Latest news with #Arlen
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'King of the Hill' showrunner discusses diversifying reboot cast: 'The world has changed'
Reboot showrunner Saladin K. Patterson discussed the new cast with original series creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels at San Diego Comic-Con 2025. The creative minds behind the King of the Hill reboot are excited to introduce fans to "some new people" that've joined the family. The whip-smart animated sitcom chronicling the suburban exploits of the Hill family and their friends and neighbors in the fictional small town of Arlen, Tex., is returning after 15 long years off the air. During a Friday panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, showrunner Saladin K. Patterson, original series creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, and returning stars Pamela Adlon, Lauren Tom, Toby Huss, and Kathy Najimy discussed their return to Arlen, including some of its brand new residents. "It was important in the show, the world has changed a little bit since Hank and Peggy have been gone," Patterson said. "Casting has changed a little bit too since Hank and Peggy have been gone, as far as, actors fit the characters that they're portraying." The King of the Hill panel began with a screening of the full second episode of the new season. While some things about the Hills, the alley gang, the residents of Rainey street, and the world around them are comfortingly familiar, there are plenty of fresh new additions. And tweaks too — King of the Hill season 14 not only introduces new characters, but recasts the voices behind several characters of color. The most exciting new addition to the King of the Hill cast is the legendary Keith David, who plays a character named Brian Robertson. Brian moved into the Hill house while Hank (Judge) and Peggy (Najimy) decamped for Saudi Arabia on an Aramco project during the show's hiatus. The Hills have not only moved back to Arlen, but into their old house, and Brian's happy to join Hank, Dale (Johnny Hardwick/Toby Huss), Boomhauer (Judge), and Bill Dauterive (Stephen Root) during the alley gang's alley hangs. Though it was always savvily written along cultural lines and already boasted a cast of characters from a diverse array of backgrounds, King of the Hill was criticized during its original run for casting several white actors to voice characters of color. The reboot recasts several of these characters, with Kenneth Choi taking over for Huss as the voice of Laotian-American businessman Ted Wassanasong, Ki Hong Lee replacing Adlon as his boastful son, Chane, Ronny Chieng relieving Huss of the role as Kohng Koy "Kahn" Souphanousinphone, the Hills' Laotian-American next door neighbor, and Native American actor Tai Leclaire taking over the role of Bobby's friend Joseph Gribble from Breckin Meyer, who himself took over for Brittany Murphy in 2000. Patterson enthused that the reboot's creative team "got very lucky in being able to have so many people who were big fans of the show, like Ronnie Chieng, who grew up watching the show. He was a fan of it and came and joined us.""Such a natural Kahn," Daniels added. Patterson said that the switch-ups have "been really fun. That's added to some of the excitement, the family feeling, just inviting some new people to the family." Check out more of . Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dave Nemetz Reviews King of the Hill: Yup, Hulu's Revival Has Aged a Bit, But Still Delivers Texas-Sized Laughs
Like Hank Hill, I'm naturally skeptical of anything new. So I was a bit worried when Hulu announced they're bringing back the animated comedy King of the Hill for new episodes — only because the original Fox run was so impeccable, and I'd hate for anything to taint that. Then I got more worried when I learned the new King of the Hill would be set years later, with a grown-up Bobby Hill (!). Is nothing sacred? (Please hear that in Bobby Hill's voice, and giggle along with me.) But I shouldn't have worried: Hulu's new King of the Hill — premiering Monday, Aug. 4; I've seen the first four episodes — has the same warm, down-home appeal of the original, with the voice cast effortlessly slipping back into their old roles. Really, setting aside Bobby's adulthood and a few wrinkles on Peggy's face, most of the new King of the Hill could've aired back in 1998, and it would've fit in seamlessly. The nods to the absurdity of modern life, though, are golden, giving Hank and his pals plenty of new things to complain about. (Can you believe the world of conspiracy theories actually caught up to Dale Gribble?) More from TVLine Buffy the Vampire Slayer Reboot Adds 5 - Including Severance and Frasier Vets Chuck Mangione, Jazz Musician and King of the Hill Guest Star, Dead at 84 Chris Meloni Joins, William H. Macy Circling Hulu's NFL Drama From Dan Fogelman The joy of King of the Hill — which enjoyed a healthy 13-season run on Fox that ended in 2009 — lies in how grounded it is. Yes, it's an animated series, but it never took off into fantasy land with rocket ships and superpowers. Instead, co-creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels always kept it rooted in small-town America, spinning a humble family sitcom in the fictional Texas town of Arlen. King of the Hill was never as laugh-out-loud funny as The Simpsons — except maybe when Bobby learned the self-defense technique of 'That's my purse!' — but it was comfortingly low-key, with plenty of warm chuckles along the way. And Hulu's revival nobly carries on that tradition, maintaining that low-key vibe while bringing Hank and company into the 2020s… whether they like it or not. As the revival kicks off, the stubbornly traditional Hank (Judge) and his wife Peggy (Kathy Najimy) are just returning to Arlen after spending several years in Saudi Arabia, where Hank worked as — of course — a propane consultant. They return home to find their hometown mostly unchanged… although Hank's friend Bill (Stephen Root) did freak out a bit during COVID and became a paranoid recluse, bearded and bed-ridden. Hank and Peggy's son Bobby (Pamela Adlon) has grown up, though, and is now a chef at his own restaurant, cooking up Japanese-style robata. Just don't ask if he's using propane. It does take a minute to get used to seeing and hearing a grown-up Bobby — I was not prepared to consider Bobby Hill as a sexual being — but Adlon's squeaky voice, though a bit lower here, is once again a joy, and just like he did in the original series, Bobby steals the show. The rest of the gang is pretty much how we remember them, thankfully: Peggy is still chipper and confident. Bill is still lonely and pathetic. Dale is still slinging wild conspiracy theories (and COVID has given him lots of ammunition). Boomhauer is still mumbling unintelligibly. Plus, Hank gets to be annoyed by all kinds of modern innovations, from Uber drivers to Zoom calls to barbecue grills equipped with Wi-Fi, for some reason. There are a few differences longtime fans will notice: Hank's airheaded niece Luanne, voiced by the late Brittany Murphy, isn't in the revival — and that's for the best, really, since Murphy was irreplaceable. (Johnny Hardwick, who originally voiced Dale, passed away in 2023, and Toby Huss takes over for him midway through the season.) Aside from a few cosmetic differences, though, Hulu's new episodes slip right into the show we know and love. The premiere has to spend time setting things up and reintroducing everyone, but the episodes after that just feel like vintage King of the Hill. It's a lot like the Alamo beer that Hank and his friends sip in the alley: nothing too flashy, but always reliable — and, in its own way, kind of timeless. THE TVLINE BOTTOM LINE: Hulu's revival brings back the comfortingly low-key vibe of the original, along with a few smart updates.
