Every time the new season of ‘King of the Hill’ referenced North Texas
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Season 14 of 'King of the Hill' revives its Texan culture jokes and references.
- Episodes highlight North Texas landmarks, local culture and regional institutions.
- Cast tributes honor Johnny Hardwick and Jonathan Joss with memorial end credits.
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North Texas references for ‘King of the Hill’ Season 14 by episode
Dadgum tell ya hwhat man, “King of the Hill” is back for a new season after 15 years, and the show is still as Texas as ever. Here’s a list of all the North Texas references in the show, episode-by-episode.
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Animated sitcom “King of the Hill” is back, and it’s chock full of North Texas references, I tell ya hwhat.
All 10 episodes of season 14 of the Texas-centric show are now available on Hulu. These are the first new episodes of “King of the Hill” since it went off the air in 2010. It originally ran for 13 seasons on FOX from 1997-2009, with one final episode in 2010.
This new season centers around Hank Hill (voiced by show creator Mike Judge) and his wife Peggy (Kathy Najimy) returning home to the fictional DFW-area suburb of Arlen after a stint working in Saudi Arabia selling propane. As they get settled into their new life back home, they start to realize Arlen — and Texas — has changed.
Arlen could be a stand-in for any Texas suburb, but Judge has said he specifically referenced North Texas’ Richardson for the original run of the show. He always made a lot of Texas references that went above and beyond its setting, and season 14 is no different.
Here’s a breakdown of all the North Texas references we spotted in Season 14.
DFW International Airport
We start off strong with Hank kissing the ground of what looks like Terminal D at DFW International Airport, before he excitedly thinks he sees a sign for “Bob’s,” presumably Bob’s Steak and Chop House. Instead, it’s a boba tea stand. A walk through the terminal to the baggage claim spotlights all the high-end retailers that now take up space in the terminal (Armani, Coach, Chanel, Dior), with Hank lamenting that the place became fancy.
Southern Methodist University, University of Texas at Dallas
These two schools play prominent roles this season. Bobby (Pamela Adlon) runs a German-Japanese fusion restaurant in Dallas near SMU’s campus, and while on campus, runs into old neighbor/former girlfriend Connie Souphanousinphone (Lauren Tom), who is attending UTD.
(Side note: Where do we think Bobby’s restaurant would be located? Greenville Avenue? Knox/Henderson? Somewhere along Lovers Lane?)
Mega Lo Mart
Hank and Peggy make a trip to the local Mega Lo Mart toward the end of the episode. Mega Lo Mart is a stand-in for big box stores or grocery stores like Costco or H-E-B.
(Editor’s Note: The Star-Telegram’s Bud Kennedy notes that it also may have been inspired by the Walmart Hypermart in Garland, which was demolished in 2008.)
Alamo Beer
Of course, Hank, Boomhauer (also Judge), Dale Gribble (voiced by Johnny Hardwick and Toby Huss), Bill Dauterive (Stephen Root) and new neighbor Brian Robertson (Keith David) end episode 1 by drinking beer out by the street, just like old times. Yep. And now, you can get Alamo Beer for real.
Dealey Plaza and the Kennedy assassination
While Bobby and Joseph (Tai Leclaire) are driving into Arlen at the beginning of episode 2, “The Beer Story,” Bobby comments on the stench of Joseph’s laundry bags in the back of the truck. Joseph tells him that those aren’t laundry bags — they’re bags of dirt he saved from his job working on a road crew near Dealey Plaza in Dallas — the site where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.
He said he’s saving the dirt for his dad, conspiracy theorist Dale: “He’s looking for Oliver Stone’s DNA.”
Stone’s 1991 film “JFK” deals with conspiracy theories around Lee Harvey Oswald and Kennedy. Stone made an appearance last October for a retrospective of his films at the Texas Theatre in Dallas, where police arrested Oswald after he shot Kennedy.
Dallas Brewery Contest
While there is no 1:1 analog to the home-beer brewing competition Hank and Bobby enter in episode 2, North Texas is home to many craft breweries, including Rahr & Sons Brewing and Martin House Brewing Company in Fort Worth and Peticolas Brewing Company in Dallas.
