Buzz
'King of the Hill' stands as one of the most beloved animated series to air on primetime television. Yet, during its original run, it often played second fiddle to the highly popular FOX series The Simpsons. Despite this, creator Mike Judge’s Texas-based sitcom garnered 13 successful seasons, cementing its place as one of America's finest TV shows before concluding in 2009.
Years later, fans have kept the show alive by revisiting old episodes, while new viewers continue to discover it through reruns. The show's revival was bolstered by Comedy Central’s Adult Swim in the 2010s, with late-night airings. Eventually, Hulu began streaming the series, and a fresh generation quickly bonded with the Hill family and their friends. By the 2020s, there was widespread demand for a reboot. Audiences were eager to see how time had treated the residents of Arlen.
In July 2022, Mike Judge seemed to acknowledge the calls for a return, revealing at San Diego Comic-Con that the show “has a very good chance of coming back.” While a reboot may be on the horizon, do you know the backstory of how the show came into being? Here are ten surprising facts every true King of the Hill fan must know!
10. Hank’s Familiar Real-Life Inspiration
Mike Judge brought King of the Hill to life after his success with Beavis and Butthead. Fans of those two notorious Gen-X misfits will remember how they constantly made life difficult for their neighbor, Tom Anderson. And true Judge fans will recognize that Anderson’s voice, personality, and values were all passed down to Hank in the FOX series.
In fact, Hank’s character was so closely tied to Tom Anderson that they almost became father and son. During early talks with network executives, Judge suggested making Hank Tom’s child. “I thought we could tie it into Beavis and Butthead as a kind of spin-off or something,” Judge shared in a later interview, “but Fox wasn’t on board.” Despite this, elements of Tom Anderson’s persona still linger in Arlen!
9. There Was a Real-Life Boomhauer
Hank’s loyal friends are key figures in the show. Dale’s wild conspiracy theories, Bill’s endless bad luck, and Boomhauer’s indecipherable speech all added to the charm of the alley. Of the trio, Boomhauer’s backstory is the most mysterious. Viewers had to wait until the series finale to discover his first name (Jeff) and job (Texas Ranger). But did you know that Rainey Street’s eternal bachelor was inspired by an actual voicemail?
Before King of the Hill, Judge became a household name with Beavis and Butthead, a hit on MTV throughout the 1990s. However, not everyone was a fan of the snarky series. One disgruntled viewer managed to track down Judge’s phone number and left a lengthy voicemail complaining about the show. The critic, a self-proclaimed “deranged hillbilly,” was not shy about voicing his displeasure.
Whether he was intoxicated, furious, or experiencing something else, the man’s thick accent was almost impossible to understand. Judge had to replay the tape repeatedly just to decipher his words. Despite the muddled and disjointed rant, it sparked a moment of inspiration. When it came time to develop King of the Hill, Judge used the man’s unique way of speaking to shape Boomhauer’s character. Dang ol’ yep, man.
8. Lucky’s Lucky Break
Luanne Platter’s alluring figure catches the eye of nearly every man in the show, from her lazy (and deceased) ex-boyfriend Buckley to Hank’s boss, Buck Strickland. However, Luanne eventually finds her match in Lucky Kleinschmidt, a charmingly clueless guy who manages to surprise Hank with his almost profound foolishness. Initially, writer John Altschuler imagined Lucky as a character akin to “Tom Petty without the fame.” The animators brought that vision to life by depicting him as a rock enthusiast with long blond hair and a prominent snaggletooth.
Inspired by this creative leap, Judge’s team took a bold step and tried to get Tom Petty himself to voice Lucky. Fortunately (no pun intended), the writers quickly discovered that King of the Hill was actually one of the rock legend’s favorite shows. Petty gladly entered the recording booth and flawlessly brought the role of Lucky to life. The musician thoroughly enjoyed voicing the hard-rocking underdog, even calling Lucky a “philosophical idiot.”
7. The Death Of Common Sense
Although Judge was raised in Albuquerque, he was well acquainted with Texas before creating the show. The fictional town of Arlen was inspired by the suburbs of Dallas, notably Garland and Richardson. While mapping out the show, Judge took co-creator Greg Daniels on a tour of these areas to spark creative ideas. As they assembled the writing team, Daniels pushed the research even further to bring more depth to the show’s setting.
The writers from Los Angeles had little insight into life in small-town Texas, so Daniels instructed them to read The Death of Common Sense, a 1995 bestseller by Philip K. Howard, a Georgetown University Law School professor. The book critiques how bureaucracy has led Americans to abandon common sense in favor of caution and mistrust. The writers clearly absorbed the book's message, as it became evident in countless episodes where Hank’s straightforward wisdom clashes with the foolish policies of bureaucratic incompetence throughout Arlen.
