EYE ON SPRINGFIELD

EYE ON SPRINGFIELD

Springfield Remember a few months ago when everyone thought the fictional cartoon town of Springfield was in Oregon thanks to an egregious misunderstanding on the part of the media? Well, apparently tourists from AROUND THE WORLD have been flocking to the town, evidentially hoping to snap a few photos of their favorite cartoon characters in their natural habitat, at least according to some guy:

“I’ve had people from Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland – they’re coming here because this was declared Simpsontown, Springfield, the town of the Simpsons, so people are coming here,” he said.

I don’t really believe this guy, but if just one person from the other side of the world spent a thousand bucks to fly to America because of a misquote, that’s one too many in my estimation.

Anyway, the guy in question put up a few tacky Simpsons statues in front of his yogurt shop, which is apparently the full extent of The Simpsons Experience in Springfield. It’s been leaving tourists disappointed, because I guess they were expecting to see full-fledged Kwik-E-Marts or something? So now the yogurt guy is proposing the city take “just five or 10 blocks” and turn it into a Simpsons-themed shopping center. Now that’ll get people excited! And by “people” I mean copyright lawyers.

[KVAL via Seattle P-I]

EYE ON SPRINGFIELD, THOSE CLOWNS IN CONGRESS

Last week, Congressman Peter DeFazio, of Springfield, Oregon, sent a tongue-in-cheek letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez.

DeFazio was petitioning for an “investigation” of how Springfield, Vermont, could have won the right to host the movie premiere of “The Simpsons,” over his own hometown.

I’m sure Gonzalez will get right on this as soon as he’s done depriving everyone of their civil liberties [KTVZ]

EYE ON SPRINGFIELD

vermont

The Vermont town of Springfield has beaten 13 rivals and will host the premiere of the film about the animated family The Simpsons. The show is set in a fictional Springfield because its creator, Matt Groening, spotted that it is one of the most common place-names in the US. Vermont was chosen in an online vote after 14 towns submitted videos to argue why their town should win.

[NewsroomAmerica.com]

EYE ON SPRINGFIELD

Unlike those Springfield, Minnesota jerks, the citizens of Springfield, Massachusetts went all out in a bid to host the world premiere of The Simpsons Movie.

The yo-yo expert arrived first, followed by two men in one-piece orange suits and Halloween masks and three boys rolling in on skateboards like Bart Simpson in the opening credits of “The Simpsons” television show.

Then came the pooch de resistance for yesterday’s grand finale of the city’s Simpson video – a mixed-breed yellow dog that might be the deciding factor needed to push Springfield into the winner’s circle.

The city is one of more than a dozen Springfields across the country competing to become the site of the premiere of “The Simpsons Movie” based on the Fox cartoon about a fictional Springfield and due to be released on July 26.

Here’s a photo gallery. Godspeed, Springfield, Mass.! [The Republican]

EYE ON SPRINGFIELD

Springfield, Minnesota is not participating in the contest to be the Springfield chosen to host the premiere of The Simpsons Movie because those pompous elitists think they’re too good to make a silly video and showcase a cartoon movie.

Meanwhile, a comedian is in the running to become the state’s next junior senator. [TV Squad]

EYE ON SPRINGFIELD

City officials have accepted an invitation from 20th Century Fox to compete against other Springfields across the country in a contest where the winner will host the premiere screening of “The Simpsons Movie,” due out in July. The film is one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year.

…

Gwyne Ortiz, a Fox publicist, said Fox has asked 16 Springfields from Oregon to Massachusetts to participate in the contest.

Studio execs will pick the winner after reviewing short films submitted by local officials. Each entry should showcase a community’s positive aspects, and somehow link it to “The Simpsons” TV show. The megapopular prime-time animated series created by Portland-born Matt Groening is now in its 18th season.

“We want each Springfield to express the highlights of what they do, and have it tie into the whole Simpsons element,” Ortiz said.

Not sure why any city would want to be like “America’s Worst City” (according to Time magazine) but OK [The Register-Guard]

EYE ON SPRINGFIELD

Even some of Springfield’s biggest fans admit that Americans know little about the city beyond its Lincoln connections. If they have any impression, it’s probably of a pleasant, nondescript midwestern city.

“It’s Every Place,” said Curtis Mann, manager of the local library’s Sangamon Valley Collection.

[Associated Press]