King of the Hill - The Complete First Season

Unlike The Simpsons, which got a running start on The Tracey Ullman Show, the Hills may take a little warming up to. In the pilot episode, Hank Hill (voiced by Judge) is more a quick-to-temper redneck than good ol' boy. But as this inaugural season unfolds, he empathetically struggles to be the voice of reason in an ever-changing world where his substitute teacher wife, Peggy (Kathy Najimy), is forced to teach sex ed (Hank's spit take when the repressed Peg blurts out the word "vagina" is worthy of Danny Thomas), his son Bobby (Pamela Segall) wants to be a prop comic, and his neighbor, Dale (Johnny Hardwick), finds government conspiracies under every grassy knoll. But Hank is that sitcom rarity: A good man and father who is devoted to his job (selling propane and propane accessories) and his family, which includes Peggy's niece, nubile aspiring beautician Luanne (Brittany Murphy). For the uninitiated, disc 2 of this three-disc set may make a more favorable first impression. It contains three of the season's best episodes, among them "Shins of the Father," which pits Peggy against Hank's incorrigibly sexist father (when Peggy tells him that Bobby is a good helper in the kitchen, he responds, "Whatever you say, Hillary"). The set is loaded with features, from deleted scenes to episode commentaries by the series' creators and the characters themselves. Welcome to home video, Hills. We'll get the barbecue started. --Donald Liebenson

The first season of 13 episodes is a great introduction to the show. The character designs and voices aren't quite as polished as they would become, but the actual animation is probably the most visually imaginative in the show's run, and in terms of storytelling and characterization the show hit its stride right away. Some of the best episodes are "Plastic White Female," still one of the best episodes about Hank Hill (Mike Judge) and his son Bobby (Pamela Segall); "Shins of the Father," which demonstrates the strength of character of Peggy (Kathy Najimy); and "Luanne's Saga," about Hank's relationship with his niece Luanne Platter (the show lost a lot in season six when Luanne started to be absent from most episodes). And the first season offered some of the show's most memorable comedy moments, like the botched threatening phone call from neighbor Dale Gribble (Johnny Hardwick), the first entrance of Dale's "son" Joseph (Brittany Murphy) and Hank's first meeting with obnoxious neighbor Kahn (Toby Huss).

The 3 disc set will include a ton of extras. There are audio commentaries on eight episodes: Two by co-creator Greg Daniels, two by director Klay Hall, and four in-character commentaries by some of the voice actors. There's a new half-hour "making-of" documentary. There are examples of early design sketches and basic animation poses for the main characters. And best of all, there are deleted scenes from all the episodes (including the alternate ending to "The Company Man"). And who can resist the chance to hear Peggy dubbed in fluent Spanish? Buy with confidence, and hope that Fox releases the rest of this excellent series.


ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS   June 7, 2004
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

This is one of my favortie shows that are on TV today. It is hilarious watching every episode. This is probably one of the best shows ever.

EPISODES IN SEASON 1:

Pilot-10/10
Square Peg-10/10
The Order Of The Straight Arrow-10/10
Luanne's Saga-8/10
Hank's Got The Willies-9/10
Westie Side Story-8/10
Hank's Unmentionable Problem-10/10
Shins Of The Father-10/10
Peggy The Boggle Champ-9/10
Keeping Up With Our Joneses-10/10
Plastic White Female-9/10
The Company Man-8/10
King Of The Ant Hill-10/10

SPECIAL FEATURES:
-Over 50 deleted scenes
-Selected episode commentaries
-Barenaked Ladies Music Video
-Animatics,alternate,endings, and promo spots
-Behind the Scenes Featurette
-"Meet the Hills" gallery


An Excellent Collection of K.o.t.H. and K.o.t.H. Accessories   July 11, 2003
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

This DVD set is the first I have ever purchased and I was pleasantly surprised at all the extra goodies that come with the very humorous and well done 13 episodes of the first season. Judging from other reviews I've read, I probably will not find as many extras on other DVD sets. Each disc is extremely easy to navigate, which is a big benefit to me because I had never operated a DVD player before. The extras include promos, deleted and extended scenes (some with just sketches and audio), the Making of King of the Hill with the creators, voices, and animators, a Barenaked Ladies music video starring Dale Gribble, and commentaries on selected episodes by co-creator Greg Daniels, director Klay Hall, and some of the characters. The commentaries I found to be a little boring and not well rehearsed. The best commentary was of the episode "Shins of the Father" by Peggy and Bobby Hill. The voice of Peggy does an excellent job bringing her character's personality into the commentary with very funny results. The commentary of "Westie Side Story" by Dale and Bill is also very good. The characters seem all too real. Another interesting extra is the "Do's and Don't's" list used by the animators for drawing the characters correctly. Every detail is scrutinized including the eye movements, finger placement, the proper color to use when liquid spills on clothing, what should be seen through windows, Dale's cigarette positioning, etc. Much time and care is taken into this program to make it as realistic as possible, and it definitely shows in this DVD set. And, of course, the episodes are great including my favorite "Hank's Unmentionable Problem." This series had it right from the beginning. Hank, himself, would be proud of this set, "I tell you what."


You got an "F" in English? Bobby, you speak English.   April 4, 2005
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

"King of the Hill" is one of those rare shows that comes into everyone's life and resonates with them for the rest of their life. I think it's an amazing show. I know it's animated, but so what, so is "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy", although I wouldn't put those two brain-dead shows in the same category as "King of the Hill."

"King of the Hill" is simply put...a realistic sitcom, but only it's animated. It could very well be with live people. The situations all of these characters get into are nothing out-of-the-norm. They have common problems just like everyone else. In my opinion, this is the ONLY show Fox has put on that is remotely enteraining. All of their other sitcoms, especially "Malcolm in the Middle" are a poor example of the station's need for airing the mundane.

Having said all of that, this first season is hysterical. I have the first three seasons and all are wildly entertaining. Check this show out! You will not be sorry!



Damn funny show   August 13, 2006
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Even though King of the HIll is not as prominent as such animated shows as THe Simpsons and Family Guy. King of the HIll is still a gem of of primetime cartoon shows and this season started it all. Created by Mike Judge, the creator of Beavis and Butthead, this shows goes for subtler humor than B&B. The show is about Hank Hill a normal man reacting to strange world including his family, neighpbors, and town. The animation of this season is not as good as later season but the comedy is still there and funny to anyone reacting to a world that doesn't apply to their standard paradigm.