‘King of the Hill’ Revival First Details: Hank and Peggy Are Retired, Bobby’s a Dallas Chef, Dale Was Briefly Arlen’s Mayor and More

Fans of “King of the Hill” are quite devoted, to the point that actress Pamela Adlon has grown accustomed to seeing tattoos based on her character, Bobby Hill.

Adlon stated that he receives many submissions featuring Bobbie tattoos from people. Sometimes it’s a bobbin (referring to the small pin used for sewing), other times it’s just a depiction of Bobbie with his shirt off, lounging on a couch eating chips. He expresses surprise at seeing these images permanently inked on someone’s body and then adds that he feels touched by this gesture.”

“Adlon mentioned receiving numerous submissions showcasing Bobbie tattoos from people. Sometimes it’s a bobbin pin, other times just an image of Bobbie with his shirt off, casually eating chips on a couch. He wonders why someone would get such a design permanently etched on their body and then expresses gratitude for the gesture.

As a movie reviewer, I had the privilege of attending the reunion event at Austin’s Paramount Theatre, where the talented cast members of “King of the Hill,” including Lauren Tom (Connie) and Toby Huss (Kahn, Cotton, and now Dale), gathered alongside creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels. In a nostalgic gathering, they reflected on the series’ 13-season journey, and tantalizingly hinted at what lies ahead as the show prepares for its comeback in Season 14.

RELATED: Exclusive News: Toby Huss Steps In as Voice Actor for Dale Gribble in ‘King of the Hill’ Revival

As a cinema enthusiast, I found myself reminiscing with Tom about our shared cinematic past. Upon returning to this magical world, it was as if we had all gathered for a grand family reunion. They graciously previewed the initial two episodes prior to our arrival, and the anticipation is palpable within me. Each character that appears on screen, speaking their lines, fills me with a subtle surge of joy.

In 1997, the creator of “Beavis and Butt-Head”, who had recently achieved success, teamed up with Daniels to develop “King of the Hill”. He revealed that Spike Lee’s movie, “Do The Right Thing”, served as his inspiration for creating the show.

Back in the early 90s, I resided in Richardson, Texas, which is near Dallas. During that time, ‘Do The Right Thing’ was released. Upon watching it, I found myself intrigued, even though I hadn’t been to Brooklyn. It felt authentic and complex, as if to say, ‘Wow, this is profound.’ I remember thinking, ‘Why can’t something similar happen in our local community? I had never encountered anything quite like that film.

RELATED: ‘King of the Hill Revival’ Sets Hulu Release Date, Drops First-Look

The spark for potentially reviving “King of the Hill” came during a table read of the episode “Husky Bobby” at San Francisco’s SketchFest in 2017, which was part of the show’s 20th anniversary celebration. The audience’s enthusiastic response gave creators Judge and Daniels the idea. They then proposed the revival concept to Fox, where the show originally aired from 1997 to 2009. However, Fox didn’t seem keen on the idea at first. Over time, as Hulu began to expand its collection of animated shows, the interest in a revival grew.

Occasionally, Adlon would receive updates from Kathy Najimy (the actress portraying Peggy Hill) about whispers suggesting a return of “King”. She remarked, “I don’t let myself get overly excited about such speculations until it’s verified. Even at SketchFest, despite the wonderful atmosphere and memories, I was thinking, ‘Nothing’s going to happen.’ I generally avoid wishing for things like that because it’s too far-fetched, as it seems like a lofty dream.

However, the concept that ignited their enthusiasm was transforming the characters to contemporary ages: “As we began discussing aging the characters, ideas started flowing,” Judge mentioned. “Given that the show is so grounded and realistic, it felt appropriate for them to be older. It just seemed fitting.

Speaking for myself, I found it incredibly enjoyable to have Hank and the whole crew back in my hands again, crafting their dialogues and recalling their unique preferences.

They too chose to watch the series again to regain the same frame of mind. It was at this point that he realized anew, “This show is indeed well-made!

Afterward, securing the actors’ agreement wasn’t much of a challenge. Tom found humor in a journalist’s question about whether it was a difficult choice for her to come back, or if they had to be persuaded – prompting Adlon to retort, “We’re actors! We’re pros! I don’t care if it’s good!” This suggests that the actors were eager and unfazed by the decision, viewing their work as a professional commitment.

The upcoming 14th season of “King of the Hill” is set to premiere all its 10 episodes on August 4, exclusively on Hulu. Here are some interesting insights about this new season that we picked up during our moderation of the “King of the Hill” panel at ATX:

The upcoming season 14 of “King of the Hill” will air its complete 10 episodes on August 4, only on Hulu. Here’s a sneak peek into this new season that we learned during our discussion with the creators of “King of the Hill” at ATX:

Hank and Peggy moved to an Aramco base in Saudi Arabia, where he was busy working on “Saudi propane and Saudi propane accessories.”

Back in Arlen, Hank and Peggy have hung up their work boots for good – yet they’re finding it hard to adjust to this newfound leisure time. “I mean,” mused Judge, “what becomes of a man who’s always got his hands full with projects?”

In this rephrased sentence, I’ve tried to maintain the original meaning while using simpler and more conversational language to make it easier for readers to understand.

