From quite a time, I was a loyal viewer of King of the Hill. Then, after it left the air, it (continued) aired as reruns on syndicated channels.
I'll be posting my list of favorite episodes but first I would like to discuss its revival while weaving the original run in. Before I continue, here's the lowdown: the series follow Hank Hill and his family, wife Peggy and son Bobby. He worked (now retired) as a propane and propane accessories salesman; Peggy is a retired school substitute teacher, and Bobby was a student, now chef. There were also his friends: Dale, Bill, and Boomhauer. Boomhauer was a single man who dated left, right, and center, and now has a live in girlfriend with a son, Luke Jr. Bill was a barber for the Army, divorced from Lenore, and has a crush on Peggy. Dale is an exterminator, married to former weather/news anchor now real estate sales Nancy and a son Joseph .... except Joseph isn't his .... he's the biological son of Native American John Redcorn. John Redcorn and Nancy had a very long affair that was known to neighbors but not Dale, who, ironically is a conspiracy theorist while blind and oblivious to the fact that Joseph isn't his son. Nancy did break up with John Redcorn to be faithful to Dale; but that didn't last as they eventually resumed their affair - or at least that's what implied. However, I do have my doubts on that. In the earlier seasons when Nancy and John Redcorn were deep into their 14 year affair, Nancy was rather disgusted by Dale in a sexual way. As she said in an episode that Peggy realized the truth, Nancy loved Dale in the "lights on" sort of way. When we get to season 4's Nancy's Boys where Nancy realized she had it good with Dale. So, in the revival, when Nancy and John Redcorn arrived, Nancy gave Dale a juicy smooch and was rather affectionate with her husband... When she was having an affair, Nancy was the opposite. So, I am iffy on this now.
while the Hill family were living in Saudi Arabia. There's also Laotian neighbors next door, Khan and Minh (now divorced) with a daughter, Connie, who has an on-and-off relationship with Bobby. On the original series, Hank worked at Strickland Propane but (after the series originally ended) left for another position in Saudi Arabia with a good retirement plan.
After the series ended, some prominent voice actors have passed away: Brittany Murphy (Luanne, Peggy's niece who lived in after her trailer was knocked over and was literally abandoned by her parents despite being a young college adult), Tom Petty (Luanne's husband), Dennis Burkley (Principal Moss).... When the revival news happened, the original voices signed on: Mike Judge, Kathy Najimy, Pamela Adlon, Johnny Hardwick, Stephen Root, Toby Huss, Lauren Tom, Ashley Gardner, and Jonathan Joss.
Unfortunately, several months after the announcement of the King of the Hill revival, Johnny Hardwick passed away, found in August of 2023. Police came to his house on a welfare check and found him dead in the bathtub - he was already too decomposed that they don't know the cause of death (although there's talk he had throat cancer but wouldn't that be on his autopsy? The cause was undetermined). In the revival, you can tell his voice does sound different, slower, dimmer than the original run - sure it's years passed - they aged all characters and voices do alter a bit and because Johnny was a smoker like Dale is, it affected his voice... Honestly there were moments in episodes 1-7 I thought it was mostly Toby's work than Johnny as a fill in for any changes before he fully took over after episode 7. Yes, Toby did some fill ins for Johnny, but it was indeed Johnny, sadly we are listening to a dying man.... Anyway, luckily, Johnny did manage to record 6 out of 10 episodes of the revival before being replaced by Toby. Johnny was not only a voice actor (of Dale), but also producer and writer for the show. In those 7 episodes I am glad Johnny got to be Dale, saying Wingo!, Sha-sha-sha!, had a moment with Joseph, Nancy, being an eccentric exterminator, paired up with Bill over spying on Hank during his conspiracy theory that Saudi Arabia made Hank into a spy and liking soccer, and, in his last fully recorded episode, paired up with Peggy and her own shenanigans.
Another loss was this year (2025) with Jonathan Joss, who voiced John Redcorn. He was recently killed in a hate crime by a neighbor who was against gay community. His home was loss in arson a few months before his death - such a tragedy.
Here are my top 50 favorite episodes of King of the Hill (in no particular order, only listed by memory):
1. Propane Boom II: Death of a Propane Salesman
a follow up opener from the previous season finale episode. The aftermath from the Mega-Lo Mart explosion that killed Luanne's boyfriend Buckley. A few other significance were Luanne becoming bald after losing her hair due to the explosion and Hank's PTSD from being around his flammable beloved Propane.
