Doughnut seals deal as The Simpsons head for Springfield

‘D’OHS!’ were yesterday heard in 13 American towns named Springfield as they lost out to their namesake in Vermont to become the official hometown of the world’s most dysfunctional, but loveable, families: The Simpsons.

The southeastern Vermont community beat the 13 other Springfields for the honour, which as its prize will see them host the premiere of eagerly anticipated The Simpsons Movie on July 26.

Film studio 20th Century Fox ran an online poll on the website of the newspaper USA Today.

They invited people to vote for their favourite town from the 14 videos submitted by the competing Springfields.

According to USA Today, Springfield, Vermont, came late to the competition.

It made its pitch after the head of the local chamber of commerce saw a news report on it and asked to be involved.

“We’re so excited to have been selected,” said Patricia Chaffee, vice president of the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“We came in at the last minute and, for us to win, we feel like the underdogs, which makes this so big and so great for us.”

The town of 9,300 was the smallest in population among the communities entered.

It put together a five-minute video showing a local, bald TV personality playing Homer Simpson and, in typical Homer fashion, chasing a giant, pink doughnut through the town visiting some of Springfield’s most picturesque attractions.

Governor Jim Douglas issued a statement congratulating the town following its victory.

“This is an exciting, exhilarating moment for Vermonters,” he said.

“Perhaps more importantly, it proves there’s really nothing a giant doughnut can’t do,” said the delighted governor.

“To all the other Springfields, I say: ‘Don’t have a cow, man’.”

According to USA Today, the 13 other Springfields that participated in the contest will be given small screenings of the film the night before the movie opens throughout the US on July 27.