In an interview with Smithsonian Magazine, Matt Groening reveals the true location of Springfield:

Springfield was named after Springfield, Oregon. The only reason is that when I was a kid, the TV show “Father Knows Best” took place in the town of Springfield, and I was thrilled because I imagined that it was the town next to Portland, my hometown. When I grew up, I realized it was just a fictitious name. I also figured out that Springfield was one of the most common names for a city in the U.S. In anticipation of the success of the show, I thought, “This will be cool; everyone will think it’s their Springfield.” And they do.

I want the real Springfield to erect a Homer statue in the middle of town, just like the Jebediah Springfield statue in “The Simpsons”.

Marge Simpson poses for the November issue of Playboy.

They don’t look real.

US Postal Service unveils 5 stamps based on The Simpsons. They’re actually kinda cool, although I’m not sure why Homer looks like he stuck his finger in an electric socket.

In this YouTube clip, Stephen Hawking explains how he appeared on “The Simpsons”:

My daughter, Lucy, knew one of the script writers for ‘The Simpsons’.  She said he would like to write an episode involving me.  I accepted immediately because it would be fun and because ‘The Simpsons’ in the best thing on American Television.

He further says:

The episode was very funny and almost as many people know me through ‘The Simpsons’ as through my science.

If true, more people should read A Brief History of Time.