• Tech Crunch, Monday, February 7, 2011 11:48 AM

Daily deal leader Groupon made its Super Bowl debut last night, and -- as is often the case with such spots -- reactions were mixed. The celebrity-infused quasi-controversial ads spoofed popular causes like declining whale populations and deforestation -- suggesting that instead of saving the whales or saving the rain forests, we should all "Save The Money."

Says Techcrunch: "Well, Groupon certainly isn't afraid of rustling a few feathers ... They're a little weird, and likely to spark waves of debate and plenty of extra publicity." So as not to appear too cruel, Groupon's Save The Money site is featuring offers for various charitable organizations. Making a $15 donation to GreenPeace, for example, will get you $15 in Groupon Credit. As TechCrunch notes, Groupon rival LivingSocial ran a Super Bowl ad as well, which tells the story of a LivingSocial addict.

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