King of the Hill is the most underrated cartoon, and underrated comedy, on TV. For ten years creator Mike Judge and his team of writers and cast of voices have given us sly humor and tender moments, each with ease. Here are my top ten reasons for watching this slow burner.
Mike Judge has created his own brand of humor in film and cartoons, much like Kevin Smith, only a bit more sophisticated than
Clerks. With under-the-radar comedic gems like
Office Space and
Idiocracy building a bigger and bigger following, it's obvious folks are figuring out that Mike Judge is smart and funny. You can even see his ability to strategically deploy jokes in
Beavis and Butt-head. Some would consider that cartoon, and its subsequent feature, to be low-brow. I suggest they aren't looking closely enough.
King of the Hill, then, is a welcome weekly dose of Mike Judge inspired laughter, the best medicine.
2. The Hills Are Alive
King of the Hill centers around a middle-class family without superpowers, potty mouths or FCC problems. Hank, Bobby and Peggy Hill find themselves in tough situations that are only slightly exaggerated from real-life problems: Bobby starts kicking people in the crotch in order to be tough; desperate for a teaching job Peggy masquerades as a nun, and Hank wears implants when his back end starts to disappear into his jeans. Through it all they remain honest, loyal, moral and hard-working. Watching their hairbrained schemes we laugh at how silly they are, but love how hard they're trying to do the right thing.3. I'll Tell You What
The message of King of the Hill is the heart of the show. Literally. Each episode usually involves a crisis of faith in something, whether it be high school football or organic gardening. But the characters always find their way back to solid footing, and usually learn a lesson along the way. And occasionally, I wind up with a warm smile on my face, and my heartstrings tugged a bit.4. You Can't Handle the Truth
Believe it or not, King of the Hill has told stories that incorporate hot button issues. For years the show dealt with the thorny topic of adultery in the relationship between John Redcorn and Nancy Gribble. King of the Hill has presented the economic evils that can happen when a large chain store like Mega-Lo-Mart (a stand-in for Wal-mart) comes to a small town. The show has also dissected religion, the military, environmentalism and more. But all this political and pop culture examination is done quietly and subtly, unlike South Park or Family Guy, which may be why King of the Hill flies under the radar.5. They Lift and Support
The so-called secondary characters on King of the Hill are just as important to the show as the Hills. The supporting characters are colorful, varied and funny. Consider ladies' man Boomhauer, conspiracy-theorist Dale, shin-less Cotton, ditzy but handy Luanne, the Loatian neighbor Kahn, and so many more. These characters help create a familiar world on King of the Hill, and their foibles and flaws are just as ripe for humor as any of the Hills.6. The Stars at Night Are Big and Bright
Arlen, Texas may not exist on the United States map, but over the years it's become very real to King of the Hill fans. I love Arlen. I love that they named two of their schools after NFL figures, Roger Staubach and Tom Landry. (Who else but Texans would do so?) I love that the origin of Arlen was as a stop on the trail for settlers looking for a roll in the hay. I love that they have events that feature eating contests, grilling contests, medieval fairs and the passing of the Olympic torch. Yes, Arlen, Texas has seen a lot of changes and excitement through the years. Hopefully, there's a lot more to come.7. And the Emmy Goes To...
In 2002, Pamela Adlon won an Emmy for her work as Bobby Hill in "Bobby Goes Nuts." I can't believe that's the only performance Emmy King of the Hill has snagged. Mike Judge's Texas twang for Hank Hill is dead on. Kathy Najimy's histrionics as Peggy are a riot. The regular cast also boasts acting heavy-hitters Stephen Root and Brittany Murphy. Time and again this talented ensemble underlines the humor and heart of King of the Hill's dialogue.8. We'll Leave the Light on For Ya
Lots of folks have passed through Arlen, Texas through the years. Guest stars have included Oscar winners, like Renee Zellweger and Reese Witherspoon, or musicians, like Tom Petty and Ani Difranco. (It helps if they have a homegrown drawl.) These guest stars are complementary to the top-notch regular cast; they don't pull stunts to draw attention to themselves. (I'm talking to you, Paris Hilton.) All of them make King of the Hill more fun to watch.9. Music Makes Hank's Head Go 'Round
No words. No vocals. But I dare you to start humming the theme song to King of the Hill and not feel better about the world instantly. With its driving guitar licks, the song, by the Refreshments, instantly puts me in mind of rodeos and barbecues. It's a great musical introduction to Arlen, Texas.10. Winner by Default
Unless you're into sobfests like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, King of the Hill is the best show in its timeslot. This season Fox is airing it at 8:30 p.m. ET, instead of its usual 7:30 p.m. ET. Hopefully, King of the Hill will draw the ratings in its primetime slot that it deserves.
