King of the Hill: The Complete First Season [3 Discs] [DVD]

The first season of King of the Hill opens with its pilot episode, in which suburban Texas redneck Hank Hill is falsely accused of child abuse when his chubby son Bobby turns up with a black eye, and Luanne Platter, niece of Hank and his wife Peg, moves in with the Hills after her mom is carted off to jail for knifing Luanne's dad. Luanne wastes no time linking up with motorcyle-driving Buckley, whom she dates while pursuing a career as a cosmetician. In later episodes, substitute teacher Peg wrestles with the embarrassment of teaching her son's sex education class; a snipe hunt turns sour; and in the series' first utilization of guest voices from the world of country music, Willie Nelson can be heard in the episode "Hank's Got the Willies"; and another singer, Chuck Mangione, makes his inaugural series "appearance" in "Luanne's Saga." Other highlights amongst King of the Hill's first 12 episodes are "Hank's Unmentionable Problem," cited by co-creator Greg Daniels as his favorite episode; "Westie Side Story," in which the Laotian Souphanousinphones move into Hank's neighborhood; and "Shins of the Father," introducing the character of Hank's loud, hyper-judgmental war veteran father Cotton. ~ Hal Erickson