Daniels added: “Initially, when we promoted the show, we’d say, ‘Andy Griffith is back, but he’s angry now.’ We found it intriguing that he lived on an Aramco base, where life seemed like a perfectly idyllic American suburban lifestyle for quite some time. But then to return and witness our current condition…

As it turns out, the artificial “American” community I found myself in Saudi Arabia back in 2025 didn’t quite compare to my fondness for the place. Even my partner, Peggy, and I are finding our return a bit of a challenge. With a chuckle, I noted that Hank seemed to prefer the custom of women keeping themselves covered up over there. Upon our return, he was met with bike lanes, scooter lanes, and other modern conveniences that have emerged in the past 15 years – an unexpected change from his time abroad.

Bobby is 21, and an accomplished chef at his successful Dallas restaurant Robata Chane — which boasts an unusual German sushi fusion.

Upon hearing this news, the crowd in Austin expressed their disapproval towards Dallas. Moreover, it’s now undeniably clear that Arlen lies beyond Dallas. Unfortunately, and this might not sit well with Hank, he uses charcoal to fuel his stoves.

Adlon stated that he’s talking about an independent, mature individual who can visit a bar and purchase alcohol if he wishes, and he’s someone who puts in a lot of effort. He was raised by diligent parents, which Adlon finds intriguing. Watching young people succeed in any manner appeals to him. He enjoys seeing them persevere and have backup plans.

When it’s mentioned that grown-up Bobby exudes confidence and charm with women, Adlon remarked that Bobby had always been exceptional.

She remarked, “He had consistently behaved that way. From one extreme to another, he was a well-rounded individual right from the start. He was essentially the Dalai Lama! He attracted many women, so this isn’t surprising. It’s as if, as he matured, he grew more focused and somewhat like his father.

Dale Gribble was briefly Arlen’s mayor (as hinted in the new show open), but it didn’t go so well. As the show’s off-kilter conspiracy theorist, he hasn’t changed — but the world has.

Now, Dale appears somewhat balanced compared to before. This shift is due to the current state of the nation; Dale was previously firmly on the far right, but now he leans slightly towards both left and right. This is as reported by Huss.

Huss said it was an honor to take on the role of Dale Gribble after the death of original star Johnny Hardwick.

Hardwick initially portrayed Dale in the show’s first six episodes, but unfortunately, he passed away in 2023. Since then, Huss has taken up the role.

Johnny, originally from Austin, was truly unique, as Huss pointed out. He was an exceptional individual, not just because of his acting skills, but also due to his extraordinary quirkiness. To begin with, he wasn’t an actor by trade; instead, he was a comedian, a jokester, and a writer. The humor he brought to the character of Dale left me in awe, making me wonder, “Where on earth did that come from?

As I’ve observed this iconic character through the years, and then being given the opportunity to voice him was truly a humbling experience, shared with Judge and Daniels. I didn’t aim to mimic Johnny, but rather, I wanted to embody him – to bring Dale to life through that channel. There’s a lot of affection and respect for the man behind the character. He created an endearing, albeit eccentric, persona. The character was undeniably quirky, yet he had a depth to him that was a testament to Johnny’s talent. It’s tragic that he’s no longer with us.

The producers also have plans to pay tribute to Brittney Murphy (Luann) and Tom Petty (Lucky), who have also passed.

Patterson mentioned that there was a topic of discussion to determine what we did optimally, both as a tribute and for the fans, for the show itself. We discovered chances to reference them within the series in a manner that seemed quite reverent. We are fully aware of the significance they held.

Connie is in college, studying engineering, and also sexually fluid.

Tom stated that she is more open compared to him. He explained that when an actor takes on a role, they often delve into themselves and ask, “How am I similar to this character? Let me attempt to embody myself for a more genuine portrayal.” Connie appears to have a broader perspective than he does, which Tom found refreshing. In relation to the Gen Z concept of ENM (ethical non-monogamy), Tom was surprised by how open Connie seemed to be about this topic, as he thought it was racier than he expected from her.

For Bill (Stephen Root), it’s been a tough world without Hank and Peggy as neighbors.

During the pandemic, Bill has been confined at home and doesn’t go out. “I believe I’ve exhausted all of Netflix, Hank,” Bill remarked, according to Patterson.

New showrunner Saladin Patterson, who was working on shows like “The PJs,” “Frasier” and “Bernie Mac” during the original “King of the Hill” run, was a fan who jumped at the chance of joining the revival.

Patterson had just worked on a reboot of “The Wonder Years,” but that didn’t stop him.

Following the completion of “Wonder Years,” he expressed how taking over a property with an established fanbase can be quite challenging. He noted, “You can’t please everyone. No one will ever truly consider you as the right fit. Then, they offered ‘King of the Hill,’ and I eagerly accepted since I was such a devotee of the original. The first time I met with Mike and Greg, and saw their vision for updating the characters in present day, I was captivated. There’s so much creative potential there. Essentially, it felt like an opportunity to become part of a family that I had always admired from a distance. In my past, I used to view ‘The Cosby Show’ in the same way…

2025-06-01 01:47