David Kronke was appointed Mayor of Television after a bloodless coup in 2000. Since then, he has improved infrastructure, championed greater educational opportunities and fought for reforms that have utterly erased corruption and incompetence from the television industry. Since Mr. Kronke has ascended to power, Television is a far better place. "King of the Hill" plays dress-up
“King of the Hill� returns tonight for a 11th season that in all likelihood wasn’t supposed to happen. At the table read and a following party for the 100th episode a couple of years ago, Kathy Najimy, who voices Peggy, told me that she was of the understanding that the network was banking episodes for a 10th season but otherwise they were pretty much finished.
Happily, that wasn’t true, but obviously the show isn’t the sort of fan favorite it was a decade ago. It’s a rarity amongst animated series, too quiet a show to be able to make the sort of noise that “The Simpsons� and “Family Guy� manage on a weekly basis.
Hank (voiced by series co-creator Mike Judge) practically takes the night off for the season premiere, handing the episode off to his sensible-shoes better half Peggy, who, after her wardrobe is actively eschewed at a clothing exchange amongst her friends, worries that she’s not feminine enough. Nonsense, Hank tells her – “You’re a wife and a mother.� Hank’s clueless that way. He also happens, while trying to convince her that her wardrobe is plenty alluring, to be wearing her jeans.
During a pick-me-up trip to a shoe store, Peggy befriends Carolyn, who’s clearly a drag queen, and mistakes Peggy for one, as well, inviting her to perform in his local revue. This clearly isn’t going to bolster Peggy’s confidence all that much.
Hank’s not much help, either: “I thought most drag queens were men.�
It’s not a gut-buster of an episode – a subplot about Bobby’s backfiring practical jokes doesn’t really go anywhere – but it does end on a nice grace note, as Carolyn and his friends gather to bolster Peggy’s pride. As foreign as the concept of cross-dressing is to Peggy, she accepts them and they in turn help her to accept herself.
- “King of the Hill:� 8:30 p.m. Sunday on Fox (Channel 11).
Comments
How could you not report the name of this episode? "The Peggy Horror Picture Show"? Classic!
Posted by: Suzy Q | January 28, 2007 7:31 PM