before the Super Bowl even aired. However, there was one Super Bowl ad you almost certainly didn’t see unless you live in Nebraska.

The ad is a continuation of those Old Milwaukee ads that Will Ferrell is mysteriously appearing in (for free). The first set in December were aired only in Davenport, Iowa, but last night’s was shown during halftime in a small area in Nebraska. Why Nebraska? Who the hell knows. What is the word bleeped out at the end of the commercial? Who the hell knows? Why isn’t there ONE decent copy of the ad anywhere on the Internet? Who the hell knows? It’s all part of the mystery, which will only be explained — I’m told — if Anchorman 2 finally gets a studio greenlight.

Three years ago today, we were subjected to Gilly for the first time – and we still haven’t quite recovered.

Since “SNL” premiered in 1975, the show has seen more than 800 recurring characters, according to the indispensable SNL Archives. Many have been hilarious and used sparingly (like Blue Öyster Cult cowbell player Gene Frenkle), but many more have been dreadful, overexposed, and increasingly nerve-grating through repetition. Because obviously unfunny characters become funnier the more they’re featured.

Here are 10 “SNL” recurring characters who should have stopped after an appearance or two (minimum four appearances), including the three-year-old Gilly. Finally, she actually has something to say “sorry” for.

Character: Church Lady
Played by: Dana Carvey
Appearances: 21

The Church Lady was funny at the beginning, like when “she” interviewed Tammy Faye and Jim Baker (Jan Hooks and Phil Hartman), but grew increasingly obnoxious after the fifth, tenth, fifteenth, twentieth, and, finally, twenty-first appearance, ranging from 1986-2011. (It’s a weird feeling when an ongoing “SNL” sketch is older than you are.) Special? Not quite.

Character: Billy Smith
Played by: Fred Armisen
Appearances: 4

Doesn’t it seem like the “joke” of most of Fred Armisen’s characters is that they’re not funny? Take Native American comic Billy Smith, for instance. Here’s a transcript from a 2003 episode:

Billy Smith: It sure is a pleasure to be here in New York. Is anybody here from out of town? How about you, where do you come from?
Jimmy Fallon: Uh…I’m from upstate.
Billy: Sorry.
Jimmy: I said, I’m from upstate New York.
Billy: I know! And I’m greatly sorry! Do you see? I am disparaging the place of your birth!

The intentional non-joke joke is rarely funny; it only works when the subject material is really dark, like when Lars Von Trier made his infamous “I’m a Nazi” joke. It also helps to have “FU*K” tattooed on your knuckles.

Character: Leon Phelps
Played by: Tim Meadows
Appearances: 19

There have been 11 movies based on nine “SNL” characters, from 1980’s The Blues Brothers to 2010’s MacGruber. Most of them, to put it gently, HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE. But only three have Rotten Tomatoes scores under 15%: It’s Pat, A Night at the Roxbury, and The Ladies Man, the worst of the trio. Why? The Pat movie itself isn’t funny, at all, but the IDEA of a Pat movie is fantastic, while Roxbury stars Will Ferrell, which at least gives it some credibility. The Ladies Man, as a character, is just BAD; Tim Meadows always seemed so desperate for a laugh, which took away the entire point of the supposedly “cool” character. Plus, that lisp!

Character: Opera Man
Played by: Adam Sandler
Appearances: 10

Canteen Boy/Cajun Boy/Herlihy Boy > Opera Man

Character: Christy Henderson
Played by: David Spade
Appearances: 7

I wanted to include David Spade’s Total Bastards Airline “Buh-Bye” guy, but he only appeared in two sketches. So, instead we have Christy from the Gap Girls series, which realllyyy hasn’t aged well.

Character(s): Marty and Bobbi Culp
Played: Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer
Appearances: 21

In his seven seasons on “SNL,” Will Ferrell played 27 original recurring characters. Most of them — including Frank Henderson, Jeffrey’s Supervisor, and Jacob Silj — were classics. But there were a few duds, too, like the Culps. Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer played two unhip music teachers who sang modern classics by DMX and Pink, and though they both do their best to make the material funny (and it kind of was at first), it’s hard to find THAT much humor in the duo singing Nine Days’ “Absolutely (Story of a Girl).” Over 20 appearances for a one-joke act was too much, particularly when it’s just a rehash of Bill Murray’s Nick the Lounge Singer character.

Character: Mango
Played by: Chris Kattan
Appearances: 16

Mango, the exotic dancer you loved to hate, appeared on “SNL” 16 TIMES. By comparison, “The Blues Brothers” only had five sketches, while “Celebrity Jeopardy” had 14. That’s why I chose Kattan’s Mango over Mr. Peepers — he’s the epitome of an at-first vaguely amusing character getting run into the ground for reasons beyond comprehension. They needed to fill air-time? They needed to find someone who made Jennifer Lopez and Gwyneth Paltrow look humble(ish) by comparison. Who knows.

