
It always felt wonderfully unexpected to hear Pamela Adlon, with her distinctive New York voice, play Bobby Hill, a goofy kid growing up in Texas. That contrast is a key reason why her delivery of the line, “That’s my purse! I don’t know you!” became so famous. In the new King of the Hill revival, Adlon doesn’t drastically change Bobby’s voice – he still sounds like Bobby – but both the actress and the character have evolved. Now in her late 50s, Adlon brings a deeper, more mature warmth to the role, as Bobby, now in his early 20s, tackles adulthood with the same innocent enthusiasm he had as a child. What’s impressive is how skillfully Adlon balances the old and the new. Bobby still has the unique, slightly quirky rhythm that made him so memorable, but there’s a newfound gentleness and understanding beneath the surface. Adlon manages to make Bobby feel fresh and updated while staying true to the character we all loved.