# Where is King of the Hill popular? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 10, 2003, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118 "2003-12-10T07:43:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Thylacinewas\_taken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@Thylacinewas\_taken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacinewas_taken)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118/61 "2003-12-11T21:01:11Z")
\ this is a test \ end test. So now I have another question. Which age group is King of the Hill popular with? I’m 21. Most people I know that don’t like it are around my age, except my boyfriend’s parents. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118/62 "2003-12-11T22:05:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Max\_Castle \* > \*\*Tom Anderson from B&B was a kind of precursor to Hank Hill, but they’re not the same. Hank is basically a younger, more likable version of Anderson. > \*\* I always thought of Anderson as being Hank and Cotton merged together. As for the OP… I live in Dallas, and KOTH is funny for a few reasons. First, there’s that good old Texan eccentricity in the show- everyone around here’s known people like everyone on the show. They’re kind of like a regional equivalent of the “Comic Book Guy” on the Simpsons, I think. Second, there’s a certain amount of laughing at Hank & co. for being so provincial at times, or at least that’s the way I see it. Finally, sometimes the humor’s pretty good and pointed without being hateful. Like for example, the episode about Bobby and the Extreme Christians. That whole episode was a huge jab at the “hip” type of worship popular in some churches, WITHOUT being a dig on Christianity or church in general. Very well done, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118/63 "2003-12-11T22:31:17Z")
I am indebted to KotH for giving us a few household catchphrases, including: “That’s not Jesus, that’s Rob Zombie!” and, when walking into our Mega-Lo (Wal-) Mart: “Excuse me, where is your childrens’ gun section?” ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118/64 "2003-12-11T22:45:58Z")
I like the liberal-mocking. 🙂 “I’ve got a disability too. It’s called GWS, Good Worker Syndrome. I get sick to my stomach if people don’t give 110%. It _used_ to be a very common condition!” ---
**Author:** ![Ryle\_Dup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Ryle\_Dup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryle_Dup)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118/65 "2003-12-11T22:59:39Z")
Don’t forget, “The milks going bad… and there it goes.” ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118/66 "2003-12-11T23:41:52Z")
**Thylacinewas taken** , test posts and questions go in the About This Message Board forum, but since you’re here, [this link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/misc.php?s=&action=bbcode) has all you need to know about vBcode. **Guanolad** , I think that _King of the Hill_ benefits plenty from being animated. I have a hard time imagining them being able to find a group of appropriate character actors that could pull off that motley crew. Live-action Boomhauer? How would that work? Even Dale’s hyper-paranoia works so well because he’s a cartoon. A live body running that routine would be criticized for telegraphing. How could you find someone to play Bill? Stephen Root is a fantastic actor, and he has genuine _pathetic_ down to a tee. Perfect balance between repulsion and real _pathos_. Could he be as effective in that role if he had to be on camera? How? Prosthetics? You wanna be the casting director looking for someone with the right physical type _and_ the tremendous talent required to make Bill a sympathetic character, _from within the talent pool that network TV relies on?_ Good luck with that! Even more importantly, what about the kids? As a long-time old-time radio fan, I’ve come to appreciate that casting an adult woman as a juvenile boy is a smart thing to do, when you subtract the visual element. Bobby and Joseph are much more engaging characters than they would be in a live-action program, because the actors behind them are much more capable than you can reasonably expect a boy that age to be, in most cases. It doesn’t matter how good the dialogue is, having honest-to-goodness juveniles read it would probably be less satisfying. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118/67 "2003-12-12T04:49:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Having said that, I don’t watch King of the Hill so I’m not sure how they go with locations, but I’m fairly sure there’s no exaggeration or fantastical situations in it, it’s normally just a bunch of redneck idiots standing around drinking beer and talking bollocks. Which you can do just fine in a sitcom. But that’s just it-they AREN’T redneck idiots. Well, Dale and Bill are idiots, but none of them are really rednecks. They’re sort of small town hicks, but even that’s not totally the case. And that’s one of the reasons I like the show so much. It would be so easy to show them as redneck morons. But they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118/68 "2003-12-12T04:55:16Z")
Oh, and Bobby and Joseph are growing up-look at Joseph! Also, if it were live action, how could you have Cotton-a guy with no shins who had his feet reattached to his knees? BTW, my dad LOOKS almost exactly like Hank Hill. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118/69 "2003-12-12T04:59:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GuanoLad \* > Well I think it is. Animation is a different medium with a different scope. From my experience, people who work in that medium concur with that opinion. Sure, but that doesn’t mean that a show like King of the Hill can’t fall within the scope of both mediums. > [@](#): > > For all I know, there’s a perfectly good reason why _King Of The Hill_ is animated rather than live-action, but I haven’t been able to spot it from my limited observation. Well, one reason would be that the show’s creator is a professional animator. ---
