And They Call it Bobby Love

And They Call it Bobby Love
Air date	September 22, 1998
Written by	Norm Hiscock
Directed by	Cyndi Tang-Loveland
Episode guide
Previous	"Death of a Propane Salesman"
Next	"Peggy's Headache"

"And They Call It Bobby Love" is the thirty-seventh episode of King of the Hill. It was first aired on September 22, 1998. The episode was written by Norm Hiscock, and directed by Cyndi Tang-Loveland. Sarah Michelle Gellar guest-stars as Marie.

Summary

Bobby becomes involved with a fourteen year old girl but realizes their "relationship" is not what he thought it was.

Plot

Bobby makes his way through the hallways of Tom Landry Middle School, he encounters a fourteen year old student named Marie, who is acting as hall monitor. Knowing he is late for class, Bobby tells her his name is "Ramon Tavares" in hopes of evading detention. Marie laughs at Bobby's ploy and sends him on his way without a penalty.

Hank and his friends are dumbstruck by the sudden appearance of an abandoned couch, sitting right in the very spot where they normally stand in the common alley. An outraged Hank telephones the city official and demands that the furniture be removed. But the city official fails to respond after a reasonable length of time. As time passes, Marie grows more and more enamored of Bobby's clownish antics along with her friends. Connie is dismayed to watch the scene after she puts her belongings away and then ask Bobby about that, which he replies that it's part of his comedy acts.

Hank declares that the group should move it themselves. Before the men take action, however, Bill sits down on the soft couch. He's soon joined by the other men, who come to realize they can now drink beer, chat, and be comfortable all at the same time. Later, Hank is sitting on his chair with his beer and Bobby is seen scratching off his notebook with a pencil. Suddenly, Hank receives a phone call from someone, who wants to speak with Bobby. But Hank thought that they had the wrong number before he hangs up. Bobby asks his father about the caller, which Hank replied to him that it was some girl that wants meet Bobby. Hank receives another phone call from the same caller again, who asks him about Bobby again. Hank tells Bobby that some of his friends were on the phone, who he thinks that they were playing prank calls, and gives it to him. Bobby, at first thought it was Joseph on the phone, but it is actually Marie on the phone that she invites him to go with her and some of her friends to the mall, which he accepts. Later that evening, Hank and his friends are installing some improvements on the couch.

Somewhere at Arlen Mall, Bobby, Marie and her friends are at the food court to order their lunches. Bobby asks Marie about what she's going to order, she explains that she doesn't eat anything with heads on it. As their friendship grows, Marie informs Bobby that she is a vegetarian; Bobby decides to follow suit. Bobby also explains that Hank told him about how God didn't want his family to eat any meat then he wouldn't have to invent steak sauce. One of Marie's friends was astonished by Hank's assumption and asked Bobby what his father said to him about his claim, which Bobby replies that his father talked about that once. Marie then explains to Bobby about a hundred chickens was to feed the village's starvation, but they shouldn't eat them since it was a bad example. After Marie orders a Chop Salad, Bobby orders a Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato sandwich, Marie tells him that it has bacon on it, which he assures that bacon doesn't have a head on it, making Marie and her friends give him a contemptuous stare. Bobby then changes his order to a Lettuce and Tomato sandwich instead.

As Bobby and Marie walk down the common alley that evening, they discover the couch. The pair sit down, and soon after their conversations, Marie pulls Bobby close and kisses him. Bobby, somewhat nervous at first, kisses her back. As quickly as the kissing started, Marie breaks the kiss and walks off. The next morning, Bobby tells his parents about his new girlfriend, much to the concern of Peggy.

Eventually, the city officials arrive to make their way to dispose of the couch, but since Hank and his friends have been used to the couch, they refuse to give it up. The city officials then declare that if the couch is not being used, then it will be taken away. Dale is determined to protect the couch as he watches them leave the alley.

Later at school, Bobby asks Connie and Joseph about their plans before Connie suggests that they should go riding bikes, yet Marie disagrees since it's boring to ride the bicycles, which Bobby follows her as well and said that they should choose something else. Marie decided that they should go to the shopping mall for clothes, which Bobby agrees. Joseph and Connie are uninterested with that idea. Inside the Gribble Residence, Dale intercepts a phone call from Bill with a recorder wiretap to his phone. After they finish their conversation, Dale puts his record tapes in the case, writes the side and places it in his collections.

