Where in the world is Morris "Moe" Szyslak ?

Peggy just mentioned to me the other day, when we heard a story from a city named Springfield in some other state, that we always wondered if THAT Springfield that they were talking about on the news (Illinois? Massachusetts? Virginia?) was the home of America's favorite family, The Simpsons.

Turns out, no.

Mike Reiss is an original writer for The Simpsons,and appeared on  MSNBC's "Morning Joe" to talk about the show and his new book, "Springfield Confidential: Jokes, Secrets, and Outright Lies from a Lifetime Writing for The Simpsons," which I own and which I feel should be a cornerstone of every American family's library.

As Reiss says, Bart's Springfield is "nowhere." More than 40 cities and towns across this great land of ours are named Springfield, and it just sounds like a generic town name, does it not?  Just as The Cleavers from "Leave It To Beaver" hailed from Mayfield, The Simpsons are from Springfield, and no state is ever mentioned, except for the state of hysteria.

Simpsons fans from Massachusetts have noted that since Mayor Joe Quimby and his nephew Freddy speak with a Boston kind of accent, the Fav Five might be from the Bay State. Longtime fans will also recall that Freddy once owned a fishstick factory.

But no.

Wherever they live, I'm glad they do live. Get ready for Season 30 of The Simpsons this fall on your television.

(pictured at right, His Honor, Mayor Quimby, famous for saying, "I propose that I use what's left of the town treasury to move to a more prosperous town and run for mayor. And, er, once elected, I will send for the rest of you.")