"'Twas the Nut Before Christmas" is the ninety-second episode of King of the Hill. It first aired on December 17, 2000. The episode was written by John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky and directed by Jeff Myers.
Summary[]
Bill makes his front yard a Christmas village for the kids—but his plan to keep the decorations up after the holiday season makes everyone uneasy and soon makes Bill the target of a 20-something slacker who begins to take advantage of him.
Plot[]
Christmas has rolled around again, and Bill quickly begins spiralling into his usual pit of holiday depression. Desperate to give Bill something to focus on, Hank invites him to come along to the Post Office. While there, Hank and Bill discover that the Post Office keep all the letters children send to Santa Claus and allow people to send them the presents they want if they wish. Seeing a chance to make kids happy, Bill eagerly accepts several of the letters and buys the presents, but is despondent to find out he won't get to deliver them personally.
Nevertheless, Bill is inspired and opens a Christmas village in his yard complete with a snow machine while dressing as Santa and handing out presents. Hank is relieved that Bill hasn't gone into another suicidal state and allows it to continue, even when the lights and sounds keep him and Peggy awake at night. Bill even manages to make a date with a single mother called Lorraine.
Christmas is soon over and Hank is regardless relieved when he thinks he sees Bill sending back the decorations, only to find he's having a giant Santa Claus Bounce for his village. Bill desperately tries to keep Christmas going, however all he does is annoy his neighbors and scares off Lorraine when she arrives for their date. Unfortunately, Bill then catches the attention of a 20-something slacker named Wally, who plays on Bill's emotions and gets himself invited to move in. Bill sees him as a "wayward waif" and a surrogate son however it is clear to everyone else that the youth is using Bill for money, cigarettes, and alcohol.
Wally quickly earns ire for holding parties in the garden, harassing Luanne and causing damage to Hank's yard with his truck. The last straw comes when Wally sells beer to Bobby, Connie, and Joseph leading to them all getting drunk in the bounce house. Bill, however, refuses to believe this. Wally also gave Bill a belt sander, which is soon revealed to have been stolen from Hank after the serial number matched that of his belt sander's warranty card. After Bill confronts Wally, the slacker decides to leave, thinking that Bill has no faith in him. After he leaves, Wally is arrested after buying things with Bill's stolen credit card and stealing Bill's car. Bill eventually does come to his senses and convinces the Judge to have Wally enlist in the army rather than send him to jail. The episode ends with Bill shaving Wally's head while also warning Bobby, who Hank has brought to watch, that he too will be enlisted if he is caught drinking again.
Characters[]
- Hank Hill
- Peggy Hill
- Bobby Hill
- Luanne Platter
- Dale Gribble
- Joseph Gribble
- Jeff Boomhauer
- Bill Dauterive
- Connie Souphanousinphone
- Wally
- Marilyn
- Sam
- Emma
- Arlen Midget
- Postal worker (voiced by David Herman)
- Octavio (mentioned)
Stinger Quote[]
- Dale: "Valet of the Dales is not responsible for lost or stolen articles."
Trivia[]
- The episode title is a pun on and reference to the classic and beloved Christmas poem, "Twas' the Night Before Christmas."
- Hank had his belt sander warranty card in his pocket when he found it at Bill's. This implies Hank carries his warranty cards with him everywhere (and doesn't keep them in his wallet).
- This is the last episode to air in 2000.
- When Hank tries to place Wally under citizen arrest, he mentions having done it before, referencing him catching the truck thief in the episode "Jumpin' Crack Bass (It's a Gas, Gas, Gas)".
- When Hank catches Bobby drinking beer, Bobby exclaims, "Hey, Dad! I like beer!". This contradicts Bobby's distaste for beer back in the episode "The Wedding of Bobby Hill" when he was caught co-hosting a party at Boomhauer's house.
- All of the blow-molded decorations seen at Bill's house have real-life counterparts.
- This is the last episode of the 20th century and the 2nd Millennium, future episodes would be aired in the 21st century until 2010.
Quotes[]
To be added.
Goofs[]
- When Hank catches Bobby, Connie, and Joseph drinking in the jumping house, he tells them to go home. In one shot, there is a basketball in front of the bounce house when the children are putting their shoes on, but when they walk away, it is mysteriously in Joseph's hands.
- When Hank is confronting Bill about Wally, Bill's gloves are red in one frame and pink in the rest.
Gallery[]