After Bobby and Marie walked down the common alley that evening, Marie asked Bobby about his friends' disappearance. Bobby replies that they were with them until they both ditched them. Shortly thereafter, Bobby notices the couch and offers her to kiss him again, but Marie declines. Bobby grows more and more infatuated with Marie. But realizing the more he pursues his love, Marie obliges as the pair sits and kisses once again. Unbeknownst to them, Connie is saddened to watch Bobby kiss Marie while she was throwing the trash away in the garbage can. Soon after, the kissing ends, actually Marie pulls away after she realizes that she's late for getting home when she looks at her watch and leaves with a love-struck Bobby wishing her a good night.

During at Dinner, Bobby asks Peggy for some rice and plain toast, because Marie is a vegetarian. Hank is irritated about Bobby's relationship with Marie. Bobby explains to his parents about his relationship with Marie and make-out. Peggy is shocked and orders Hank to talk with Bobby. Hank, at first explains about vegetarianism, but Peggy meant the kissing since Bobby is a minor. Bobby then explains that he's a good kisser that Marie said and even demonstrates his parents how Marie kissed him. Peggy is disgusted at this and retorts that he's only twelve-years old and should be afraid of girls, but Bobby refutes that Peggy is jealous because she isn't in love like him and Marie. Peggy insists to Bobby that he shouldn't be compared with a two-day infatuation and twenty-year marriage. Although Bobby advises that he and Marie had been kissing for more than two days than his parents' in their marriage. Bobby also deduces that he never saw his parents' kiss. Peggy claims that Hank had kissed her, much to Hank's annoyance. This dispute arises at the dining table between Peggy and Bobby.

In the meantime, Connie invites Luanne to help her with the algebra homework and Luanne is flattered at this. However, Connie didn't need Luanne to teach her about algebra, much to Luanne's relief, explaining that real reason she called her here is because she announces that Bobby has a girlfriend which was Marie. Luanne is stunned at this news and she knows about it, which Connie agreed. Connie also reveals her confession that she really likes Bobby discreetly before desperately asking Luanne about what she should do now. Luanne explains to her that if she and Bobby were meant to be together and the event will somehow happen soon. This story also reminding Luanne about her relationship with Buckley before he subsequently got blown up in the Mega-Lo Mart explosion incident (echoes to the previous episode at the Death of a Propane Salesman), much to Connie's confusion.

The next day, Hank and Peggy are shopping at Hardware Ranch to buy some tools and supplies. Hank requests the clerk for covers to prevent some of the squirrels from getting into the couch. After the clerk leaves to get the covers for Hank, Peggy tries to hold Hank's hand on the counter until he quickly moves it away and ask her about why she's holding his hand. Peggy reminds Hank that they usually hold their hands together and remembers about doing this in board daylight. Hank responses that his hands are full by grabbing a flashlight and a tool in excuse. Peggy is disappointed and then realizes that they were afraid to show their love for each other. Hank finally holds Peggy's hand and shows their love for their relationships. Ironically, a disgusted customer walks by in the distance and tells them to get some privacy for it, making both Hank and Peggy release their hands in embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Kahn finds Hank and his friends sitting on the couch in the alley. He explains that it was him who abandoned the furniture, as it was covered in cat urine. But this does not faze the others, who have gone so far as to have installed beer can holders into the couch's arms and a custom-made overhead shade. Kahn scoffs at them and snidely offers Dale his boxer to use as a tea-cozy before walking away.

Later that night, Marie stops by the Hill residence to pick up Bobby while Hank asks her how old she is and learns that she's fourteen years old. Surprised at this revelation, Hank objects this relationship and Marie begins to explain that Bobby had kept telling her lots of stories before questioning Hank if he holds hands with Peggy, but Hank still rejects her claims until Bobby leaves home to attend Marie's party. When Hank informs Peggy that Bobby is going out with Marie and that she is fourteen-years old, a horrified Peggy drops her mails and begins to complain about their two-year age gap that causes her to dramatically sit on couch to think about this problem in disbelief.

