The Simpsons Celebrates 800th Episode with Pitt Crossover

Showrunner Matt Selman reveals how the surprise cameos from The Pitt cast came together.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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The Simpsons' 800th episode featured surprise cameos from the cast of the acclaimed medical drama The Pitt, including Noah Wyle, Katherine LaNasa, and Taylor Dearden. Showrunner Matt Selman explained that the crossover was orchestrated by co-producer Mike Price, a big fan of The Pitt, as a way to add "intensity and melodrama" to a veterinary storyline in the milestone episode.

Why it matters

The Simpsons has been a cultural institution for decades, and reaching the 800-episode milestone is a remarkable achievement. Bringing in stars from another popular TV show like The Pitt helps draw in new viewers and keep the long-running animated series feeling fresh and relevant.

The details

In the 800th episode titled "Irrational Treasure," Marge takes the family dog to a national competition in Philadelphia. When the dog eats grapes from Marge's salad, he has to be rushed to a veterinary hospital, where the The Pitt stars make their cameo appearances as intense vet versions of their characters.

  • The Simpsons' 800th episode aired on February 17, 2026.

The players

Matt Selman

The showrunner of The Simpsons who revealed details about the Pitt crossover episode.

Mike Price

The co-producer of The Simpsons' 800th episode who is a big fan of The Pitt and orchestrated the crossover.

Noah Wyle

The star of the medical drama The Pitt who made a cameo appearance in The Simpsons' 800th episode.

Katherine LaNasa

A star of The Pitt who also appeared in the crossover episode of The Simpsons.

Taylor Dearden

Another The Pitt cast member who lent their voice to the Simpsons' 800th episode.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Matt Selman, Showrunner of The Simpsons (Entertainment Weekly)

“And then we convinced Noah and some of the other actors to play intense vet cartoon versions of themself.”

— Matt Selman, Showrunner of The Simpsons (Entertainment Weekly)

“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.”

— Matt Selman, Showrunner of The Simpsons (Entertainment Weekly)

What’s next

The Simpsons is expected to continue airing new episodes, with fans eagerly anticipating what other crossovers or special events the long-running animated series has in store for future milestones.

The takeaway

The Simpsons' ability to bring in stars from other popular shows like The Pitt demonstrates the series' enduring cultural relevance and appeal, even after over 800 episodes. The crossover was a creative way to celebrate the landmark 800th episode and keep the series feeling fresh for longtime fans.