DALLAS -- Cheryl Yex was the grand-prize winner of 7-Eleven stores' Get Animated online contest, part of the company's campaign in July heralding The Simpsons Movie. The West Newton, Pa., the mom and step-mom of two teenaged boys may soon find out.
The highlight of the trip-for-two to Los Angeles is a visit with The Simpsons creative team at Fox Studios and the opportunity to be drawn into America's longest-running comedy series. The Simpsons Movie was released by Twentieth Century Fox Studios July 27.
When the Instant Win screen [image-nocss] popped up on her computer, congratulating her on taking the top prize, Yex said she literally fell out of her chair. I couldn't believe it, Yex said. I was just trying to win one of 'The Simpsons Movie' Kwik-E-Mart smocks. The limited-edition smocks were worn by store employees in the 7-Eleven stores converted to Kwik-E-Marts, the convenience store made famous on the show and featured in the film.
Yex said she hopes her character will not be too goofy, although she observed that she can't think of any Simpsons characters who don't fit that description. Maybe they can draw me into a scene at Moe's Bar or even better, the Kwik-E-Mart, she said.
The Simpsons is the No. 1 show among men ages 18-34 and boys ages 12-17, also primary Slurpee consumers. So how did a suburban mom find herself readying for a trip to the West Coast to be drawn into the irreverent animated series? My kids love The Simpsons, and I began watching it with them, Yex said. They think this is all pretty cool.
A regular visitor to www.slurpee.com, Yex said she likes to play the online games and collect virtual straws for Slurpee-themed prizes, although she said, I'm not very good at the skateboarding game.
Hundreds of famous celebrities have guest-starred in the program through its 18-year history, but the Get Animated winner marks the first time a fan will get the opportunity to appear.
The month-long 7-Eleven Get Animated promotion awarded more than 711 prizes. To play the game, customers received coded game pieces with the purchase of select 7-Eleven sandwiches, grill items and Squishee (Slurpee) drinks and entered them at on a special website to instantly win Simpsons merchandise. Prizes included Simpsons products, Kwik-E-Mart t-shirts and uniforms and complete DVD sets of The Simpsons TV show, seasons 1 through 10. Contest entrants who collected and entered 10 codes received a limited-edition The Simpsons Movie poster.
Yex and her husband, who she said could be a stand-in for Homer, will take their winning trip before the end of the year.
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