10 memorable moments from Super Bowl halftime shows

The Super Bowl halftime show used to be a time when viewers around the world would reload their nacho/wing plates and make their pit stops, hopefully not simultaneously. Now, though, the halftime show has established itself as must-watch; more people watched last year's show with Madonna than watched the actual game. To keep the world's attention, you've got to bring some serious game. Here are the 10 most impressive moments from a half-century of halftime shows. Hold onto your wardrobes. – By Jay Busbee

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3. Michael Jackson (Super Bowl XXVII, 1993): It's tough to overstate how awful Super Bowl halftime shows used to be. Just a few years before this one, the featured entertainment included George Burns, Chubby Checker and a magician named, yes, "Elvis Presto." (Yes, really.) Once someone finally realized that the most-watched TV show of the year actually could attract some of the top musical talent in the world, halftimes took a huge leap forward ... more
3. Michael Jackson (Super Bowl XXVII, 1993): It's tough to overstate how awful Super Bowl halftime shows used to be. Just a few years before this one, the featured entertainment included George Burns, Chubby Checker and a magician named, yes, "Elvis Presto." (Yes, really.) Once someone finally realized that the most-watched TV show of the year actually could attract some of the top musical talent in the world, halftimes took a huge leap forward in quality. We all owe MJ a debt of gratitude, otherwise we'd still be watching unknown gymnastics troupes desperately gyrating for our attention. less