Character: Fericito
Played by: Fred Armisen
Appearances: 8

Fred Armisen is the only repeat offender on this list, but that’s what happens when you’re credited with 31 characters. Honestly, very few of them are any good, and Nicholas Fehn, Manuel Ortiz, or Gunther Kelly all could have been here instead. Fericito just bugs me the most because of that “womp-womp” thing he does EVERY DAMN TIME. Armisen should really just ditch playing a variety of “ethnic” roles on “SNL,” and instead solely focus on “Portlandia,” where he’s actually quite endearing.

Character(s): Wendy and Doug Whiner
Played by: Robin Duke and Joe Piscopo
Appearances: 10

As their name implies, they whined. A lot. In loud voices and stretched-out syllables. That’s it. They’re like if you took Paul Rudd’s character from Wet Hot American Summer, particularly the scene where he dramatically throws his body around while cleaning up his mess, but made him uncool, unfunny, and obnoxious, and did it TEN TIMES in two years.

Character: Gilly
Played by: Kristen Wiig
Appearances: 4

Looking for a good time on the Internet? Do a YouTube search for “Gilly Impression”:

What would you say is the toughest sitcom to have an encyclopedic knowledge of? “The Simpsons” is likely the first show that came to mind, considering it’s been on for 23 seasons and will soon air its 500th episode. Maybe “Seinfeld” or “Friends,” too. But a dark horse – possibly one ridden from Heaven by Thomas Jefferson – candidate is “30 Rock.” Unlike “The Simpsons,” “30 Rock” rarely has a coherent plot; the show’s nothing more than a string of time-spanning jokes and pop culture references (everything from a porn parody of Amadeus called I’m-a-Do-Us to Liz getting mad at her mom for not marrying Buzz Aldrin because she could have been played by Laura Linney in HBO’s Moon Wives), with dialogue so rapid fire that you remember individual lines more than actual scenes – and that’s why it’s so great.

To celebrate the beginning of the show’s sixth season, which airs tomorrow on NBC at 8 p.m., here are the 15 Greatest “30 Rock” Pop Culture References. And if you’ve ever participated in a “30 Rock” Trivia Night: props.

Episode: “The Fabian Strategy”
Pop Culture Reference(s): “Family Matters,” specifically Urkel

I would much rather be Siamese twins with Sharon Stone than have to start every sentence for the rest of my life with “Did I Do That?” I honestly don’t know why you’d pick Urkel, in any situation, ever.

Episode: “TGS Hates Women”
Pop Culture Reference(s): Steve Carell and “The Office”

Funny, but inaccurate. Any true pop culture connoisseur knows “that’s what she said” dates back to another NBC show: “SNL.” Chevy Chase said the phrase all the way back in 1975. The more you know…speaking of.

Episode: “Pilot”
Pop Culture Reference(s): Star Wars

Probably the first moment from “30 Rock” you remember, unless you really like that scene of Kenneth making Liz introduce herself to an NBC tour group. So, yeah, the Jedi thing.

Episode: “Operation Righteous Cowboy Lightning”
Pop Culture Reference(s): “Lost”

“30 Rock” has referenced “Lost” numerous times — from Jenna telling the writers that she met J.J. Abrams once and he told her that the Island’s just Hurley’s dream, to Jerry Seinfeld asking Jack if the show’s on NBC — but my favorite is the one above. It’s framed like a good pop culture reference should be: inserted randomly, said briefly, and then it’s on to the next joke. (Some sex-crazed comedian needs to write a book with that as a title.)

Episode: “Believe in the Stars”
Pop Culture Reference(s): “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and Oprah herself

At the time “Believe in the Stars” aired, it was incredibly over-hyped — this was the episode of “30 Rock” that got Oprah. THE Oprah. For a lot of people, that’s a big deal; for the Oprah haters, which I am one of, it only riled us up more. Three years later, with the hype all but forgotten, it’s easier to look back at this episode, and this scene in particular, and say: Oprah wasn’t that bad — but I still hate her.

Episode: “The Source Awards”
Pop Culture Reference(s): Nickelodeon

Every argument should end with, “I’m-a eat your family.”

Episode: “The Aftermath”
Pop Culture Reference(s): Theo Huxtable and Superman

Never forget: Freaky deakies need love, too.

Episode: “Queen of Jordan”
Pop Culture Reference(s): “Real Housewives” series

The entire episode is a spot-on parody of the Real Housewives of Whatever, and this is the best scene.

Episode: “Cooter”
Pop Culture Reference(s): Breaking the fourth wall

“Breaking the Fourth Wall” is used all the time in TV and movies, and that’s reason enough for me to include it. It’s not a solitary reference; it’s a reference to everything. Dennis Duffy would be proud.

