 |
Published Wednesday, May. 26
ICH BIN EIN SPRINGFIELDER
Q: By process of elimination, using references from the episodes
themselves, is it possible to determine exactly what state The Simpsons' "Springfield" might be in?
|
A: The answer is absolutely and positively "no." There is no way to determine the location of this fictional place. Some people speculate that because Matt Groening's home state is Oregon that Springfield is in Oregon. That would be easy, wouldn't it? But it's not easy. Bedrock isn't in a state either, nor can we determine what period the Flintstones lived in (i.e., Jurassic, Cretaceous, etc.). My point being: It's a cartoon!
According to the alt.tv.simpsons archives:
"According to Producer/Director David Silverman, Springfield is in the state of North Takoma, eight miles from Toon Town (although it appears this still isn't to be considered an "official" answer). In 'Duffless,' the state abbreviation on Homer's driver's license is NT - NT probably representing North Takoma."
If you read further down on that site, some believe that Springfield is actually in Australia (speculation that the NT stands for "Northern Territory"). To complicate matters, there is also the "Northwest Territories" in Canada
If you check the phone directory for Northern Territory in Australia, there is an H. Simpson in Alice Springs, but that doesn't correspond to Springfield, does it? And for that matter, there's a Helen Simpson in Yellowknife, NT, Canada. And there are no listings for Homer Simpson in Springfield, Ore., Springfield, Ill., or Springfield, Mass. And, there's a part of Takoma Park, Md., where a handful of folks may allegedly call it "North Takoma" (although a reader who lives there says no), but there are no H. Simpsons there either. (Just thought I'd warn you before you rang up your mom's long-distance bill.)
Wikipedia tackled the question and makes some sobering points:
"Springfield is near a junction of five states (in real life, no such junction exists), yet it borders the ocean; it has a canyon, a desert, and mountains. Sometimes it snows in Springfield, and the town once experienced a hurricane."
I wish I could be more authoritative here. If it's any consolation, I was born in Forest Hills, N.Y., alleged home of Peter Parker, aka Spiderman. I never saw Peter or Aunt May wandering the streets, fighting the Green Goblin, or doing anything else remotely related to Spiderman, although I do remember a comic book store.
7/4/04 UPDATE: According The Simpsons publicist Antonia Coffman, Springfield is in no specific state, despite clues in The Simpsons Episode 248 (Season 11) that have led some fans to believe Springfield is in Kentucky. "Matt had the 'Simpsons' live in Springfield because it was the most common city name in the U.S. The writers 'toy' with the state location constantly as fans think they know which state Springfield is in--near water, near mountains, land-locked, etc. Thus the answer: There is no specified state for Springfield."
|
|
|