6. Arlen Outshines Springfield
Judge’s success with Beavis and Butthead on MTV earned him a lucrative opportunity with FOX. The network wanted Judge’s full creative attention, so they signed him to a production deal that gave them the rights to his TV pitches. FOX hoped to create a show to complement the success of The Simpsons. With the financial backing secured, Judge set out to create a show that he would personally enjoy watching.
Over time, Arlen slowly came to life. Judge even pitched the show to the network with a pencil test, addressing FOX’s president and other executives directly. The pitch resonated with them, especially the all-American Hill family, and viewers felt the same way. The early episodes of King of the Hill quickly gained higher ratings than FOX's first animated hit, as well as most other programming on the network.
5. Taking a Leap with a Theme Song
As King of the Hill began taking shape before its debut, Judge and Daniels set out to find the perfect theme song. The manager of the Arizona-based band, The Refreshments, answered the call and suggested his band submit a track. The group decided to take a risk with an instrumental piece they had casually played during soundchecks before shows. This bold move paid off when Judge and Daniels chose it from hundreds of submissions, making it the show’s iconic opening music.
Years later, the high-energy track continued to strike a chord with audiences. In 1997, The Refreshments attempted to build on the success by releasing an album that was ambitious but largely misunderstood. Unfortunately, the album didn't sell, and the label dropped the band before they could produce a follow-up. Unable to handle the pressure of the indie music scene, the group disbanded in 1998. However, their instrumental theme song lived on, continuing to air every week on FOX for another 12 years after the band split up.
4. The Delicious Luanne Platter
Judge and Daniels often incorporated references to Texas, its culture, and its landmarks into the show. For example, Hank’s cherished dog, Lady Bird, is named after Lady Bird Johnson, the former First Lady of the United States from Texas. In the show, Lady Bird is even said to be descended from the dog that helped track down Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassin, James Earl Ray—truly a bloodhound with southern roots.
A bold homage to the Lone Star state is embodied in Peggy’s niece, Luanne Platter. Her name is derived from the 'Lu Ann Platter,' a popular Texas cafeteria meal comprising an entree, a side, and a roll, served at the well-known Luby’s chain. The show also includes a cheeky reference to Luby’s, with the Hills frequently dining at 'Luly’s.' In 2010, Luby’s embraced the connection, dressing a model as Luanne and sending her to visit several of their Texas locations.
3. The Finale Fiasco
King of the Hill was initially set to conclude after its tenth season finale. FOX made the decision to cancel the series after a successful ten-year run. Despite the disappointment, creators Judge and Daniels planned a fitting conclusion. The final episode, 'Lucky’s Wedding Suit,' offered a heartwarming, family-oriented conclusion, featuring Lucky and Luanne walking down the aisle.
However, following the airing of the episode, FOX reversed its decision. Network executives opted to bring the series back for additional seasons. By this time, the writers had been ousted from their offices after the cancellation, so they had to return and restart their work. Ultimately, the decision paid off: The show ran for three more seasons, delighting audiences with numerous memorable episodes.
2. King of the Hollywood Hills?
Hank's well-known aversion to California, particularly Hollywood, set the stage for a big surprise when FOX launched a public relations campaign after the second season ended. The network announced that the Hill family might be relocating to... Los Angeles? Press releases were sent out, stating that discussions were underway with Judge and Daniels to change the show’s setting.
The response from viewers was swift and furious. Hundreds of letters, emails, and phone calls flooded FOX, urging them to reconsider the idea. Fortunately, it turned out to be a publicity stunt. The truth was that FOX was merely moving *King of the Hill* from its Sunday night spot to Tuesdays—not to California. The move didn’t work out, though, as the show struggled with low ratings. After a rough season in the Tuesday slot, Hank and the gang returned to Sundays for the remainder of the show’s run. Still, it would have been amusing to imagine Hank trying to sell propane in Beverly Hills.
1. Vaya Con Dios!
In 2000, Judge and Daniels collaborated on a spin-off idea that had a unique twist: it would be a live-action version of their animated series. On *King of the Hill*, Hank’s family often watched a fictional TV show featuring a Catholic priest named Monsignor Martinez. This priest was a devout figure who also took on a vigilante role, delivering the line 'Vaya con Dios' to his enemies before killing them on-screen.
In the live-action spin-off, Judge and Daniels planned to showcase the wild adventures of Monsignor Martinez. FOX was on the verge of picking up the pilot as well. The show’s logline was described as 'a macho, renegade priest who teams up with a young stockbroker and an ex-nun to hunt down the drug dealer responsible for killing his favorite altar boy.' Unfortunately, the spin-off never made it to the airwaves, leaving us to bid farewell to Monsignor Martinez. Vaya con Dios, wherever you may be.
