National Treasure with Christine Nangle • Season 37 Special

In our season finale, The Simpsons writer and co-executive producer Christine Nangle joins Nate and Adam to discuss the 800th episode of the show “Irrational Treasure” (S37E) and its pitch-perfect parody of National Treasure (2004).

Also in this episode:

• We talk all things Philadelphia, from soft pretzels to the National Dog Show to the ever-present Rocky franchise

• Behind-the-scenes details on how the episode was written and its many guest stars, like Quinta Brunson, Kevin Bacon, Questlove, Noah Wyle, and the cast of The Pitt

• The pain and beauty of being a pet parent

• Can Nate convince Adam that National Treasure is one of the best Indiana Jones knock-offs around?

We will return with regular biweekly episodes in September. Until then, keep an eye out for special one-off episodes and other Simpsons movie parody content on our blog throughout the summer.

For more of Christine’s work, tune in to new episodes of The Simpsons Sundays at 8pm (EST) on Fox and the day after on Hulu, as well as the full back catalog of the show on Disney+.

For more Simpsons movie parody content, follow us at @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, YouTube, and Letterboxd. Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network. 

National Treasure in “Irrational Treasure” (S37E14)

In Philadelphia, Homer meets the Historians of America's Great Inventors and Enlightened Men (H.O.A.G.I.E. Men, for short), led by the conspicuously named Professor Cage.

While Benjamin Franklin Gates is more calm, cool, and collected in National Treasure, the good professor seems to be riffing on other more erratic Nicolas Cage performances of the era like Matchstick Men and The Wicker Man. Meanwhile, Professor Cage’s two companions look a little different than Diane Kruger’s Abigail Chase and Justin Bartha’s Riley Poole, but they largely fit the into same roles.

The H.O.A.G.I.E. Men inform Homer of a hare-brained historical conspiracy, much like the plot of National Treasure, involving Benjamin Franklin’s hidden gold.

By giving Homer a pair of Colonial-era 3D glasses, taken right out of the movie, they are able to explain that Santa’s Little Helper is the descendant of Franklin’s own greyhound and the key to finding the treasure.

When Santa’s Little Helper pees on a historic fire hydrant, ti reveals a secret message, much like the one found on the back of the Declaration of Independence in this movie using lemon juice and a hair dryer.

When Marge and Homer find Franklin’s hidden treasure cave, it resembles the final set piece from this film, and the evil dog trainer Adrienne (played by Quinta Brunson) illuminates it with a chain reaction from a torch just like Gates does in the movie.

While in the movie, the crew must navigate a series of rickety platforms to get to their destination, in the episode it’s revealed that these platforms are perfectly designed for a well-trained greyhound to navigate.

Both the film and the episode end with a fake-out ending where we’re not sure they’ll actually find the treasure, but a last-minute puzzle reveals a passageway to untold riches. (Notably, the Simpsons version also looks a bit like the doors in the opening credits of Get Smart, something they’ve referenced many times before.)

Extra Credit

Looking for more like this or an interesting double feature? Here are our recommendations.

• From Christine: The Rock (1996)

• From Nate: American Animals (2018), Secret of the Incas (1954)

• From Adam: The DaVinci Code (2006), Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (video game, 2016), Gabriel Knight 3 (video game, 1999)

Further Reading & Viewing

• Article (Paywall): Rosa Cartagena, “It has taken Homer Simpson a very long time to realize that Philadelphia is his kind of town,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 15, 2026.

• Interview: JD Knapp, “‘The Simpsons’ Boss Celebrates 800 Episodes — With No End in Sight,“ The Wrap, February 13, 2026.

• Article: Liam McEwan, “After 800 episodes, ‘The Simpsons’ creators look back — and ahead,“ AP News, February 13, 2026.

• Article: Wesley Stenzel, “The Simpsons reveals guest cast for 800th episode including Kevin Bacon, Quinta Brunson, and more,” Entertainment Weekly, January 27, 2026.

• Article: Zack Sharf, “Nicolas Cage Can’t Say ‘Steal the Declaration of Independence’ Without Laughing: How Do You Sell Something ‘So Profoundly Ridiculous’?“ Variety, November 22, 2023.

• Video:The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, “Jawn, Mac Machine, Bol: Quinta Brunson Teaches Stephen How To Speak Philly,“ YouTube, January 4, 2023.

• Podcast Episode: “Bonus: The Secret Lies with Segars,” National Treasure Hunt, August 18, 2020.

• Video: Team Coco, “Kevin Bacon Slips Into His Philly Accent | CONAN on TBS,” YouTube, July 29, 2020.

• Interview: Christopher Wehner, “Ten Questions with NATIONAL TREASURE Screenwriting duo Marianne and Cormac Wibberley,“ Screenwriter’s Utopia, February 23, 2014.

When Christine Nangle wrote for Kroll Show, one of her most memorable segments was “Pawnsylvania,” a commentary on the regionalism of her home state where she also plays the role of Theresa.