Notably, Season 22 did not win any Emmys (it was nominated for Outstanding Animated Program for “Treehouse of Horror XXI” but lost to South Park ’s “It’s a Jersey Thing”). Still, it was nominated for multiple Annie Awards, and voice actor won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for his work in the season.
A cliffhanger episode where Ned and Edna Krabappel start dating after she is suspended for a prank Bart pulled. The episode ends with the two kissing in the rain — only for the final shot to reveal that Principal Skinner had been watching from a window, setting up Season 23’s love triangle. It’s a soft finale, but it shows the show still cared about its secondary characters. The D’oh-thrip Effect: What Worked and What Didn’t The phrase “d’oh-thrip” isn’t just a pun — it captures the season’s deliberate, unflashy endurance. Unlike the chaotic energy of earlier seasons, Season 22 moves at a slower, more predictable pace. The jokes land at a 60–70% success rate. The celebrity cameos (Hugh Laurie, Rachel Weisz, Kristen Wiig, Patton Oswalt) are integrated smoothly, not as desperate stunts. The animation is clean, if not inspired. the simpsons season 22 dthrip
Lisa becomes a magician’s apprentice to an old-school illusionist (voiced by Ricky Jay). It’s charming, respectful of magic history, and features a rare bittersweet ending where Lisa learns that some secrets are worth keeping. One of the season’s most heartfelt entries. Notably, Season 22 did not win any Emmys
Yet even mediocre Season 22 episodes have a certain craft. The show never feels lazy; it feels experienced . Like a veteran band playing their hits with slight variations, occasionally veering into a deep cut that reminds you why they mattered. Critically, Season 22 was met with a shrug. Metacritic aggregates weren’t common for individual seasons then, but fan reception on forums like No Homers Club was mixed: some called it a mild improvement over Season 21; others dismissed it as more of the same. The IMDb episode ratings hover mostly between 6.5 and 7.5 — respectable for a show in its third decade. The episode ends with the two kissing in
A solid B-minus season — unessential for new viewers, but rewarding for longtime fans willing to meet the show where it lives. Watch “How Munched Is That Birdie in the Window?” and “The Great Simpsina” for proof that the heart was still beating.