Episode: “Anna Howard Shaw Day”
Pop Culture Reference(s): Don Cheadle

In which it became totally acceptable for a straight man to say that they want “Don Cheadle on a bed of rice.”

Episode: “Kidney Now!”
Pop Culture Reference(s): “We Are the World”

Elvis Costello, Steve Earle, Rhett Miller, and Ad-Rock and Mike D from Beastie Boys more than make up for the appearances of Clay Aiken, Wyclef Jean, Sara Bareilles, Sheryl Crow, Adam Levine, Norah Jones…yeah, there are a lot of terrible singers who sang the “We Are the World” parody “Kidney Now,” but the scene’s good enough that the mere sight of Moby’s sweaty head doesn’t make you immediately shiver in horror.

Episode: “Jack Gets in the Game”
Pop Culture Reference(s): Novelty party songs

From a New York Times article about the clip:

Robert Carlock, an executive producer of “30 Rock,” said he came up with the idea as the writers mulled the breakup of the marriage of Tracy, played by the comedian Tracy Morgan. In the box of detritus that his wife delivers to him is the gold record from his recording of “Werewolf Bar Mitzvah.”

“I imagined that Tracy probably went to a bar mitzvah and thought, “Why are there no bar mitzvah songs playing at this party?’” said Mr. Carlock, who wrote the segment along with Tami Sagher.

It took three days to prepare the set, a combination of a rented spooky backdrop, branches hanging from metal light stands and carved-foam Jewish tombstones. The segment was shot on video — four takes totaling about 15 minutes, Mr. Carlock said — and was intended to look shlocky, “like Tracy was rushing to get it done in time for bar mitzvah season.”

Episode: “The Moms”
Pop Culture Reference(s): Every ridiculous show NBC has tried to make a hit in the post-”Friends” era

Of the many fictional shows on “30 Rock,” including “Sports Shouting,” “Chums” (starring Russ and Rebecca, NOT Ross and Rachel), “Are You Stronger Than a Dog?”, and “TGS with Tracy Jordan,” my favorite is “Bitch Hunter.” NBC really should just say “fu*k it” and adapt it into a real series. I’d watch.

Episode: “Rosemary’s Baby”
Pop Culture Reference(s): Ann Curry, To Kill a Mockingbird, and “Good Times”

Alec Baldwin is the greatest.

Episode: “MILF Island”
Pop Culture Reference(s): Cathy

Here’s how much I love this scene: I prefer it over “The Simpsons”’ Cathy joke (in “Treehouse of Horror XI,” Homer comments that the comic strip has “too much baggage”). That’s not a compliment I give out every day, or ever.

For reasons that aren’t entirely clear, Will Ferrell approached the the Pabst Brewing Company last September and asked if he could make a series of commercials for their Old Milwaukee beer. For free. The only catch was, he wanted to do them in Davenport, Iowa. Why that is remains unclear, as Pabst is a Wisconsin company, and more mysterious is the fact that Old Milwaukee is a terrible beer. Seriously: Hobos will turn down Old Milwaukee: “No thanks, I’m fine with this cough syrup.”

Whatever the reason, the spots are airing in Davenport, and they’re inexplicably hilarious, although Ricky Bobby is supposed to wake up in the morning and piss excellence, not drink piss.

Check out the Old Milwaukee spots after the jump.

The original “Bewitched” aired from 1964-1972, and is probably best remembered for swapping out Dick York for Dick Sargent in 1969 like nothing happened. It was made into a movie starring Will Ferrell and Nicole Kidman in 2005 (Rotten Tomatoes score: 25%), earning $65 million domestically on an $85 million budget.

You know where this is going, right? CBS wants to reboot this wildly successful franchise.

CBS and Sony are developing a script for remake of the classic sitcom Bewitched. This is still in very early stages, but it’s definitely a project worth keeping an eye on.

Sony ushered the return of Charlie’s Angels and the producers of the clunky film version are on board. Can you imagine the 2011 pitch of this show, about an ordinary suburban businessman who discovers his wife has magical powers? “It’s Harry Potter meets Desperate Housewives!” [EW]

Let’s say that CBS’s ideal viewer of this reboot watched the entire show as a child. Hypothetically, this viewer might have been 9 years old when the show began, 17 when it concluded. That’s a birth year of 1955. Assuming the reboot would make it to air in 2012 or 2013, CBS’s target viewing audience will be 57 or 58 years old. And do you know what that means? CBS is going after a younger audience.

The last time Conan O’Brien appeared on TV without a beard, he was playing rhythm guitar while Will Ferrell sang “Freebird” to close out O’Brien’s final “Tonight Show.” On last night’s “Conan,” Ferrell appeared on the TBS show for the first time, and made a big to-do about getting rid of the host’s whiskers (video below).

