For 13 seasons, audiences enjoyed spending time with propane salesman Hank Hill (Mike Judge) and his wife, Peggy (Kathy Najimy), and son, Bobby (Pamela Adlon), as well as all the interesting characters the Hills were surrounded by in their small Texas town in Fox‘s animated sitcom King of the Hill. With its great humor and look at small-town life, it’s no surprise it was among the most popular shows of the ’90s. It premiered in 1997 and ended in 2009, but it’s set to return in August 2025 on Hulu, set several years after the end of its original run.
King of the Hill was consistently entertaining, but a few episodes in particular stand out as not only the best, but as the most enjoyable from beginning to end, often thanks to a combination of great writing and humor. At its most entertaining, the show’s best elements came together to create something engaging. And, of course, some of the most memorable episodes also include some of the show’s most memorable guest stars.
10
“A Beer Can Named Desire”
Season 4, Episode 6
In “A Beer Can Named Desire,” Hank wins a contest from Alamo Beer which gives him the chance to win $1 million by throwing a football through a giant beer can at a Dallas Cowboys game—or the chance to win $100,000 by letting football legend Don Meredith throw it instead. When the Hill family travels to Louisiana for the game, they stay with Bill (Stephen Root), who tries to determine which of the women in the family he is related to.
“A Beer Can Named Desire” is often held up as one of the best episodes of the series…
“A Beer Can Named Desire” is often held up as one of the best episodes of the series, and for good reason. The episode was entertaining as Hank became increasingly unsure of what to do about the throw during the game, but it was Bill’s subplot which hilariously stood out, as well as the influence the family had on Bobby. But the episode also had some words of wisdom about following advice and trusting experience.
9
“Three Days of the Kahndo”
Season 2, Episode 15
In “Three Days of the Kahndo,” after Kahn’s (Toby Huss) brother backs out of sharing a duplex with him in Mexico, Kahn convinces Hank and his family to join them instead. But after arriving, Kahn learns they have to share the bottom half of the condo—so he breaks into the upper half and tells Hank to stay there, without Hank knowing the truth. Dale (Johnny Hardwick) later arrives unannounced, and the three men are arrested after being seen breaking into the upper condo.
…Hank’s mini can of WD-40 was a hilarious gag that’s among the episode’s most famous moments.
“Three Days of the Kahndo” was a great episode for Hank and Kahn, with some great moments from Kahn in particular. His off-key singing was always hilarious, especially when up against a mariachi band, and Hank’s reactions to him were just as entertaining—plus Hank’s mini can of WD-40 was a hilarious gag that’s among the episode’s most famous moments. Best of all, the episode still holds up years later.
8
“Raise the Steaks”
Season 12, Episode 6
After buying poor-quality steaks in “Raising the Steaks,” Hank joins a food co-op known to have the best steak in town. As part of the requirements for joining, Hank spends some time volunteering and proves to be a valuable part of the team who has made some positive changes. But eventually, Mega Lo Mart buys out the store, leading Hank to go to extreme measures as the other members gave up the co-op’s values in favor of money.
The episode hilariously poked fun at both sides of the political spectrum…
“Raising the Steaks” was a timely episode when it first aired, and it has only aged wonderfully and become more relevant. The episode hilariously poked fun at both sides of the political spectrum, all while showing Hank the value of something he wasn’t familiar with before. It also has plenty of great lines, the most memorable of which is the infamous line about asking people “politely but firmly to leave” if they request a well-done steak.
7
“Ho, Yeah!”
Season 5, Episode 13
In “Ho, Yeah!,” after Peggy befriends Strickland Propane’s new employee, Tammi (Renée Zellweger)— originally from Oklahoma and looking for a fresh start—Tammi reveals she needed a place to live, leading Peggy to offer up their home. Hank mistakenly believes Tammi’s many suitors are dates, when, in reality, she is a sex worker. After he is mistaken for her pimp, her actual pimp, Alabaster Jones (Snoop Dogg), goes looking for her.
Its title was a reference to Peggy’s catchphrase but also a reference to Tammi’s line of work.
Zellweger and Snoop Dogg’s guest appearances were just one great thing about “Ho, Yeah!”—their characters were fantastic, and it’s a shame they never appeared on the show again. It was a hilarious episode overall and put Hank in one of his most awkward and ridiculous situations with spectacular results, while also showing Peggy’s kind and generous side. Its title was a reference to Peggy’s catchphrase but also a reference to Tammi’s line of work.
6
“High Anxiety”
Season 4, Episode 14
In the second of a two-part episode about the murder of Debbie Grund (Reese Witherspoon), Buck’s (Root) former mistress who was found dead in a dumpster, Hank is the prime suspect—and accidentally smokes marijuana, believing the joint was a cigarette—in “High Anxiety.” He is desperate to avoid getting caught, and his suspicious behavior only makes him look more guilty of Debbie’s murder. Meanwhile, as he begins to question his own innocence, Peggy is determined to uncover the truth.
