At least we didn’t have to worry about seeing another boob at halftime. And if this year’s act really felt like flashing the millions watching, he might have confused some, but not nearly as many as “Nipplegate 2004.”

This year leading the Super Bowl halftime hysteria was the one, the only, Sir Paul McCartney. This former Beatle was the safe choice, in the eyes of many, for artists this year, following the infamous Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake “unveiling” last year.

The anticipated halftime show was refreshing compared to some of the past, which is clear looking back at past acts.

Even at the ripe age of six when I started watching the Bowl (mind you that was when the Bills were actually noteworthy), it was noticeable that while the halftime performance was filled with fireworks, flashy dancing and big name artists, there was just always something a bit off.

Looking back at Super Bowl XXV’s line-up, in the first attempt to bring a contemporary pop act to the stage, Disney brought New Kids on the Block. I’m not going to touch that one, just take it for face value.

But looking at it in a different light, aside from the obvious musical talent overflowing there, that year was one of the first years, and few in history, that only one act would take the stage, instead of having a plethora of artists.

To illustrate that, we’ll jump to Super Bowl XXIX, featuring Patti LaBelle, Tony Bennett, Arturo Sandoval and Miami Sound Machine (still including Ms. Gloria Estefan). Now, this is before those in charge of scheduling made the active decision to book acts for the same event in order to leave the watchers utterly perplexed.

This arrangement of acts, though a little bizarre, came at a time when we were used to the flashy costumes, the dance music and the big name stars. Yet anytime Miami Sound Machine is included in the mix, my stomach just starts to turn.

Things got progressively worse in the next three years, where Super Bowl XXXIII included Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan (her count’s up to two), Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Savion Glover. Though this performance still held together, I’m not really sure how. The public can see the ones in charge were either aiming for controversial mixes, using a recipe for disaster or just deciding the line-up based on a game of darts.

The following year, Disney, yet again, pulled a classic move in Super Bowl history. Phil Collins took center stage, soon followed by a then-cleaner Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias when he still had a career, Toni Braxton pre-retirement and an 80-person choir.

Sad thing, I clearly remember sitting in my family room watching this with friends and all of us collectively scratching our heads.

Maybe we were just too na