JetBlue’s New Blogger: C. Montgomery Burns

Travel Blog • Michael Yessis • 07.02.07 | 12:30 PM ET

It’s a publicity stunt, sure, but one that might help JetBlue get back some of its mojo after its February meltdown. As part of the massive hype for the upcoming The Simpsons Movie, C. Montgomery Burns—known best as Homer Simpson’s boss at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant—has taken over the blog of former JetBlue CEO David Neeleman. From his first entry: “Smithers entered my chambers this morning, toting wretched tales of congenial customer service and overly indulgent amenities on your JetBlue Airways. And for what… your precious passengers? Soon, the riff raff will demand ‘fair treatment’ from all corporate overlords, like myself. Well, not in my chemically prolonged life-time.”

Burns promises more entries this month.

Many other “Simpsons” characters are representing on the JetBlue site, recommending their favorite destinations. Among the inspired choices:

Las Vegas
“Free drinks and all-you-can-eat buffets!” Homer says. “What happens in Vegas doesn’t happen at home! Doh!”

San Francisco
“Come out and have fun!” says Smithers. “I’ve left my heart there so many times…”
Salt Lake City
“A dilly of a city!” says Ned Flanders. “It’s the whole shebang! You can hit the great outdoors or say ‘Hi-dily-ho neighborino!’ and actually get a response! Golly!”

The Simpsons are a well-traveled family. Wikipedia has a rundown of all the places the cartoon family has traveled, including its notorious trip to Rio de Janeiro. In Blame It on Lisa, Homer gets robbed and Rio is portrayed as a being full of monkeys. Rio’s tourism officials complained, and the producers of “The Simpsons” apologized, but that hasn’t stopped Brazil from becoming a running joke on the show.

Maybe C. Montgomery Burns will address the monkeys in Rio issue on the JetBlue blog, too.