After missing 'The Simpsons', Springfield, Ky., makes another effort to land a big movie premiere

Last year, Springfield, Ky., population 2,600, competed with other Springfields across the nation to host the premiere of "The Simpsons Movie." The town lost out to Springfield, Vt., pop. 9,300, but the Kentuckians' effort was memorable enough to make 20th Century-Fox consider the town for another movie premiere contest, reports Jeff Moreland of The Springfield Sun.

Last Friday, the town received a call from the studio asking them to participate in a contest to find which town would host the premiere of the animated version of "Horton Hears a Who," the 1954 children's book by Dr. Seuss. "This contest, unlike the previous contest where the city of Springfield had to produce a short film, is a bit different, requiring only some noise," Moreland writes. "Actually, lots of noise. The object of the contest is to see which of the cities selected can be the loudest, proclaiming, 'We are here!'The phrase is spoken to Horton, an elephant who hears voices from a tiny planet on a speck of dust that features a city called Who-ville."

The deadline for towns to join the competition was yesterday, but no final list is available yet. Springfield was the only town from the Simpsons contest asked to participate, and this time it will go up against cities such as London, England, Moreland reports. Springfield will make its attempt on March 9 when audio technicians from the studio will come to judge. (Read more)