2. A Firefighting We Will Go
Too many hilarious things from this one! Hank, Bill, Dale, and Boomhauer were Firemen volunteers and were squabbling away, getting into trouble because of it. They offered their own version of events: Dale with long hair, tall, and muscular; Bill overweight and eating; Boomhauer talking very clearly while everyone else spoke gibberish as he normally would. Chet's funeral they acted as pallbearers but ended up tripping into the grave.... too, too funny!
3. The Wedding of Bobby Hill
Luanne and Bobby, despite being cousins, acted like siblings in this episode, with pranks that went too far enough for Hank and Peggy to get involved to give them a taste of their own medicine.
4. Sleight of Hank
The gang went to a magic show for Nancy's birthday party with Peggy as a volunteer. assistant where she got into a box and magically disappeared, returning to her seat. At first Hank was unimpressed and not interested, fake fake fake.... until Peggy as magic trick. He then became obsessed with trying to know how that magic trick did its trick.
5. Naked Ambition
One of the best! It was definitely an ensemble episode where just about everyone had their part. During a neighbor picnic outing at a lake, Bobby accidentally sees Luanne naked (ended up twice) much to Joseph's envy. Boomhauer fell asleep while relaxing on a tube and floated through the rivers and canals of Texas. When he woke up and was disoriented, Boomhauer found himself in an insane asylum. He called Dale, who snuck in as a mental patient himself to get Boomhauer out. That didn't work well, so they called Bill and neither wanted to tell Hank. Bill instead volunteered to admit himself and fitted in. Eventually Hank got wind of it after their escape attempt failed.
6. Nancy's Boys
Nancy breaks up with John Redcorn to be a more dedicated wife to Dale.
7. Twas the Nut Before Christmas
This was a great Bill episode where he was trying to impress a single mother of two that got disgusted and worried about him leaving the Christmas decorations up for months. He then becomes a surrogate dad to this young adult drifter. I think Bill really wanted to be a father to somebody.
8. Hank and the Great Glass Elevator
Hank embarrassed himself over mooning (a prank by the fellows) on a see through glass elevator, and Governor Ann Richards saw it. Bill charms and dated the Governor. Meanwhile Peggy and Bobby secretly enjoyed charcoal grilled burgers.
9. The Exterminator
After being exposed to his bug extermination potion for many a year, Dale had to (temporary) step down and get a normal 9-to-5 job. Lisa Kudrow guest stars as Dale's boss.
10. Bobby Goes Nuts
That's my purse, I don't know you! *kick right in the groin*. Enough said.
11. Lupe's Revenge
The scene in Mexican court where Peggy proves she doesn't know or speak Spanish correctly as she thought she does.... Classic!
12. Of Mice and Little Green Men
A father and son episode of Dale and Joseph. Dale knew full well that Joseph isn't his biological son - but still in denial that its John Redcorn. Instead, Dale believed it was an alien. However, it only proves that Dale and Joseph are tightly bonded as father and son, and Joseph concluded that the aliens extracted Dale's DNA and fertilized into Nancy, therefore Joseph is his "biological" son.
Let me just say that, yes, John Redcorn was obviously Joseph's biological father and always a long running joke. That being said, since the moment of birth, Dale was always there for Joseph: tackling the Father duties and created a bond. Meanwhile, Joseph absorbed Dale into his persona; Joseph sees himself as a white man, and John Redcorn always had a hard time getting through to Joseph while Dale could. In the revival, John Redcorn is at the point of calling Joseph "Young Gribble" (while still yearning a father's on bond).
13. Beer and Loathing
Peggy gets a job in Alamo Beer and was privy to their secrets, bonded by secrecy contract. Hank wanted to know why getting sick from a tainted beer but Peggy couldn't tell. Instead, she hatched a grand scheme of revenge on the board responsible.
14. Goodbye Normal Jeans
Mother vs. son type episode where Peggy gets jealous of Bobby taking an interest in cooking after taking Home Economics.
15. The Texas Skillsaw Massacre
Due to Dale's underground tunnel, the floor in the Hill residence collapsed. The Hill family had to stay with Dale and Nancy. Wouldn't take long for Dale to get on Hank's nerves - a lawsuit and restraining order happened.
16. Be True to Your Fool
The men got lice - thanks to Bill. And Peggy discovered a tattoo on Hank's head that he got one drunken night for Bill when he was deporting with the Army.
17. Night and Deity
The tables have turned when Dale becomes admittedly attracted to a female exterminator and Nancy gets jealous, fearing a result happened to her with John Redcorn. However, Dale never cheated.