The fictional Wild Armadillo Brewery that Hank and Peggy visit wouldn’t be out of place in North Texas. Many brew enthusiasts might like its flavors, including “Cursed Hobbit Stout” and another that “tastes like a burn pile,” as Peggy puts it.
George W. Bush Presidential Center
In Episode 3, “Bobby Gets Grilled,” Hank, Peggy, Dale and Dale’s wife Nancy (Ashley Gardner) take a trip to the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas on their way to see Bobby at his restaurant.
While there, the Hills and Gribbles get to experience all that the museum has to offer, including the baseball President Bush threw in the opening pitch of the Game 3 of the 2001 World Series “providing hope to a grieving nation,” Hank says. They also see the pen Bush used to sign an order lifting the ban on offshore drilling.
The meat of the episode comes from the “situation room,” where Hank gets to experience what it’s like to be the Commander-In-Chief while his Cabinet’s opposition is led by conspiracy theorist Dale (who, of course, has a Substack). Like Bush, Hank also gets a shoe thrown at him.
‘How Do I Live’
In Episode 4, “Chore Money, Chore Problems,” Bobby and old flame/current crush Connie perform a karaoke duet of their song, “How Do I Live.” The 1997 song was originally written by Diane Warren and originally performed by country singer LeAnn Rimes, who is from Garland. A second version of the song was recorded by Trisha Yearwood for the film “Con Air” that same year.
Bronco Barry
There is no real “Bronco Barry,” but North Texas is home to several larger-than-life car salesmen like the one who fleeces Bobby in Episode 5, “New Ref in Town.” Bronco Barry’s car ad jingle for his car dealership off of 635 in Dallas calls to mind Clay Cooley (”Shop me first, shop me last, either way, come see Clay”) or David McDavid.
Arlen vs. Plano South soccer
Hank’s time in the Middle East has changed him. He’s gone from hating soccer to becoming a devoted student of the rules of the Beautiful Game — so much so that he gets called upon to referee a youth league soccer match when Boomhauer quits in Episode 5.
His refereeing prowess gets him a ticket to ref a big match in Plano against Plano South, where the Arlen mayor will be in attendance.
‘King of the Hill’/’King of the Grill’
Here’s when “King of the Hill” references itself. In Episode 6, “Peggy’s Fadeout,” Bobby is preparing to compete on cooking competition show “King of the Grill.” When he mentions this to Chane (Ki Hong Lee), his business partner, Chane quips:
“You mean that Texas cooking show that Fox stupidly canceled 15 years ago?”
“They’re bringing it back!” Bobby replies.
Wink, wink.
‘Smart Dallas restaurant rats’
Bobby finds rats in his restaurant kitchen, which leads him to enlist Dale’s extermination service. Dale concludes that the rodents must be some “smart Dallas restaurant rats.”
Recently, a live rat was found at a Plano restaurant. Read more of the Star-Telegram’s restaurant inspection roundups here.
Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones and AT&T Stadium
Episode 7, “Any Given Hill-Day,” is just one big Dallas Cowboys reference.
In an effort to bond with Hank, Bobby books tickets to a football camp at AT&T Stadium. Their coach is none other than Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons (voicing himself), who was just traded from the Dallas Cowboys to the Green Bay Packers.
Other one-off references include Hank’s abandoned novel involving former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo solving mysteries with a dog that knows karate; Dale’s promise to forgive Hank and Bobby for not inviting him to Cowboys Camp in exchange for “a lock of Trevon Diggs’ hair”; and Hank’s insistence that Jones “has no soul” because he fired Tom Landry.
But the biggest Dallas Cowboys moment of the episode belongs to Bobby’s girlfriend Willow (Allegra Edwards). She breaks into Jones’ office and vandalizes his desk (this is a family newspaper; if you’ve seen the episode, you know what happens) in retaliation for the firing of her father years ago. Needless to say, Bobby breaks up with her later.
