Nope, this isn't some scheme to get on Last Comic Standing. It's the cost of a 30-second Super Bowl ad, according to The Wall Street Journal. Despite a struggling economy, the price is up more than 10 percent from last year's figure of $2.7 million, in part due to record ratings for Super Bowl XLII, which drew the largest television viewing audience — 97.4 million people — of any sporting event in the United States.

If you're feeling nostalgic (or, more likely, extremely bored), here are videos of every commercial that aired last year. Also, the 10 worst commercials of all time are here. Don't say we can't help you waste away the day.