Forbes
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Here's When ‘King Of The Hill' And ‘Beavis And Butt-Head' Return And Where To Watch
Beavis and Butt-Head Everything old is new again. Nowhere is this more true than the world of animation. Mike Judge has two animated series returning after many years: King Of The Hill returns after fifteen years – 'Return of the dang ol' king,' as Boomhauer says in the trailer, with Hank and Peggy Hill and friends reuniting in a much-changed Arlen, TX. The new season makes its way to Hulu with ten new episodes on August 4th. It features Hank Hill's return to Arlen after taking a propane (and propane accessories) job in Saudi Arabia. The world they return to has changed in startling ways, including fruity beer and 'all-gender bathrooms' and Uber drivers desperate for 5-star reviews. One month later, Judge's other famous animated series Beavis and Butt-Head lands on Comedy Central for the third season of its revival series (the first two can be streamed on Paramount+). A trailer for the new season, which features our titular characters in various stages of life and health, was released Thursday morning: I was more of a King Of The Hill guy than a Beavis and Butt-Head guy – other kids ruined it by doing their annoying voices all the time at school – but both these trailers made me chuckle. 'One gold bar will do!' You kind of got what you asked for, Metallica. Beavis and Butt-Head lands on Comedy Central on September 3rd. Creator Mike Judge will reprise his roles in both series, as Hank Hill, Beavis, Butt-Head and many of the other characters.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ronny Chieng to voice Kahn in 'King of the Hill' revival
[Source] Comedian and actor Ronny Chieng has been cast as the new voice of Kahn Souphanousinphone in the 14th season of 'King of the Hill,' premiering on Hulu Aug. 4. The series returns after a 15-year hiatus with refreshed stories and casting choices that reflect current standards for representation. Kahn's new voice: Kahn Souphanousinphone, the Hills' Laotian American neighbor in Arlen, Texas, first appeared during the original run of the show from 1997 to 2010. In the original series, Kahn was voiced by Toby Huss, who is not of Asian descent. In the new season, Huss will shift to voicing character Dale Gribble following the death of Johnny Hardwick, while Chieng, a Malaysian-born comedian known for 'The Daily Show,' will voice Kahn for all 10 episodes of the revival. Chieng is billed as a recurring guest star. 15 years later: The 14th season is set in present-day Arlen and moves the story forward by 15 years. Hank and Peggy return after working overseas in Saudi Arabia, and their now 21-year-old son Bobby is a chef in Dallas. The season introduces changes in Arlen, including ride-share services, gender-neutral bathrooms and new social dynamics, with Kahn, his wife Minh and daughter Connie navigating the community's transformation. Authentic casting: Chieng's casting, which the actor revealed during a podcast interview in December, reflects recent trends in animation that prioritize ethnic authenticity. Animated series including 'The Simpsons' and 'Family Guy' have recast roles in recent years to align characters' backgrounds with those of the voice actors. Co-creator Greg Daniels previously said Kahn would be recast if he returned, noting earlier casting decisions were not based on authenticity. Trending on NextShark: This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Trending on NextShark: ! Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New trailer for 'King of the Hill' reboot is here. When does Season 14 premiere on Hulu?
America's favorite animated Texan is making a return. After a 15-year hiatus, Hank Hill returns to Arlen as "King of the Hill." The original series ended in 2010. With the series returning with a new plot, here is what you need to know about the new trailer before the show's official date. "King of the Hill" will stream on Hulu on August 4. What has Hank and his family been up to since the show's hiatus? Hank, after spending time in Saudi Arabia working on a propane initiative to secure his retirement and that of Peggy's, is seen returning to Arlen in the trailer for Season 14 of "King of the Hill." The revival explores the challenges they face as they confront the numerous changes that have occurred since they left. Bill, Dale (now voiced by Toby Huss following Johnny Hardwick's passing), and Boomhauer remain fixtures in Arlen. As shown in the trailer, they're still up for gathering in the alley with Hank while sipping a few Alamo beers. But, like Hank, they're also navigating the realities of a modernized Arlen, complete with craft beers, gender-neutral restrooms, and ride-share apps like Uber. Meanwhile, Bobby Hill is thriving in Dallas as an Asian fusion chef, maintaining close ties with childhood friends like Connie. With his father struggling to adapt after years abroad in the Middle East, Bobby steps into a guiding role, helping Hank find his footing in a world that has evolved well beyond his comfort zone. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: When does 'King of the Hill' reboot return? See new official trailer
