Thursday, March 15, 2007

SIMPSONVILLE, USA

Further flogging from our recent post about Springfield's attempt to land the premiere of "The Simpsons Movie," scheduled to open in July:

•Fox was caught by surprise when the story about the contest broke last week. Sources say contest rules are still being ironed out, so it's unclear what we need to do to win the damned thing.

Tony Messenger, editorial page editor of the News-Leader, is equally hyped about landing the premiere, and he's all about steering clear of "official" efforts:
My guess is that city and CVB officials will use their considerable powers to put together a very high quality video presentation selling our city. I don't think that's the way to do it. It's not in the spirit of the Simpsons. I suggest some bright college students or perhaps computer literate high school dropouts put together a more YouTube like presentation that does more poking fun at our city (with love, of course) than it does praising our city's positive aspects.
Amen and amen, Two Fingers. Though we are a little concerned about one of Messenger's suggestions linking locals to cartoon characters:
A dead body in Lake Springfield? Homer would love that. John Twitty as Mr. Burns? (Sorry, John). John Q. Hammons (and his statue) as Jebediah Springfield? Classic. And, my personal favorite, Vincent David Jericho as Ned Flanders.
An insult to Ned Flanders, and far too vital a character to be aligned with a pathological complainer. The radio personality is more like Louis "Mr. Teeny" Toot, trained monkey to Krusty the Clown. He's an immigrant, after all.

Or better still, VD(j) is Birch Barlow, a right-wing radio host and author of the book "Only Turkeys Have Left Wings." He's pudgy, pompous and unimportant. Sounds like a perfect fit.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Or, Ron Davis as Sideshow Bob.

Anonymous said...

Messenger's "dead body in Lake Springfield" crack shows his lack of local knowledge and sensitivity. The body found near the power plant recently wasn't in Lake Springfield but downstream of the dam in the James River. And somebody ought to tell him about Jacquie Johns.

Anonymous said...

ol two fingers is at it again.

Anonymous said...

Messenger has all of the tact and taste of a turd in a punchbowl. Which means he'll go far in Gannett.

Hopefully far away, and soon.

Anonymous said...

Anon 1007: Don't slag Tony when you can't spell "Jackie Johns."

Anonymous said...

1:58 Oh Vincent, is your mustache starting to bristle?

Desdinova said...

I'm behind this all the way. We need to get this to make all those people that wrote anti-Simpsons LTTE in the News Leader a few years back leave town. I'm glad to see Tony Messeger has the "popsicles" to get behind this issue. I that's coming from the guy with a whole freezer full of popsicles and ONE LARGE DILLYBAR!

Busplunge said...

The dead body comment I thought was a little over the top.

But, other than that,
and not being a viewer of the simpson's , ever, I want to know who will Ralph and Sheila will play?

Did any one else notice that mediacom increased the maintenance fee from .25 cents to $3.95?

Anonymous said...

Anon 211: That's how her family spells it.

Anonymous said...

busplunge, you have been missing out. The Simpsons are Springfield's first family in a way, so Ralph Manley should be Abe Simpson. Both men were in WW2 and both are slightly crazy. Shelia Wright is Eleanor Abernathy, the Crazy Cat Lady. Only Shelia likes dogs.

John Stone said...

"Anon 1:58 Oh Vincent, is your mustache starting to bristle?"

Wait a minute ... that's Ignatius J. O'Reilly in Confederacy of Dunces ...

But VD(j) and the fat, eructating, slob, momma's-boy are practically identical.

Anonymous said...

Here is a thought.

Why not ask for home made submittals of film from individuals and have a panal of "informed" people judge those.

Otherwise it will get out of hand and they will hire some slick promo group to come up with something so stiff it will defeat itself.

Anonymous said...

And the winner is.....John Stone as Barney.

Bristle that.

Anonymous said...

Tom Carlson as Mayor Quimby? Negatory. They have different tastes in ties, and Quimby doesn't specialize in government-subsidized property development projects.

Anonymous said...

NO, no, no Carlson is Smithers.
We don't have to cast people in their role based on profession.
For example the stature of John Q. could be the Statue of Jebadiah (sp?)
Springfield.

Now who will come with me to cut the head off?

Anonymous said...

For the role of "Simpsons" newscaster Kent Brockman, I nominate KY3's Even Forehead, er, I mean Ethan Forhetz.

Anonymous said...

NO, Ned Reynolds is Kent Brockman, Ethan Forhetz is Troy McClure. Also Jeff Boggs of KTXR-KWTO should be that Comic Book Guy.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Anonymous: I know who you are and where you live. All i've got to say about what you said above is: WORST COMMENT EVER!

Jeff Boggs
KTXR-KWTO-KBFL

Anonymous said...

I was for the premiere being in Springfield until I read the following in the Missouri State Sandard: Local government is working closely with KSFX, the local Fox affiliate, and with 20th Century Fox on the contest.

Somehow I don't think the radio station that broadcasts VDJ and the rest of his talk show minions (Hannity, Levin, Savage, et al) is a very good representation of Springfield. Do we really want the wingnut brigade to be the public face of our city?

Anonymous said...

Anon 745: Umm, VD(j) works for KSGF, not KSFX.

Anonymous said...

I stand corrected (with egg on my face) and thanks for pointing it out.

Anon @ 7:45

Sandy said...

We better get on the ball!
http://tinyurl.com/325vde
http://tinyurl.com/234st2