The Vermont hamlet of Springfield beat out 13 identically-named U.S. cities to win the right to host the premiere of The Simpsons' big screen debut.
The town, population 9,300, played host to the much-hyped "The Simpsons Movie" in its 100-seat theatre on July 21. The full-length 20th Century Fox animated film doesn't open across the U.S. for another six days on July 27.
"Ninety-three hundred people, and we won," Town Manager Bob Forguites told a local newspaper. "I think it's pretty neat, myself."
Forguites' town beat other Springfields in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, and Tennessee -- all which made bids to host the movie.
As part of a contest to be the official host, each city had to submit a video showing how it's the living embodiment of the fictional hometown of Springfield (state unknown).
stars a Vermont talk show host playing the role of Homer Simpson. He creates havoc as he runs through the town chasing a pink, giant rolling doughnut. It ends with a mob chasing Homer into a movie theater.
By its July 9 deadline, the Springfield, Vt. bid received 15,367 of the votes on the contest website. Springfield, Illinois was the runner-up with 14,634. Florida's Springfield placed last, getting only 1,386 votes.
The Simpsons is the longest-running, animated, primetime TV show in the U.S. Predictably, there's been a ton of promotion and hype leading up to the film's debut.
A dozen 7-Eleven convenience stores in the U.S. were transformed into the fictional Kwik-E-Mart made famous on The Simpsons. Even U.S. congressmen have gotten into the act. Oregon's Peter DeFazio, sore over his state's Springfield losing out to Vermont in the contest, demanded an investigation into voter fraud.
The Simpsons facts:
- It debuted on December 17, 1989.
- Over 400 episodes have aired over 18 seasons.
- The show has been renewed for a 19th season, beginning September 23.
- In 1999, Time Magazine named The Simpsons the best television series of the 20th Century.
- On January 14, 2000 it was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
