Celebrities Make Commercials Because They Love NYC

Posted Monday, November 12, 2001 at 4:24 PM Central

by Heather Koehler

Afraid to go to New York? Don't be. Many New Yorker based stars are having some fun and trying to lighten the air a bit with comical commercials featuring the Big Apple and getting back into town.

"This new public service campaign was created to show how that spirit inspired others, some of the cities' best known personalities, to pursue their dreams, though with a decidedly humorous twist," the mayor said, after talking about the way New Yorkers resumed their lives with purpose, confidence and determination.

Billy Crystal, Robert De Niro, Woody Allen, Ben Stiller, Kevin Bacon, Barbara Walters are some familiar faces you'll see in commercials, set to air in the next few weeks.

In one commercial, Billy and Bob are dressed as a turkey and a Pilgrim, discussing exactly what noise a turkey makes and who should really be wearing the suit.

In another one, a lady is sitting at a diner and orders from a menu full of star nicknamed sandwiches. "I"ll have the Ben Stiller with bacon on the side." Ben shows up at the table and the waiter says, "with bacon!" and guess who?

These are only two of the commercial series that all end with Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and the campaign theme: "The New York miracle. Be a part of it."