**Author:** ![BIH\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/49beb7/32.png) [@BIH\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BIH_Boy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118/70 "2003-12-12T15:17:36Z")
It’s popular in my house. I and only one other friend likes King of the Hill. Apart from one other guy at work, I know noone else that likes it. (Scotland) ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118/71 "2003-12-12T17:34:17Z")
California native speakin: I liked the first few shows, but as someone else said, it quickly evolved into ‘cartoonish’ stuff. ---
**Author:** ![TitoBenito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2acd7d/32.png) [@TitoBenito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TitoBenito)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118/72 "2003-12-12T17:39:06Z")
I don’t know anyone that doesn’t like it. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118/73 "2003-12-12T17:53:35Z")
I love the show, and have both DVD sets at home so far. I especially enjoy the dialogue between Bobby and Joseph. (from memory) _Bobby and Joseph stick flashlights in their mouths_ Bobby: “Damn! That’s hot!” Joseph: “Hell yes!” Bobby: “Fu…” Peggy: “Bobby Hill! Did I just almost hear what I think I almost heard?” Bobby: “I was going to say, fuh-get about it!” Peggy: “Peggy Hill knows half a swear word when she hears it.” _Looking at fireants_ Joseph: That’s the queen, stupid - just like the one on my dad’s truck. Bobby: You mean Dale Dribble’s truck? Joseph: Yeah, my dad! _Walking down the hall at school_ Joseph: Man, when did you get so _slick?_ Bobby: What do you mean? (turning to a girl walking by) Bobby: Hey Sharice what up you stone cold fox? ---
**Author:** ![Alex-NC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a587f6/32.png) [@Alex-NC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex-NC)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118/74 "2003-12-12T19:00:36Z")
Love the show. Especially when Bobby’s sexuality is doubted by his father. Bobby liking to cook, cheer and being a male model scares the crap out of Hank. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118/75 "2003-12-13T05:07:34Z")
I absolutely love it! My dormmates and I all used to watch it together in undergrad on Sunday nights-this was up in chilly Montreal. My favourite episode of all time is when Hank starts fishing with crack rock. ---
**Author:** ![okielady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/fbc32d/32.png) [@okielady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/okielady)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118/76 "2003-12-13T05:51:40Z")
I was discussing this thread with my husband and he exclaimed, “Anyone who don’t like King of the Hill needs to be shot!” And I guess it’s self-explanatory as to why he likes it. Oh, and FTR, I like it too. I don’t go out of my way to watch it, but when I do catch the show, I enjoy it. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118/77 "2003-12-13T07:03:19Z")
Originally from Jersey and LOVE the show. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118/78 "2003-12-13T12:12:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GuanoLad \* > \*\* I’m fairly sure there’s no exaggeration or fantastical situations in it, it’s normally just a bunch of redneck idiots standing around drinking beer and talking bollocks. \*\* Evidently, you’ve never bothered to watch the show. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Batz Maru \* > **There is a lot of Texas in KotH, but I agree that the suburban vibe of it dominates - it could be set almost anywhere in the USA with very minor modifications. I really relate to it, having spent most of my adult life in suburban Texas.** There’s a French Canadian dub of the show in Canada. It’s on cable, so it’s not as popular as the Simpsons, but it’s surprisingly funny. Almost as much as the original. The only thing they really screwed up was the idiotic title: _Henri pis sa gang_. Of course, the dialogue is adapted more than translated, but still I think it goes to prove your point. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118/79 "2003-12-13T12:26:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jovan \* > **Evidently, you’ve never bothered to watch the show.** Indeed. In point of fact, the evidence is actually that _I said that several times already_. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118/80 "2003-12-13T12:36:18Z")
Then why bother refering to the characters as “redneck idiots” which is, well, “talking bollocks”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-king-of-the-hill-popular/218118.md?page=5)