An animated prime-time family sitcom featuring a blue-collar family from the fictional town of Arlen, Texas, King of the Hill debuted as a mid-season replacement for Ned & Stacey.
Hank Hill (voiced by Mike Judge) worked at Strickland Propane company; his wife Peggy (voiced by Kathy Najimy) was a substitute Spanish teacher; their teenage niece Luanne (Brittany Murphy) – who came to live with Hank and Peggy when her alcoholic mother was jailed for stabbing her father with a fork during an argument and their trailer was repossessed – was studying to be a beautician (specifically a Hollywood makeup artist); while their son Bobby (Pamela Adlon) was a chubby 11-year-old.
They lived at 123 Rainey Street and the family dog was a bloodhound called Ladybird.
Much of the humour in the show stemmed from Hank’s traditional values – for example, he was afraid to show affection in public, even to his wife.
The fact that Bobby often showed interest in such “feminine” things as dolls and fashion prompted the show’s catchphrase, “That boy ain’t right”.
Hank relaxed by drinking beer with his friends, the clinically depressed Bill Dauterive (Stephen Root), Dale Gribble (Johnny Hardwick) – a gun fanatic and the owner of an extermination company – and Boomhauer (also Mike Judge), who spoke incoherent southern gibberish that only Hank seemed to understand.
King of the Hill ran for 13 years, during which time it attracted a huge range of guest stars, including Alan Rickman, Meryl Streep, Christopher Lloyd and The Dixie Chicks.
Hank Rutherford Hill Mike Judge
Margaret “Peggy” Hill
Kathy Najimy
Robert (Bobby) Jeffrey Hill
Pamela Adlon
Luanne Leanne Platter
Brittany Murphy
Dale Alvin Gribble
Johnny Hardwick
Bill Fontaine De La Tour Dauterive
Stephen Root Jeff Boomhauer
Mike Judge Nancy Gribble
Ashley Gardner
