BERMUDA and the Elbow Beach Hotel received a huge plug from an unlikely source last weekend.

Mafia gangster Tony Soprano of HBO's award-winning series invited his therapist to accompany him to the island for a romantic break at the South Shore resort. Unfortunately for us, it was an offer Dr. Jennifer Melfi refused.

No matter, the series' season opener last Sunday put Bermuda first and foremost in the minds of 12.1 million viewers.

When contacted yesterday, Kendaree Burgess Fairn, the hotel's director of communications said she was just as surprised as anyone else to learn the property had been mentioned on what HBO regularly promotes as one of its "critically-acclaimed, ground-breaking hits".

"I didn't know it was going to happen, but my guess is either that because we have been marketing our property fairly heavily in the US, someone has seen it or, one of the people who write or produce the show, has been here. I would love to know myself."

A publicist for the cable network company couldn't explain how Bermuda and Elbow Beach were written into the script. And with production for the season complete, the show's creator, David Chase, could not be reached for comment.

Last Sunday saw the start of the fifth season of with a repeat of that episode Wednesday night. The popular series follows the life of mob boss Tony Soprano.

This season will focus on his separation from his wife Carmela, as well as the new challenges he faces at home and work, from within his immediate family, other mob families, and law enforcement.

Last September, led all HBO programmes with four Emmy Awards ? the most of any drama series. In addition to James Gandolfini (Lead Actor in a Drama Series) and Edie Falco (Lead Actress in a Drama Series), the show won in the categories of Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Joe Pantoliano) and Writing for a Drama Series (David Chase, Robin Green, Mitchell Burgess for the episode, 'Whitecaps').

The show has also won five Golden Globe Awards, including the award in the Best Television Series ? Drama category in 2000. In addition, the first two seasons of the show have been added to the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

"I think it is excellent publicity for Elbow Beach and for Bermuda," added Mrs. Burgess Fairn.

"(Sunday's show), according to the HBO web site, was one of the most watched episodes ever. This is the sort of thing that puts us and Bermuda back on the map. I know that the Bermuda Department of Tourism has been working hard to put Bermuda back on the horizon and this kind of mention only confirms to me that we're making success in that regard.

"Elbow Beach really could not have asked for a better plug than to be in the season opener of HBO's ."