…Hank is the prime suspect—and accidentally smokes marijuana, believing the joint was a cigarette…
Few things were funnier on King of the Hill than Hank being way over his head in an absurd situation, and “High Anxiety” was about as good as it got. Hank was hilarious to watch, and his comment on “marijuana poisoning” was just one of a few memorable lines. On top of the humor, the episode’s plot and characters were engaging, and it was fun to watch Hank struggle with whether to reveal the truth.
5
“A Fire-fighting We Will Go”
Season 3, Episode 10
With Arlen’s firefighters on strike in an attempt to secure themselves a raise, Hank, Dale, Bill and Boomhauer (Judge) become volunteer firefighters in the Season 3 episode, “A Fire-fighting We Will Go,” and they manage to burn down the firehouse itself. In Rashomon style, each of the four men tell their own version of events while they are questioned by the fire chief. Elsewhere, Peggy pulls a muscle in her groin while picking up Bobby.
With Arlen’s firefighters on strike in an attempt to secure themselves a raise, Hank, Dale, Bill and Boomhauer become volunteer firefighters…
Fans often name “A Fire-fighting We Will Go” as among their favorite episodes of King of the Hill, and it’s easy to see why. These characters are just about the last people someone would want to see in an emergency. That was a hilarious premise in itself, but the episode was made all the better by the characters’ differing perspectives and versions of what happened. It also dealt with the theme of male friendship.
4
“Jumpin’ Crack Bass”
Season 2, Episode 5
Unbeknownst to him, Hank buys crack as fishing bait in “Jumpin’ Crack Bass,” and it proves to be almost too effective, as the fish become addicted to it. When Hank returns to the dealer to buy something stronger, he is arrested. He ends up in front of Honorable Judge Roland McFarland (James Carville), known for his unorthodox methods, and to get the charges dropped, Hank has to prove he could catch a fish using the drugs.
…It was a wonderful, wild ride from beginning to end, with one great joke after another…
Some of the best episodes of King of the Hill featured the most over-the-top storylines, and “Jumpin’ Crack Bass” was a hilarious example, especially considering Hank’s strong disapproval of drugs. It didn’t matter that the episode got increasingly ridiculous and implausible—it was a wonderful, wild ride from beginning to end, with one great joke after another, including some of the show’s best dialogue and sharp jokes about politics and the justice system.
3
“Propane Boom”
Season 2, Episode 23
In “Propane Boom,” local businesses—including Strickland Propane, despite their best efforts—are forced to close because of big-box store Mega Lo Mart’s low prices, which were hard to compete with. In desperate need of a job, Hank begins working at Mega Lo Mart, in a position which had originally been promised to Luanne (Brittany Murphy). The episode was the first in a two-part arc, which concluded with “Propane Boom II: Death of a Propane Salesman.”
…Hank begins working at Mega Lo Mart, in a position which had originally been promised to Luanne.
“Propane Boom” ended the season on a major cliffhanger. Best of all, though, the episode was a testament to how good King of the Hill could be. In addition to the typical humor and struggles of Hank and the others, it also provided a bit of social commentary as it touched on the negative impact of big-box stores, especially on the small businesses of small towns, and Hank’s frustration was relatable.
2
“To Sirloin with Love”
Season 13, Episode 24
With Peggy out for the evening, Hank and Bobby have dinner together at a steakhouse, where Hank realizes Bobby had a skill for identifying quality cuts of beef in “To Sirloin with Love.” As a result, Hank enrolls Bobby in the Heimlich County Community College meat inspection team, but Bobby begins to lose confidence after a minor mistake in the semi-finals. The episode was intended to be the series finale, but four episodes followed.
…Hank realizes Bobby had a skill for identifying quality cuts of beef…
King of the Hill ended on a great high note with “To Sirloin with Love.” The series often addressed the differences between Hank and Bobby and their difficulties in relating to each other, and it was at its best when they found common ground—and it’s fitting that they were able to come together over steak. The episode also had some nice, touching moments with all the characters coming together.
1
“Bobby Goes Nuts”
Season 6, Episode 1
After Bobby gets beaten up by a bully, he decides to take self-defense classes at the local YMCA in “Bobby Goes Nuts.” But when he finds all the classes for men and boys are filled, he enrolls in a women’s self-defense class, where Bobby learns to protect himself by kicking other boys in the groin. He starts to enjoy the power the move had and takes things too far, becoming something of a bully himself.
…Bobby learns to protect himself by kicking other boys in the groin.
There are plenty of great episodes of King of the Hill, but the aptly titled “Bobby Goes Nuts” is hard to beat. It kicked off Season 6 in a hilarious way—literally—and spawned one of the most memorable lines in the series. The best episodes of the series often dealt with the relationship between Hank and Bobby, and not only was this no exception, but it was also one of the best and funniest.