Fort Worth bed bugs
The B-plot of Episode 7 has Peggy setting up a Little Free Library in her front yard in an effort to build community. It spreads bed bugs instead. She can’t let anyone know where the bugs came from, so she enlists Dale to spread misinformation. At one point, he tells someone that bed bugs enjoy hot climates, like over in Fort Worth.
And while it has been hot this summer in North Texas, it’s nowhere near as hot as recent years.
Johnny Hardwick as Dale Gribble
Johnny Hardwick, the original voice of Dale Gribble, died in August 2023 at his home in Austin. He recorded lines for the “King of the Hill” revival before he died, which is why he is credited as Dale’s voice in episodes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7. Toby Huss, who also previously voiced Cotton Hill and Hank’s neighbor Khan Souphanousinphone, voices Dale in episodes 1 and 10.
The end credits of “Any Given Hill-Day” begin with an “In Loving Memory” photo of Hardwick next to Dale. Hardwick was a native Texan, born in 1958 Austin. He went to Texas Tech University before working as a bartender in Austin and Dallas.
He later had a career as a stand-up comedian, and was the first comedian to appear on “The Jon Stewart Show.”
‘Dallas Foodie Week’/DFW Restaurant Week
Bobby is preparing for “Dallas Foodie Week” in episode 9, “No Hank Left Behind.” While there is no official Dallas Foodie Week, there is a DFW Restaurant Week. And it’s technically not a week, it’s a monthlong food event in August featuring meals from all across the Metroplex. Part of the proceeds benefit Lena Pope, a nonprofit that helps Tarrant County families through counseling, education and behavior intervention programs.
The Zapruder film
Again, this is a family newspaper, so I can’t repeat exactly what Dale said he did while watching the Zapruder film in episode 9.
“The Zapruder film” refers to a 26-second, silent color 8mm film clip featuring footage of the Kennedy assassination in Dallas, captured by dressmaker Abraham Zapruder on Nov. 22, 1963. The Zapruder family donated the film to the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in 2000.
Central Medical in Dallas
Peggy tweaks her knee playing pickleball in episode 9, and has to go to Dallas to get an MRI. She ends up at Central Medical. There is actually a Central Medical Center with locations in Dallas and Irving.
Jonathan Joss as John Redcorn
Episode 10, “A Sounder Investment,” kicks off with John Redcorn (Jonathan Joss) seeking investment in his new business venture: John Redcorn’s Red Corn.
Joss, who voiced Redcorn for the entire run of “King of the Hill,” was shot and killed outside his San Antonio home June 1. He was 59 years old.
Joss’ neighbor Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, 56, who reportedly had a long-standing feud with Joss, confessed to the shooting and was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, according to the San Antonio Police Department.
Joss’ husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, said in a statement shortly after Joss’ death that he believed Ceja killed Joss because he was “homophobic” and “could not stand the sight of two men loving each other.”
Joss was honored at the end of episode 10 with an “In Loving Memory” photo before the credits, just like Johnny Hardwick in episode 7.
Joss and Harwick aren’t the only “King of the Hill” cast members who have died since the show went off the air. Brittany Murphy, who voiced the Hill’s niece Luanne Platter, died Dec. 20, 2009.
Rock star Tom Petty, who voiced Luanne’s husband, Elroy “Lucky” Kleinschmidt, died Oct. 2, 2017.
Feral Texas hogs
Later in episode 10, Peggy wants to invest her portion of her nest egg in a wild pig-hunting business in order to clear Redcorn’s farm of invasive feral hogs. (There might have even been 30-50 feral hogs, who knows.) In Texas, you can take a helicopter ride to hunt wild hogs.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
The B-plot for episode 10 features Bobby and Connie finally dating as adults. Their first date is at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at Meyerson Symphony Center in downtown Dallas.
Nolan Ryan
Famous Texas Rangers pitcher, team president and CEO Nolan Ryan shows up and voices himself in episode 10. The Ryan Express made a post-baseball career for himself as a businessman, selling ranch products like Nolan Ryan Beef. He’s also the principal owner of Ryan Sanders Sports and Entertainment, which owns Texas Rangers Triple-A affiliate Round Rock Express.
This story was originally published August 29, 2025 at 4:00 AM.
