Is there a bigger one-week slice of U.S. zeitgeist than the Super Bowl? We don't think so.

So as you prepare for your Super Bowl (or Super Bowl ads) party, be sure to check out the list of what's "in" and what's "out" in New Orleans this week. That way, you can be sure to impress fellow partygoers, not to mention the usual battery of people you impress with the Hot 'n' Not List: co-workers, drinking pals and the occasional hot date. (Hint: Unless you are an actual Patriots fan -- as opposed to a bandwagoneer who picked them up for this game only -- you are free to waffle between liking Drew Bledsoe and Tom Brady, all the way up through the fourth quarter! We offer a starting point below.)

What's Hot 'n' Not at Super Bowl XXXVI
Category	Hot	Not
Brady or Bledsoe	Bledsoe	Brady
Game-day music entertainment	Rock melange	Boy bands
Conventional wisdom -- offense	Throw, throw, throw	Give Dilfer the keys
Conventional wisdom -- defense	Wholesale revamp in offseason	Set records
Patriots fans' ideology	I'm just glad we're here	Hey, we can win this thing!
Gambling storyline	The over-under	The spread
Coaching card to play	Seek perfection	We get no respect
Anthem singer we’d like to see	Alicia Keys	Mariah Carey
Rising star	Troy Brown	Trung Canidate
Hurricane	Tailgate cocktail	College football champs
Style to emulate	Martz's arrogance	Belichick's charisma
Party	Anything by EA	Anything involving the NBA Hornets
Endorser	Tom Brady	Jerome Bettis
TV-ad theme	Patriotism	"Innovative" companies
Choke artists	Steelers	Vikings
Fashion statement	Mardi Gras beads	Retro logos
Off-field concern	Security	Gentlemen's clubs
High expectations	Faulk's yardage total	Use of instant replay
Best episode ever	Rams offense	Ravens defense
Conventional wisdom -- Kurt Warner	Best QB ever	A nice one-year story
Conventional wisdom -- Drew Bledsoe	Plays with heart	Heading to Texans
Conventional wisdom -- Kordell Stewart	Nah, overrated	Did we misjudge?
Count the camera shots on ...	Pats QB not in game	Kurt Warner's wife
Fan fave from Patriots' Super Bowl past	Tony Eason	Terry Glenn
Haircut style	Mrs. Warner’s SB XXXIV flat-top	Cornrows
"Where are they now file?" destiny	Adam Vinatieri	David Patten
You’ll be sick of players with ...	Camcorders	Their kids
Locker room policy	"Can I see your ID?"	All-access

Dan Shanoff is a regular contributor to Page 2. Agree or disagree with what's hot? Want to send in your prediction of what will be "in" in 2002? Send Page 2 your comments.