King of the Hill Talkback- "The Texas Panhandler"

[Classic Speedy]

Plot from fox.com:
BOBBY PANHANDLES LIKE THE BEST OF THEM ON AN ALL-NEW “KING OF THE HILL” SUNDAY, APRIL 30, ON FOX

Dax Shepard Makes a Special Guest Voice Appearance

When Bobby gets a job to earn money for trendy jeans, he meets a young, urban freeloader, Derek (Dax Shepard), and realizes there might be an easier way. Bobby and Joseph toss the job and join Derek and his friends panhandling outside hip stores in the ”The Texas Panhandler” episode of KING OF THE HILL Sunday, April 30 (7:30-8:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (KH-1002) (TV-PG; L) CC Incidentally, next week is the 200th aired episode of the series. And I'll actually get to watch the show this week and participate in the talkback, thanks to being done with my senior thesis!

[Master Moron]

It's ten minutes in and this is already the most retarded plot I've ever seen. People make fun of Bobby because he has a job and he decides to become a panhandler instead? What the hell?

Okay, now everyone who previously thought he was a dork because he had a job now things he's cool because he begs for money? What?!? Are high schoolers seriously this ****ing retarded? If so, I really need to go kick some high schoolers asses.

Hmmm...I did like the way Hank threatened to kick the high schoolers asses at the end. It almost made the whole episode worthwhile.

[Juu-kuchi]

It was amusing, but is this a reality in places?

[Moto Pete]

it was pretty funny

[sdp]

i'm not a big KotH fan but i actually enjoyed this episode, i mean nothing too funny or spectacular but i had a fun time watching it.

[Classic Speedy]

There were a lot of quotable lines tonight:
Hank: Why can't teenagers break in jeans like we used to?
Dale: Rhetorical question, no grounds for discussion. Moving on.

Hank: Huh. I guess I DO enjoy sourbread.
Peggy: I TOLD you!

Bill: If I had a son I'd give him whatever he wanted. Of course he'd probably walk all over me, but we'd have fun for a little while.

Dale: Why does it take a trip to the hardware store for you to open up, Hank?

Khan: You probably don't know this, being rednecks and all, but Bobby being a panhandler shames your family.

Hank: Let's eat dinner, THEN you can point at things.

Joseph: Oh I hate her... (different tone) no, I love her.

I liked Hank laying down the law to Bobby. He hasn't done that in a while, and it was a refreshing return to earlier episodes. Not the best episode ever, but a humorous one nonetheless, and yet another way that the "Bobby gets a job" formula of plots takes a unique spin.
It was amusing, but is this a reality in places? Yes, I've seen it firsthand.

[Master Moron]

Yes, I've seen it firsthand.

Well, that settles it. I'm flying out to Minnesota and you and me are going to kick some teenage ass.

[Peter Paltridge]

Yes, I've seen it firsthand.
Oh GET.....OUT. This is an actual teenage thought process somewhere? I was laughing because it WASN'T realistic.

Dang, sometimes truth really IS scarier than fiction.....

I hope Bobby's new girlfriend sticks. It'd give him something to do other than annoy his dad, and open up new stories for season 11.

[kempobot]

It was amusing, but is this a reality in places?

if they're referring to what i think they are, then there's a street in austin that's a lot like that (it's not that big of a deal though).

[Cobblepot1982]

Yeah they do- I've seen 'em do it. But I wouldn't waste yer time going anywhere further than states like NJ, NY, California, Massachusetts, etc- those are where the kids are who pull stuff like that.

I grew up with them- I used to live in a VEEERY rich part of Jersey( and no, my folks and I are NOT in ANY WAY rich)- and the kids take for granted everything they have, and how they got it. So yeah, again, I've seen it.


Great episode- Hank ruled at the end!

[90'sCartoonMan]

Although I am kind of sick of Bobby getting a job, I liked this episode. As usual, Joseph had some pretty good moments. I liked the dinner where Bobby kept pointing at things.

I guess it makes sense that those kids would seem cool since they're so nonchalant about everything, despite the fact that they're begging for money.

What was that guy's name? Spongey? I liked him, especially how he made their windshield even dirtier.


I hope Bobby's new girlfriend sticks. It'd give him something to do other than annoy his dad, and open up new stories for season 11.

I hope so too, but I don't really see it happening.

[creativerealms]

I love the way King Of the hill shows people's stupidity. Not like the other cartoons on Fox who blow it out of proportian King of the Hill keeps at at a more believable level which makes it even funnier. The kids talking on the cell phones getting surved drinks while people give them money, could not help but laugh at their stupidity and praise Bobby for once for standing up to them and making those jerks look truely as bad as they were.

[Sr.Infierno]

-Panhandling is a problem you see every day in my city (Wilmington, NC). It's not rare to see people beg for change, then walk over to their Benz across the street.

-Man, how many times have we seen this formula for an episode? (Hank gets Bobby to do some work, Bobby finds the easy way out, Hank finds out and Bobby learns a lesson). This is exactly the same as that Paper route episode a few months ago. It was still funny though.

-Spongey is my new favorite character :P

-I havent gotten the chance to see many of the new episodes, but when was the last time Bobby went out with Conny? Keep in mind, I usually just watch the reruns my local Fox affiliate plays rediculously out of order every day.

-It was a great idea for the writers to make Joseph start puberty. His awkwardness is so sad and hilarious at the same time, especially in this episode.

-Despite the tired formula, KOTH still delivers every week with Mike Judge's teriffic social commentary and observations. B+

[Peter Paltridge]

What was that guy's name? Spongey? I liked him, especially how he made their windshield even dirtier.
Now Spongey was funny; Lucky isn't so much. Yet they gave Lucky a recurring part. They stick Luanne with that thing and they leave Bobby lonely....

[90'sCartoonMan]

Now Spongey was funny; Lucky isn't so much. Yet they gave Lucky a recurring part.

So...are you saying Luanne should date Spongey? Because I'm all for that.

[Undrave]

I REALLY hope that kind of freeloading isn't common -.- and I REALLY hope people don't actually GIVE money to such losers!

[Evil Tim]

I havent gotten the chance to see many of the new episodes, but when was the last time Bobby went out with Conny? Keep in mind, I usually just watch the reruns my local Fox affiliate plays rediculously out of order every day.
They broke up a few seasons ago, but I don't remember the exact year.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

They broke up a few seasons ago, but I don't remember the exact year.

At some point during the series the show got stuck in a time loop, where plots started repeating themselves and viewers starting going "This looks familiar..."

You had the relationship between John Redcorn, Dale and Nancy, which changed.

You had Luanne's personal and spiritual quest, which eveolved

You had Bobby's continuing development when it came to dealing with the opposite sex (usually my favourite Bobby episodes)

You had Peggy's journey to find something she was good at.

You had Bill's quest for companionship

And the only constant that never changed was Hank-- this formula worked for many seasons because they advanced everyone's stories season by season. Relationships changed, people found what they want, people lost what they had, but the point is, the show didn't stand still. And it still remained funny.

At some point the show stopped doing that and just kept doing "Peggy makes a fool of herself, Bobby does something stupid that Hank has to clean up" episodes.

At any rate, I did enjoy this past Sunday's episode, but we're a few seasons removed from prime KOTH by now.