18. Maid in Arlen
Bill falls for Kahn's mother.
19. The Incredible Hank
Peggy snuck in testosterone pills in Hank's food, giving him a burst of energy until he gets too aggressive for everyone.
20. Livin' on Reds, Vitamin C and Propane
Hank and Bobby were living it up as truckers while delivering furniture to his mother in Arizona. Despite not being invited, Dale, Bill, and Boomhauer stowaway for the ride. Meanwhile Peggy and Luanne co-wrote a Christmas song while Nancy didn't know where her husband was.
21. My Hair Lady
Luanne and Bill teamed up to cut hair; Bill had to pretend to be gay.
22. Gone with the Windstorm
Nancy was feeling the heat of being an older news anchor when Luanne filled in as weather girl. The news station began to push Nancy away until she, Dale, and Peggy stole a news van to cover the fires.
23. It Ain't Over 'til the Fat Neighbor Sings
Bill joined in on a singing choir group, a cappella kind. It took a good chunk of his time of missing work and not being in the alley as much.
24. Hank's on Board
Dale and Boomhauer tried to sneak off on a fishing trip but were caught. Hank thought Dale and Boomhauer were avoiding Bill, but it turned out to be Hank. Peggy encouraged Hank to loosen up and have fun. Sure enough, without his bossy parental leadership, chaos ensued.
25. Church Hopping
Hank decided to change churches after being upset by a new family taking over their regular pew. However, their brand new church (bigger and fancier) demanded their time - not just service, but any fixings to their problems. Eventually Hank had enough (and Peggy drove the church administration crazy) and went back to his old church.
26. Hank Gets Dusted
Hank's cousin Dusty Hill comes to visit with his band ZZ Top. Chaos and temper flies around in hilarity. My favorite part is where Dusty was spinning Bobby around like a guitar - only in cartoon world you can do that!
27. The Passion of Dauterive
After a near death experience when his roof collapsed on his bed (Bill was sleeping on the couch), he spent time in church and got into a romantic relationship with Reverend Stroup.
28. Grand Theft Arlen
Hank gets drawn into the video game world.
29. Peggy's Gone to Pots
Peggy gets sucked into a ponzie scheme while Dale gets confronted (and cowardly runs away from) the real Rusty Shackleford). Peggy and Dale soon teamed up to get rid of their problems.
30. Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
Nancy's hair is falling easily due to hereditary. The only way to keep her hair would've been rekindling her affair with John Redcorn. Or get a wig. Nancy seriously reconsider to rekindling as Dale was going through a mind trip of his own. However, Dale unknowingly stopped Nancy's reconsideration wooing her that he only wanted to be with her when the World comes to the end. Nancy ended up getting a wig.
31. Bill, Bulk and the Body Buddies
Bill gets exercising equipment and became his street's neighborhood gym so he could be fit for the Army's physical. However, Bill got swept away by heavy lifting with these bulky men and freaked out the neighbors.
32. Four Wave Intersection
It's Summer, the kids were forced out from a water park by young adults and Bill enjoyed the attention of being a highway waver.
33. The Minh Who Knew Too Much
Minh joins Dale's gun club to practice skeet shooting in order to join the Nine Rivers Club that she and Kahn have been desperately trying to join since they moved to town. However, deep down, Minh bonded with the gun club rednecks and it's a rare episode of Minh and Dale teaming up together in an episode.
34. Trans-Fascism
After complaints from outsiders about trans fat in foods, a ban was issued. However, Buck, with his restaurant Sugarfoot's shut down for their mostly fried foods menu, enlisted a food truck to secretly serve the banned products around town.
35. Untitled Blake McCormick Project/Three Men and a Bastard
Bill got a new girlfriend with two children - one of whom caught Dale's attention. Kate's mannerisms and facial features reminded him so much of Joseph and he did a DNA test, discovering that Joseph and Kate are biological brother and sister - therefore his daughter .... Well, John Redcorn's daughter.
36. Strangeness on a Train
Peggy, who has a history of birthdays gone wrong, had a mystery whodunit back in the 1970s on a train. Sounds exciting, right? Well, Luanne was chosen to be part of the cast but quickly spoiled the answer.... Whoops, party ruined and they were stuck on a train until eventually being kicked out. They came across a rundown tough bar who welcomed them in. It's worth mentioning that Hank and Peggy did it on the train; their afterglow was ruined when Kahn discovered feet marks on the mirror.
37. It Came from the Garage
Apparently Hank is afraid of bats.
