Doh! Trouble In Springfield - Vermont?

Life Can Be Like A Box Of Stale Donuts

Sunday I received an email from a resident of Springfield, Vermont. That's right, Springfield - Vermont. Settle down now - hear me out before anyone does anything rash.

This Springfield resident was one of two hundred "extras" who had volunteered for several hours to help make Springfield, Vermont's Simpson's movie. Each competing Springfield across the nation made a little video showing why their town deserved the title of the real Simpson's Springfield. The movie played an important role in Springfield, Vermont's victory.

As it turns out, however, once the time came to dispense tickets to the Simpson's Movie premier no one who had participated in making this important movie was invited. None of the two hundred extras where given free tickets, or asked to attend the premier!

Instead tickets were given to the politically connected, and well to do local business people.

It is alleged that at the premiere not one mention of the people who had volunteered was made.

Having done their part to bring the movie to Springfield, Vermont - they were swept under the red carpet like scattered pieces of popcorn, and donut crumbles - ah donuts.

Check out this quote which reveals the treatment of Homer's Homies!

"A number of local business and community leaders did get invitations. It wouldn't be fair to make that group compete with thousands of ordinary folks in the random drawings for free tickets. Less than 10 percent would have gotten seats that way. Some got extra tickets to quietly pass on to friends and associates.

It would have been nice if one of the community leaders who spoke in the public ceremony had taken a moment to acknowledge and thank us for our contribution. And maybe have some of us lined up down in front of the stage to turn and take a bow. But I guess they thought since they weren't inviting us to see the movie, it would look better for them if there was no mention of us at all. Getting attention off from us wasn't difficult for them. Any talk of the video itself could be focused on the two main stars, outside professionals from northern Vermont. Keep us off the yellow carpet and swept under the rug.

Quite a few out-of-towners who never did any volunteer work for our community won the honor of free seats at the big premiere while most of us in the winning video who gave up to four hours of our time to complete it would have to wait a week and pay to see the film. That's just not right".

One local Springfield, Vermont commentator states,

"I was very disappointed at the way the town handled the tickets. It was very clear watching the people stroll out of the theater that the distribution was rigged. The whole thing makes me sick. What a way to represent our town with lies and corruption. I even talked to a few people who had tickets but had never seen the show, and didn’t really care one way or the other. Being a fan for 15 years, I was disgusted. The people who were in the making of the movie should have seen the premiere and Springfield residents who were real fans of the show should have also been put ahead of someone who was there because they wanted something to do for the day".

While another states:

"Just read the letter to the editor in the Reporter...I agree completely. My son and I were very visible in the vid, but as we are "nobodies" in town we were blown off. We managed to score tickets in a drawing, but the point is, we shouldn't have had to get them that way. The part that galls me the most is the fact that the majority of local "VIP"s wouldn't have been caught dead viewing the movie under any other circumstances. Don't brag about how you never watched the show and then snatch up tickets! It's been a couple months and I'm still fuming. Thanks for letting me vent".

Here's the link to the website dedicated to the two hundred Springfield, Vermont residents who participated in making the Springfield, Vermont video. The website includes group photos.

I've even posted a comment on their website at this link:

Here's what I wrote:

"Greetings to the fine people of Springfield, Vermont.

I am from Springfield, Illinois - the town which came in second place to your town in the Simpson's Hometown competition of last Summer (2007).

Many of us here in Springfield, Illinois were scratching out heads wondering how your fair locale could have beaten us for the title of real Simpson's Springfield.

After some thought there's little doubt that your video played a pivotal role. Everyone I've spoken to on this said that your video showed true civic pride, and it showed how important winning the coveted Simpson's hometown status was to you.

I simply can't believe - well come on now we've all seen enough Simpson's episodes to know how things like this really work - but still I find it hard to believe that you all weren't invited to the Premiere.

If I had the money I'd buy you all movie tickets, a soda, popcorn, and some candy - sadly I'm just too darned broke for that. Still you deserve it!"