Honestly I have no good theory. Here are some rejected ones:
- They are the only ones sufficiently lacking in self-respect.
- Since ads drive everything what matters is the audience still watching at halftime. By that time the geezers have already drunk enough to be glued to their sofas, but not enough yet to be asleep.
- Only Pete Townsend’s generation knows how to count to XLIV.
- It’s a kind of best-of the has-beens competition. A shadow rock-and-roll hall of fame.
- You can hide their spectacles and tell them its Carnegie Hall.
- Minimizes the, ehem, fallout from wardrobe malfunctions.
Cheap Talk 
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February 8, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Amy Googenspa
What about the superbowl is very conservative (not in a political sense) taste wise, they want to pick someone that *everyone* will like, which means they pick someone that was cool 4 years ago and nobody likes anymore.
February 8, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Franklin Shaddy
Lower probability of the type of wardrobe that would malfunction like Janet’s?
February 8, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Edith
I vote for #6 too.
Since JJ and JT did their thing in 2004, every performer has been male and over the age of 50. Prince was the youngest, at 51, and the average age was 61.7. Although these criteria exclude many talented artists, at least they exclude Miss Miley Cyrus, and for that, I am thankful.
February 8, 2010 at 11:36 pm
Alan
While it’s disappointing that they can’t pick artists people would get excited for, the type of artist they pick won’t make anyone particularly upset. While Amy claims the artist is someone everyone likes, I’d argue that it’s more likely that no one hates the artist (see: Edith).
Also, there is a measure of respect due to the ‘old guard’ that provides the Super Bowl a form of legitimacy.
Another reason for The Who to be the halftime artist is the tie in with CBS shows. As you probably know, the CSI series uses Who songs as theme songs during their introductions. Years ago CBS acquired the rights to do so and they’ve been using them as much as possible.
February 9, 2010 at 8:58 am
Lyle_s
I think Alan nailed it. Halftime felt like a 20 minute CSI promo.
Either that or Montgomery Burns is booking the talent these days.
April 2, 2010 at 10:01 am
Trevor
I’m pretty sure it’s 6 since the Justin Timberlake / Janet Jackson issue.