EON

Springfield – Springfield, Vermont, has won the coveted honour of hosting the yellow-carpet premiere of the Simpsons film.

Fourteen towns in the US called Springfield entered a contest to stage the glittering event.

Simpsons creator Matt Groening chose the name Springfield as the fictional home of Homer and family as it is one of America’s most common names.

Newsweek once described the fictional town – complete with its own nuclear plant – as “America’s crud bucket”.

Despite this, makers of The Simpsons Movie asked Springfields across the US to bid for a chance to host the July premiere by making a short film showcasing their town.

The 9,300-population town of Springfield in Vermont was picked by 20th Century Fox after a public vote.

It will host the premiere at its Springfield Movie Theatre on July 21 – with the movie’s film-makers on hand to walk the yellow carpet.

“We’re so excited,” 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 real-life Springfield towns may be less exciting – but they can boast several claims to fame…

:: Presidential hopeful Barack Obama launched his bid for the White House in Springfield, Illinois, last month.

:: Golfer Phil Mickelson won the 2005 PGA Championship in Springfield, New Jersey.

:: Basketball was invented in Springfield, Massachusetts.

:: Madcap comedians the Marx Brothers got their showbiz break in Springfield, Ohio.