The Reveller. The Optimist. ES Best. ES Mag. Follow us:. Password Please enter a valid password. Submit Submit. By Tom Herbert. Around the garage, some of the light-colored paint is flaking, revealing a cornea-scorching bright orange underneath.
Working on a short schedule, architects and builders de-fictionalized the home featured in The Simpsons for a giveaway that was intended to leave one lucky fan with the ultimate in cartoon memorabilia.
No detail was spared, from a food dish for their cat, Snowball II, to Duff beer cans in the fridge. But controversy soon erupted in this faux-Springfield mock-up. The sweepstakes winner rejected it outright. And the current owner had to learn to live with the property being a source of perpetual curiosity for fans of the show who brazenly turn her doorknobs and peer through her windows at all hours of the day and night.
As it turns out, the reality of living in a fantasy can get a little complicated. Heading into its 30th season in the fall, The Simpsons is the longest-running primetime scripted series in television history, surpassed in overall longevity only by daytime soaps, Sesame Street , and late-night institutions.
Despite criticisms that the show has exhausted its potential, it remains a profitable empire for the Fox network, with no announced end in sight. Revenue had waned and so had licensee interest: The number of companies producing Simpsons goods dropped by 75 percent. What the network needed was a promotional vehicle—something to drive interest in both the show and its ancillary products.
That idea came not from within Fox, but from an outside marketing expert who saw an opportunity for some corporate synergy. Jeff Charney was responsible for marketing at Kaufman and Broad, a home builder looking to promote both its brand and a new housing development in Henderson, Nevada, about 16 miles southeast of Las Vegas. While brainstorming in the shower, Charney got the idea to erect a replica of the Simpsons' home.
After determining it was feasible, the company pitched it to Fox, who gave their approval to proceed. I think I sketched it out in a day. There was some precedent for the stunt. When they reached the summit, a Kaufman and Broad salesperson was waiting to pitch them on buying one of their homes.
The gimmick was hugely successful for both the builder and Au Printemps—it attracted more than , visitors in the four months it was open, and cemented the company as one that thought well outside the standard marketing boxes.
Once the project was approved, Woodley and Gonzalez pored over episodes of the show and storyboards on loan from the production to try and discern a layout. The stairs leading to the second floor were slightly steeper than normal.
Construction was only part of the illusion. To get that lived-in look, a Hollywood production designer and photographer named Rick Floyd came in and accentuated the home with details that would impress the critical eye of series creator Matt Groening and die-hard fans alike. Painted purple, it was a perfect match for the Simpsons' iconic wheels.
As the house neared completion in August after just four months of work, local Kaufman and Broad employees sometimes came by for a look. By this point, Fox and Kaufman and Broad were arranging tours for locals and tourists hoping to catch a glimpse of the interior.
Groening came out for an appearance and spray-painted some Bart graffiti on the garage before signing his name in the front path cement. Lines with wait times of more than two hours twisted around the block, and visitors were expected to wear surgical-style booties to avoid tracking in dirt from outside.
Surprisingly, there were few attempts at swiping the decor. Breakfast food is life and coffee is what makes the world go round. It was great. By Adrienne Tyler Published Jan 30, Share Share Tweet Email 0.
Related Topics SR Originals the simpsons.
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