Only in New York can advertisers get away with become a feature attraction--bottles of Bombay Sapphire and 5th Avenue retailers, box office biggies and technological gurus become the sponsors and the models for new happenings that both New Yorkers and tourists flock to. It's fascinating how commercialism becomes entertainment and even, sometimes, art. (It's even funnier when art becomes commercialism.) I read an article in the Times recently about the installation that was to go up in Central Park. Blumberg finally let it happen after Guiliani shunned the idea throughout his term, the installation of the arches in Central Park. Have any of you seen it? There is a possibility of a brief stint in the city in the coming weeks, and that's certainly on my agenda. The 2 month installation is supposed to generated something along the lines of $31M for the city. This subway car is along the same path for me. To think that one can walk into an environmental advertisment now--a Disney World for HBO (as if Times Sq. isn't enough!); it brings up the question: How far will companies go to get the edge, to get the most notoriety, to generate the most revenue? It just goes to show us that billboards and magazine ads just aren't cutting it anymore, that we in the marketing and advertising fields have to stretch our creativity to the limits in order to capture our markets' eyes and hearts. I feel like--no matter what our opinions are--it has cracked open another level of opportunity for us to communicate with our client base. If the MTA is in on it, what other resources will follow?

I like the creative idea, but I'm still waiting for the City to put in striated wall ads in the subway, that appear animated as the train moves along and you watch out the window.

Agree with Kim and you, Elise. Although I applaud HBO for making it an experience and taking full advantage of their captive audience (will bet that it'll be good for one or two more rides and then it will just fade into the background again) the city should get their hand slapped for not selling their media at a high enough rate to cover any fare raises (although I realize it is a very complicated matter than has no easy fix). But as Elise asks...where does it end? Where can we go where we can't be reached? That is just crazy coming from me, but maybe it's a responsibility question I pose?

Creative idea, I guarantee after the rates are raised, the city will take heat for not being able to get their books in the black, especially after this type of advertising onslaught. I've never seen this show, but to me the ultimate creative is one that consumers feel they are a part of, consumers are "party" to the advertising. Does the show reflect how you felt? Are you a fan of the show? Will you watch the show? Nothing like a surreal user experience...