Bobby Hill was the son of Hank Hill on King of the Hill, a prominent Fox adult animated series from the 1990s. The show followed an American family of three and their neighbors in Arlen, Texas. A good portion of King of the Hill featured Bobby Hill’s coming-of-age stories. Bobby, the only son of the starring family, often got into humorous yet insightful misadventures. His tales concluded in 2009, but more are on the horizon.
Recapping King of the Hill
Created by Mike Judge, King of the Hill premiered in January 1997. The animated sitcom quickly garnered success by contrasting Fox’s outlandish shows like The Simpsons. It was grounded in realism, utilizing humor from life’s conventional and mundane factors. King of the Hill ran for over 200 episodes throughout 13 seasons. It gained universal acclaim from critics and a cult following from dedicated fans. The series won two Emmy Awards and received seven additional nominations.
Typically headlined by the Hill family, the patriarch Hank was the main protagonist. He’s the honest assistant manager at Strickland Propane who takes pride in his job. Alongside him is his loving albeit narcissistic wife, Peggy, who worked as a substitute teacher. She worked other temporary jobs until becoming a real estate agent permanently. The show even showcased Hank’s friends: army barber Bill, exterminator Dale, and neighborhood casanova Boomhauer. However, one highly prominent character in the show was Bobby Hill.
Bobby Hill, Prince of the Hill
Bobby Hill, voiced by Pamela Adlon, is the son of Hank and Peggy. He’s outgoing, fond of comedy, and sees the world through innocent eyes. His silly and good-natured behavior is the foil to his father’s restrained personality. Their relationship is fundamental to the series, showcased through their father-son adventures. Despite his positive qualities, Bobby has his faults, like his prominent laziness. The boy can even be reckless and a coward, but he’s an overall good kid.
Episodes that starred Bobby Hill displayed his childhood experiences and misadventures. He’s been his school’s mascot, almost joined a coven, and took a clowning course. One of the most memorable occurred during the finale, To Sirloin with Love. Bobby Hill joins a meat examination team at the local junior college. His team enters a competition, and his observation skills help them win. He and Hank end the show grilling together, thus leading into the oncoming sequel/revival.
The Future of Bobby Hill
After purchasing Fox, Disney decided to revive King of the Hill for a continuation. This new installment will take place years after the 13th season’s conclusion. Mike Judge, Kathy Najimy, and Stephen Root are confirmed to reprise their original roles. Johnny Hardwick, the iconic voice of Dale, managed to record a few episodes before passing. A replacement voice actor for the exterminator has yet to be found or announced. It’s also unclear if Luanne and Lucky will be featured since their actors passed away.
Returning to the new season will be Adlon as Bobby Hill as well. According to the actress, Bobby is now 21 years old and a renowned chef. A now-deleted Instagram post featuring voice actor Grey DeLisle even revealed an image of him. There’s even an accompanying description revealing how Bobby is a self-taught cook. It talks about him working at a restaurant that combines Texan dishes with international flavors. The plague also mentions how Bobby grilled with his father, connecting to the original finale.
Final Thoughts
King of the Hill is a fantastic series, even after its run concluded. Some episodes often delivered life lessons, while others were just a good job. The characters range from realistic to outrageous and work as perfect tools for enhancing stories. Watching them grow throughout the seasons is a real treat, especially Bobby Hill. His plots are some of the most memorable due to being hilarious and regularly heartwarming.
The King of the Hill revival/continuation will be captivating to watch once it releases. There’s the chance it could either be a success or a disastrous mess. The only way to properly know is to wait and see. Either way, seeing the interactions between Hank and his adult son will be intriguing. The new King of the Hill season will premiere on Hulu in 2025.