It would have been a cute little story for Tuesday morning if the show hadn’t been taped in the wake of Osama Bin Laden’s death. Trying to care about some TV host’s beard when America’s #1 enemy for the last decade has just been killed is too frivolous even for me, and I LOVE frivolous bullsh*t. I mean, this is a TV blog that focuses on dogs wearing sunglasses half the time because Hollywood industry news isn’t frivolous enough. I am an expert in things that don’t matter, and this really takes the cake.

Conan O’Brien has repeatedly stated that his beard isn’t permanent, and it appears that its days are officially numbered. Apparently, Will Ferrell — who shared the stage with Conan the last time O’Brien appeared on TV clean-shaven — will shave every “rusty pube” from O’Brien’s face when he visits the show on May 2nd.

I suppose some people will talk about how the beard is a symbol of the New Conan that launched the successful national tour in the wake of his exit from NBC blah blah blah, but I’d prefer not to wax nostalgic about it. It’s just facial hair. It’s not like John Travolta’s divorcing Kelly Preston.

The Office / Parks and Recreation / Community / 30 Rock (NBC) — NBC’s stalwart comedies finally return with new episodes, with Will Ferrell’s four-episode stint on “The Office” beginning tonight.

The Paul Reiser Show (NBC) — Series premiere. Obviously, Paul Reiser stars in this rip-off of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” which has been getting panned by critics who like “Curb” as well as those who don’t. It’s got nothing for everybody!

American Idol (Fox) — Kelly Clarkson and Rihanna are scheduled to appear and sing a duet. Oh man, I hope Kelly Clarkson’s dropped some pounds since the last time I saw her. Otherwise just keep the cameras on Rihanna, thanks. I’m kinda in love with her (although I suspect she may not be a natural redhead).

Vampire Diaries (The CW) — Hey, female audience! I’m catering to you here. I hear that Klaus is going to appear at the dance tonight. Is Elena gonna freak or what?!? Totes excited.

Archer (FX) — Archer goes in search of his real father behind enemy lines in Russia. ”Not many women could bring me to orgasm in front of my mother. I don’t think.”

LATE NIGHT GUESTS: Pay attention! There’s some goodness in here: Matthew Morrison, Alexis Bledel, and Queens of the Stone Age on Conan; Ricky Gervais on “The Daily Show”; Caroline Kennedy on Colbert; Tyler Perry and Kendra Wilkinson on Leno; Seth Meyers, Carmelo Anthony, and TV on the Radio on Letterman; and Alison Brie on Kimmel (second guest). Hell yes Alison Brie. Also, Tyler Perry is the Leno-est black celebrity on the planet. Full listings at TV Squad.

With Steve Carell leaving “The Office,” NBC is turning to Will Ferrell for a multi-episode arc that will take place as Carell’s character, Michael Scott, leaves the Scranton branch.

Ferrell has committed to a four-episode arc on NBC’s comedy The Office. He will play a branch manager who comes from the home office and is just as inappropriate as Steve Carell’s Michael Scott character. NBC is still figuring out exactly when the episodes will air, but Ferrell has committed to one episode beyond Carell’s finale, to help create a bridge.

Ferrell called the producers, offering his services because he’s a fan and wanted to commemorate Carell’s swan song by taking part in The Office star’s seventh and final season on the show. Ferrell and Carell are close friends who co-starred in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. [Deadline]

Is anyone else bothered by the fact that Carell and Ferrell have such similar surnames that don’t rhyme? Maybe it has something to do with this debilitating hangover, but I keep spelling Carell with two R’s and Ferrell with one R. Nevertheless, I’d appreciate it if these two would respect my alcoholism and stay out of each other’s news stories.

Last summer, Jon Heder (pictured here with a goat) was cast as the lead in a Comedy Central series written and produced by comedy heavyweights Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. It seemed like the right career move after a series of movie roles in which his hair did most the acting. But no: Heder has pulled out of the project two days before shooting (like your dad should have).

Heder’s decision to ankle the show came just two days before the show’s March 31 production start. In a briefly-worded statement, the actor said he ultimately didn’t approve of his character’s direction…

Heder’s departure leaves what was to be an ambitious series committment up in the air. Comedy Central had ordered an initial 10 episodes of the series, with an option for 90 more… [It] also comes just two weeks after Chris Parnell and Horatio Sanz joined the cast. [Variety]

Good for Jon! With his star power and track record, he has every right to demand control of his character’s direction. That kind of selectivity is what gave us cinematic gems like The Benchwarmers, School for Scoundrels, and When in Rome. Just who the hell is this “Will Ferrell” person and what does he know about comedy anyway?