We’ve recently seen The Simpson’s Movie in the theater. A lot of movies come a little late here.
Actually, the movie has caused more hype than I expected. Simpsons tee-shirts are popular now and the local media has been giving it the same press as it did for Harry Potter.
In some respects it makes perfect sense. After two decades of producing high quality prime-time shows, it’s a wonder this movie hasn’t come out sooner.
Aaron and I own the 1st season of The Simpsons and after 20 years, this movie was right in line with the original style and jokes, which makes me proud that Matt Groening has kept true to his roots. The Simpsons even brought in all of the original design team (some temporarily left Pixar).
However awesome the movie was, there was one little detail that the animators left out. They never showed the Simpsons street sign “Evergreen Dr”. For those of you who are in the dark, Matt Groening and I share the same TESC background. In 2000 he gave the keynote address to the graduating class where one of my girlfriends also addressed the class as the student speaker. Other colleges know this as the valedictorian, but Evergreen is above grades and status and all other forms of “I’m better than you.” So, back in 2000, my girlfriend invited me to a luncheon where I met Mr. Groening myself. He insisted that his last name be pronounced “graining” but that will never catch on.
He drew everyone a Homer Simpson cartoon and related a funny story. The state of Vermont, which has been voted Springfield’s home, has been fooled recently. The Simpsons hometown, Springfield, has no real US origin. When Matt was a child his favorite TV show (one of those “Leave it to Beaver” types) was based in Springfield. In Oregon, where Matt grew up, he supposed that the TV characters all lived in the town next door which was consequently named Springfield. His dreams were crushed when he grew up and found out the truth. Springfield is one of the most popular names for towns all across the US. So, believe it or not, The Simpsons sold out when the told Vermont that their Springfield is where the Simpsons live. Oh well.
§Commentary
Being from Eugene, across the river from Springfield, I’ve always known that it was the real Springfield.
Consider this, though: would the real Springfield have ever won that kind of contest? Of course not - they’d come in second, just like Springfield, Oregon did in the contest. So by losing, they proved that they are indeed the real Springfield!
Exactly!!