38. Dia-BILL-ic Shock
A rather arrogant Doctor told Bill that he's in danger with diabetes and could very well lose his legs, get a wheelchair. Bill pretty much gave up on life, typical, and let it be bygones. But Bill came across a man in a wheelchair who played a rough game of rugby and refused to let his handicap get in the way. Bill got inspired until he got up and realized his blood sugar was normal. Probably one of the few episodes where Dale is nice to Bill, not insulting him.
39. Square-Footed Monster
After a neighbor passed away, a relative "hired" Hank, Dale, Bill, and Boomhauer to fix up her house to sell. The seller turned out to be Ted Wassanasong, much to Kahn's delight. However, Ted had the house torn down and replaced it with a mansion, which was poorly built with cheap materials and overtook the property with no lawn. During a bad storm, the mansion had put both Bill's and Luanne's houses in danger, resulting self defense take down of the mansion.
40. Lost in MySpace
The rise of social media, starting with MySpace, had Strickland Propane to step it up to keep with the times after seeing their rival gain their customers. Donna the accountant was in charge and got it over her head of power after Buck promoting her as Assistant Manager but Hank fired her. Donna took over the MySpace page as she knew the password and changed the look to bad, trying to take down Strickland.
41. What Happens at the National Propane Gas Convention in Memphis Stays at the National Propane Gas Convention in Memphis
Buck and Hank go to a convention dedicated to propane where a special award would be given out. But, Buck found an illegitimate son who was just like him and they constantly partied, much to Hank's dismay.
42. Nancy Does Dallas
Nancy got offered a big deal news anchor job at Dallas only except she let the deceiving power to her ego and head until it backfired on her (being drunk at a parade and falling over). Although Dale was nuts in his own right, it was concluded that Nancy needed Dale more than Dale needed Nancy over their mental stability as Dale's schinenigans keep Nancy busy than to focus on her own schinenigans.
43. Serves Me Right for Giving General George S. Patton the Bathroom Key
Hank turns out to be an Executive of Cotton's Will and had to live out Cotton as last To Do List, including dumping his ashes in the toilet used by General George S. Patton. Meanwhile, Bill and Dale fight over Dale's beer can left on Bill's lawn - my favorite part of the show.
44. Bill Gathers Moss
After enjoying roommates on sitcoms, Bill decided to get a roommate himself. At the same time, it's discovered that Principle Moss (who grew up with Hank, Bill, Dale, and Boomhauer) was living at the elementary school after his wife kicked him out. The roommate situation didn't work out as Principal Moss charmed another roommate Bill wanted to move in and they got into questionable business of mocked designer brands. Eventually Bill decided having roommates aren't for him and embraced living alone.
45. To Sirloin with Love
Hank and Bobby bond over Bobby's love for steak, knowing what part is what. He joined a team to observe a carcass. Bobby was tempted to quit due to the up-tightness of the team but Hank wasn't pleased (until he eventually saw himself why Bobby wanted to quit).
46. The Beer Story
Hank and Bobby at first were to enter a beer tasting contest together but due to their differences, they ended up parting and entering on their own. I love the scenes of Dale being annoyed Peggy in the alley, Minh's joke being backfired (talking about beer in the alley), a wink & a nod of Nancy's affair with John Redcorn, and Dale and Joseph being father and son in their actions to sabotage the contest to tip to one's side. In remembrance to Tom Petty, they used his song Running Down the Dream.
47. Keeping Up with Our Joneses
Bobby was caught with a cigarette and Hank forced him to smoke a whole pack. However, Hank and Peggy, who loved smoking in the past and gave it up around the time they had Bobby, also got sucked into it. During a bad thunderstorm and Luanne's determination to help Hank, Peggy, and Bobby to withdraw.
48. Any Given Hill-Day
Johnny Hardwick's last episode. Another Peggy-Dale team up in shenanigans over bringing the community together by setting up a little book nook of books she found at a yard sale.... Only except they had bed bugs in them and therefore people weren't pleased with Peggy.
49. No Hank Left Behind
All of Cotton's three sons were at the lawyer's office and Didi wants Hank to be a male influence for GH (Good Hank). Despite his objections, Hank relented. Meanwhile Peggy injured her knee and stayed with Bobby in Dallas to have a MRI. Peggy gets claustrophobic/panic attack.
50. King of the Ant Hill
Back in the first season, Hank was disappointed by Dale's bug killing chemicals affecting his beloved lawn. He 'fired' Dale and went another direction to care for his yard. Dale wasn't pleased so he sent his ants to destroy the new yard makeover.
