As the world comes to a halt this Sunday afternoon to take time out and watch the big football game (not to mention all $2.5 million 30 second commercial spots), Fox will have the challenge of making sure that the fans don’t switch the channel or snooze through the halftime show. Perhaps even more important, Fox wants to avoid bad publicity, such as the Justin Timberlake / Janet Jackson incident, at all costs.

For Superbowl XLII this upcoming Sunday, Fox is banking this year’s halftime show hopes on Tom Petty and the Heatbreakers. It’s a bit of a gamble for Fox, as Tom Petty is well liked by his fan base, has 17 Grammy award nominations, and several platinum records, but perhaps does not have the international appeal of a Prince or Rolling Stones type of name. Further, instead of a peppy Jon Bovi performance that would get the crowd out of their seats, Petty’s music appears more likely to inspire audiences to lay out a blanket and fetch a pack of smokes.

Tom Petty was recently the headlining performer at Austin City Limits in 2006 and received good, but not overwhelming reviews. Many people stated that his songs are awesome on a CD, but hearing it live doesn’t really enhance the music all that much. Others claim that his fan base is pretty homogenous and his music doesn’t appeal to people of different backgrounds.

So why get a band that doesn’t appeal to an audience as broad as the Superbowl? Apparently Fox thinks that the gamble could significantly pay off. Maybe the Superbowl appearance will win over some new fans for Petty. Perhaps Petty’s music will be different than his typical concerts, and it will be a high energy show. And on the other hand, perhaps the Superbowl has just run out big names that perform high energy acts. There are only so many Princes and Rolling Stones out there. And anyone who knows how hard it is to put a lineup together can tell you that bringing in a top name that creates buzz every single year is pretty close to impossible.

Whether you are a Tom Petty fan or not, after the halftime show this Sunday, there is a good chance that you will lean over to someone at the party and give your opinion on if the show was a boon or a bust.

I thought that Tom Petty did exceptionally well during the half-time show. The songs picked showed his best side, and the energy really added to the show. All in all, including the game, it was the best superbowl in recent memory.