The show highlighted blues music and also had performances by the rock band ZZ Top and singer James Brown.

[3] The New York Times reported on January 29, 1997 that Patterson had been working with bungee cords that were being handled by volunteers who had received little training.

A title-graphic commemorating Patterson and acknowledging her death was displayed during the TV broadcast of the Super Bowl.

Steve Johnson of the Chicago Tribune heavily criticized the show, particularly The Blues Brothers, likening the inclusion of ZZ Top and James Brown to placing prime roast beef "between moldy white bread".

[6] Also in 2019, Roy Trakin and Jem Aswad of Variety ranked as one of the six "least memorable" Super Bowl halftime shows.

The segment was criticized as undermining the upstart Fox News Channel's journalistic integrity, as well as Crier's own.