The Simpsons is one of the greatest shows in the history of television, The Pitt is a new series that’s as successful as it is acclaimed, and for the former’s 800th episode, Homer and co did a crossover event with the latter.
The monumental 800th episode of The Simpsons – titled ‘Irrational Treasure’ – sees Marge taking family pooch Santa’s Little Helper to a dog contest in Philadelphia, while Homer becomes embroiled in a National Treasure-esque hunt.
To celebrate the milestone instalment, the episode features cameos from Kevin Bacon, Quinta Brunson, and The Roots, as well as a whole heap of Easter eggs.
The doggie storyline also sees Santa’s Little Helper getting sick and requiring a trip to a very intense veterinary hospital, where Marge comes face-to-face with three characters from The Pitt…
The Simpsons vs The Pitt explained
The Pitt plays out in a teaching hospital, with experienced doctors barking questions/orders at trainees, and that’s exactly what happens at this Simpsons vet.
First up Katherine LaNasa – who plays The Pitt’s day shift charge nurse Dana Evans – asks: “What the hell did you do lady?” Before calling for a “Code Purple.”
Noah Wyle – aka Dr. Robby – throws some technical jargon around, and demands “the most ultra-realistic looking stomach-pump we’ve got.” He then requests “The nice mousey intern who always maintains her youthful optimism in the face of constant trauma.”
“That would be me,” says Taylor Dearden, who plays the nice mousey Dr. Melissa King. She adds “May I say…” before Wyle tells her “Shut up, we’ve got a greyhound to save,” and demands she “cram that tube down his throat.” Making it essentially like any other day in The Pitt.
How the crossover event happened
Speaking to EW, The Simpsons showrunner Matt Selman said the crossover event is down to one man: “Mike Price, the co-runner, co-producer of this episode, is a huge The Pitt fan, and we thought it’d be a fun way to spice up the veterinary scene by giving it the intensity and melodrama of this terrific show.
“Then we convinced Noah and some of the other actors to play intense vet cartoon versions of themself. But I think it came from Mike, because I know he was just the hugest fan of that show from the get-go and how crazy and intense it was.”
Selman added that Price shepherded the actors through the process: “They were all pretty much on board because it’s like a love letter to the show, and it was pretty easy.
“But even when it’s someone huge like Noah Wyle, when they get here, it’s kind of a big deal. They’re like, ‘Oh my God, this is The Simpsons. This is a huge part of culture. This has been on for my whole life.’
“It can be a lot for them to take in once they’re actually here. And Mike is so good at directing them and keeping them chill.”
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