Tuesday, July 10, 2007

No Concession: If we lose, we win!

It occurred to me that the most indisputable way for us to prove that we are the real Springfield is to lose a popularity contest to a lesser -field. Winning would feel false and derivative of some idealistic Humbleton. The real Springfield would never win a USA Today contest. It doesn't ring true.

Imagine an episode of the Simpsons in which Ang Lee comes to shoot the Krusty the Clown story for a Lifetime Television feature presentation. Wouldn't he eventually decide, after scouting the town, to shoot the Springfield scenes in some other location. And wouldn't he eventually dump the real Krusty and cast James Woods to play the complicated clown. Now that makes sense.

So shed no tears if we come up short in the final tally. We can only be validated in defeat.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mr. Krustofski might get upset at you for misspelling the name of his clown alias.

BlogFreeSpringfield said...

Thanks Nick; I made the correction. I don't need him on my ass.

brunettechicagogal said...

I was watching an old Simpson's episode that included Homer pointing to Springfield on the US map. He pointed near Chicago, which prompted Lisa to say, "Dad, you're not pointing anywhere NEAR Springfield. It's HERE," at which point she dragged her finger toward Ohio. Just then, though, Bart's head blocked the entire map.

Anonymous said...

How did Springfield, Vermont win?????

BlogFreeSpringfield said...

My theory is that since this is the off season for maple syrup tapping, there's nothing for anyone in Vermont to do besides sit at the computer and participate in online voting contests. Oh sure they could legalize marijuana at gay weddings or write fan letters to Trey Anastasio, but even progressive politics and jam bands can't hold a candle to the Simpsons.

(full disclosure: My wife is a Vermont native. I've visited the state many times and found it to be beautiful and its people quite charming.)

Anonymous said...

lmmfaooo my hometown is Springfield Vermont i graduated from Springfield Senior High on South Street back in 93 .. and our springfield has the same thing as all the other springfields do and by the way everyone refering to all the episodes that clues it .. um .. how bout there is an episode that can denote any or all of the springfields who were in the runnings .. take yourself back to the literary episode where lisa helped write that book .. anyone remember where they said it was ??? IN VERMONT... they went to holyoke .. where is that? IN MASSACHUSSETTS ..so see .. i think the creator mr matt g was doing all this on purpose to eventually lead up to something like this .. people use your heads as knowledge not just to rest your hats or headphns on !!

onthemark said...

I love that spirit -- "If we lose, we win"! That's exactly what I was posting on the USA Today board about Vermont: "We're such a Springfield we didn't even get invited to the Springfield Contest!"

Did we lose by winning? Aye-carumba!! Hope not!

And as to this remark: "... there's nothing for anyone in Vermont to do besides sit at the computer and participate in online voting contests." -- You don't know how true that is.

Seriously.

I think we won for 2 reasons: 1, I think people did honestly like the narrative style of our video better; 2, I think people in IL, OR, MA simply have better things to do than sit at a computer in the heat of summer.

Here, there's not a lot to do. (Look at me now, sitting at a computer... D'Oh!!!)

The real contest for us in Springfield, Vermont now is trying to somehow take this excitement into the future and capitalize on it. This town needs a lift--any lift. I hope we can use this honor in an honest and hopeful way toward building a better Springfield, rather than in a brief splash of smugness.

This Springfield needs more than the proverbial 15 minutes of fame. We need to get to work and I hope this kind of enthusiasm will spur a long-lasting Springfield improvement.

Hey, I love the dedication and pride you guys in Illinois have for your town. I still say the only true Springfield is the one "out there" somewhere in America. That's the important thing.

Cheers!

Anonymous said...

I thought the ole lady was from New Hampshire........which is it? Live free or die or lesbians in soft shoes state

Mrs. Blogfreespringfield said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Springfield VT News said...

I am one of 200 volunteers who appeared in the winning Springfield Vermont video. After helping them win, the local Chamber of Commerce turned its back on us. We were excluded from the premiere, our seats were awarded to the elite in town instead. And then not even a word of thanks or mention of us in the public ceremony outside the theater. Read more about it and check out some of the sights and sounds of premiere day at our new website:
http://vtvid.110mb.com

Springfield VT News said...
This comment has been removed by the author.