(TJVNews.com) For those resilient New Yorkers who still trudge on the subway each day to work or travel the iconic rail lines for the purposes of recreational pursuits, there is something pleasant in store for loyal strap hangers.
Regular subway riders are familiar with the “stand clear of the closing doors” announcement at each stop, but this time around the computerized voice will be replaced by the voices of a star studded cast of eclectic celebs.
The New York Post reported that starting today, some New York City born celebrities will be taking over the reins in the voice department and will be the ones we hear in all MTA subway and bus announcements. Because New York City’s public transportation system has a witnessed a steady decline in passengers since the outbreak of the coronavirus last March, the new initiative is hoping to revive the commuter system and make it fun and exciting to ride subways and buses again.
Among those who will regale riders will be comedian Jerry Seinfeld, Debi Mazar and host of “The View” actress Whoopi Goldberg.
Speaking to the Post, native New Yorker Mazar said, “The subway is part of my DNA. I’m so excited to do this. I want subway riders to feel welcome, and I want them to hear a familiar voice, think for a second and maybe smile.” The Post reported that Mazar wears a necklace made from a 1964 token (her birth year).
The brainchild behind this campaign to make the subways and buses more appealing to passengers is director Nicolas Heller, according to the Post report. He is the man behind the popular @NewYorkNico Instagram account, which regularly features unique Big Apple characters for its 542,000 followers, as was reported by the Post.
Heller, 32, told the Post that “In November, the MTA reached out asking for ideas. We needed to be reminded that we’re still New York. We’re still strong, and we’re going to come back stronger than ever.” His idea of having celebrities voice the public service announcements was considered a long shot but Heller said, “They loved that idea. But the only caveat was that there was no budget for this. I knew I could assemble a team to do this for free, but I didn’t know if big-time celebrities would donate their time.”
After soliciting the services of approximately 50 prominent New Yorkers representing the entertainment field as well as business and culture, Heller said that “no one had an issue with there being no money involved,” according to the Post report.
Heller was able to get about 25 of them to agree to be the voice of PSAs on subways and buses. Among them are comedic writer “Fran Lebowitz, rappers Jadakiss and Cam’ron, comedians Desus & Mero, radio personalities Angela Yee and Angie Martinez and sportscaster Michael Kay,” according to the Post report.. Jerry Seinfeld, who happens to b a particular favorite of Heller’s agreed to be part of the project because of his wife and daughter’s suggestion.
“Both his wife and his daughter follow me on Instagram, and they are fans. So I reached out to them, and they connected me to Jerry,” Heller told the Post.
The MTA has essentially given Heller creative freedom in the project. He has since provided the celebrities with scripts written by his team and they plan to improvise, which should add even more exciting moments to this subway and bus experience.
According to the Post report, Jadakiss’s famous laugh will be heard on a regular basis and a teaser posted on Heller’s Twitter feed indicated that Seinfeld, during a reminder to socially distance mused, “Think of how much you’ll save not needing cologne.”
Meanwhile Cam’ron persuaded riders to keep their masks on by saying, “Look, I don’t care if you’re from uptown, downtown, Harlem, Switzerland, wherever. I don’t care if you’re a chicken or a duck. And you know what? COVID don’t care either,” he said.
