King of the Hill remains a beloved animated series, often overshadowed by The Simpsons during its run on FOX. Created by Mike Judge, this Texas-themed sitcom offered 13 seasons of relatable and hilarious content before concluding in 2009.
In the years that followed, loyal fans have continued to re-watch episodes, while new viewers discover the show through reruns and streaming platforms like Hulu. The charm of Hank Hill’s family and friends has resonated with younger audiences, leading to demands for a reboot. In July 2022, Mike Judge hinted at a possible return at San Diego Comic-Con. But before any reboot materializes, here are ten fascinating behind-the-scenes facts every King of the Hill enthusiast should know!
Related: Top 10 Real-Life Inspirations For Famous Cartoon Characters
10 Hank’s Very Familiar Inspiration
Before King of the Hill, Mike Judge gained fame with Beavis and Butthead. Fans will recall the neighbor, Tom Anderson, often tormented by the troublesome teens. Hank Hill inherited Anderson’s voice, mannerisms, and sense of decency.
Initially, Judge considered making Hank the son of Tom Anderson. “I was kind of thinking we’d tie it into Beavis and Butthead as a sort of spin-off or something,” Judge mentioned in an interview. However, FOX rejected the idea. Nevertheless, traces of Tom Anderson’s character live on in Arlen.[1]
9 There Was A Real-Life Boomhauer
Hank’s buddies, Dale, Bill, and Boomhauer, are central to the show. Of the three, Boomhauer’s background is the most mysterious. Viewers only learn his first name (Jeff) and occupation (Texas Ranger) in the series finale. This character was inspired by an actual voicemail.
Before King of the Hill, Judge’s work on Beavis and Butthead led to an annoyed viewer leaving a message complaining about the cartoon. This “deranged hillbilly” critic’s unintelligible, rambling rant became the basis for Boomhauer’s unique speaking style. Dang ol’ yep, man![2]
8 Lucky’s Lucky Break
Luanne Platter eventually settles down with Lucky Kleinschmidt. Initially, writer John Altschuler envisioned Lucky as “Tom Petty without the success,” leading animators to draw him as a rock-and-roll fan. The team then pursued Tom Petty himself for the role.
Petty, a fan of King of the Hill, accepted the role of Lucky. He enjoyed voicing the character, describing him as a “philosophical idiot.”[3]
7 The Death Of Common Sense
Arlen was inspired by the Dallas suburbs of Garland and Richardson. To inspire the writers, co-creator Greg Daniels had them read The Death of Common Sense.
This book argues that bureaucracy has led Americans to abandon common sense. The book’s message resonated with the show’s writers, influencing Hank’s clashes with bureaucratic policies throughout Arlen.[4]
6 Arlen Beats Springfield
FOX wanted Mike Judge to focus his creative energies on a companion show for The Simpsons. Judge created a show he personally wanted to watch, and Arlen began to take shape.
Early episodes of King of the Hill achieved higher ratings than FOX’s flagship animated series.[5]
5 Taking a Chance on a Theme Song
The search for a theme song led Judge and Daniels to The Refreshments. The band submitted an instrumental piece they casually played at soundchecks. Judge and Daniels selected it from hundreds of entries.
Despite the theme’s popularity, The Refreshments’ attempt to capitalize on it didn’t succeed, and they broke up in 1998. The instrumental theme, however, continued to air on FOX for another 12 years.[6]
4 The Tasty Luanne Platter
The show references many Texas themes. Hank’s dog, Lady Bird, is named after Lady Bird Johnson. Luanne Platter is named after the “Lu Ann Platter” from Luby’s.
Luby’s embraced the reference, and in 2010, they even had a model dress as Luanne at some of their locations.[7]
3 Vaya Con Dios!
In 2000, Judge and Daniels developed a live-action spin-off featuring Monsignor Martinez, a violent vigilante priest from a phony Arlen TV show.
The spin-off, described as “a macho, renegade priest who joins forces with a young stockbroker and ex-nun to destroy the drug dealer,” sadly never made it to air.[8]
2 King of the Hollywood Hills?
After the second season, FOX launched a PR campaign claiming the Hill family might move to Los Angeles. Fans protested, but it was a ruse.
The network was moving King of the Hill from Sunday nights to Tuesdays. After a low-rated season, the show returned to Sundays.[9]
1 Finale Fiasco
King of the Hill was initially slated to end after its tenth season, but FOX changed their minds after the planned finale. The writers, who had already been dismissed, had to restart their work.
The show ran for three more seasons, giving fans dozens more memorable episodes.[10]