They travel to a party in Marie's residence, where Bobby and Marie are dancing with other guests before he eats some snacks from the snack table before asking two boys about this party to be a make-out party, knowing he will be prepared for it. Unfortunately for him, Bobby is shocked and sickened by the sight of Marie dancing with other boys. Bobby tries to get the other boys away from Marie, but they dismiss him before they go back dancing again. This leads to Bobby to turn off the music and stops the party. Bobby calls Marie's name out loud, causing her to subsequently drag him by his hands outside of her house in embarrassment.

Outside of Marie's residence, Bobby demands from her about why she's dancing with those other boys, which replies that she likes dancing since she wanted to dance anyway. As his jealousy continues, Bobby persists that he and Marie were supposed to be dancing together instead of them. Marie reveals that they are just friends and are not a serious romantic couple. Bobby is devastated by the "break up" and starts crying. Marie tries to console him by kissing him on the forehead, to which Bobby mistakes this as a form of love. Marie, having enough, then decides to leave him to rejoin the party. Bobby tries to change Marie's mind by behaving in a clown-like manner, but when Marie ignores his advances, Bobby sinks into a deep devastation, taking the break-up hard and says it is a mistake.

Back at the Hill residence, Hank was seen drinking his beer and Peggy writing on her paper on the couch until it is interrupted when Bobby returns home crying hysterically as Hank ask if someone pushed him off his bike. Bobby sadly reveals that Marie had broken up with him. Feeling bad about Bobby's sadness, Peggy assures him that the break-up doesn't feel so good, with the latter complaints that it wasn't. The next day, outside the Hill residence, Bobby's sadness begins to develop as he's seen crying on the couch where he remembers that he and Marie used to sit on this couch. This seems somewhat to Bill and Dale's annoyance since they're unaware about the couch being used if there's a family member using it as well until Hank then defuses this problem and tries to comfort the sad boy about some facts that if he feels sad about some girl breaking his heart and reassures that the couch is a happy place, not before Bobby begins shedding in tears and walks away, leaving Hank and his friends bewitched.

Eventually, a depressed Bobby laid down on the floor while listening to some Hank Williams' sad music, There's a Tear in My Beer. Hank and Peggy become concerned for the boy, despite that he finally stopped crying, yet still that his taste of music is getting better. When night falls, Peggy and Ladybird enter the living room where Bobby sinks into a deep depression and continues listening to Hank Williams' sad music, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, with Ladybird licking his back while he tells his mother that he'll never make anyone laugh again and doesn't want to be a prop comedian. Peggy shoos Ladybird when she's sniffing on Bobby's buttocks before placing the towel on him, kissing him on his head and saying "Goodnight".

Later, Hank and Peggy takes Bobby to The Panhandler Steakhouse where as luck would have it and to cheer him up, much to Bobby's distress. Inside the Panhandler Steakhouse, Bobby notices Marie and her parents are also dining here as well. Upon seeing Marie, Peggy declares Bobby's infatuation makes sense, as Marie "looks just like me". Bobby wants to leave, but Hank persuades him to stay as dating is all about who wins or loses. When a waitress greets the Hill's and offers the 72 oz Top Sirloin Steak challenge, one that if consumed in an hour is free of charge, Hank declines. Bobby deliberately orders the largest steak on the menu, but Hank is confused that it's big beef then questions about what happened from being a vegetarian. Bobby is convincing his parents he can eat the 72 oz Top Sirloin Steak in rare style, (it can be viewed that he is doing this as a way of getting back at Marie, who is a vegetarian).

After the 72 oz Top Sirloin Steak challenge preparation, Bobby eats downs every last morsel of the 72-ounce slab of beef while with Hank, Peggy, and the other patrons cheering him on including Marie's parents. As the upset vegetarian Marie looks on in anger, Bobby continues to shove in the food. Bobby suddenly stopped, making Hank, Peggy and the crowds worried and Marie pleased that they thought that he was too sick to continue the challenge. However, Bobby loosens his pants and continues on to shove in the food with the crowds begins cheering him on. When Bobby is about to finish the last bite of the piece of beef, he and Marie looks at each other angrily. Finally, Bobby eats the last bite as Marie turns and looks away in disgust. After Bobby finished his last bite, he wins the 72 oz Top Sirloin Steak challenge and Hank, Peggy and the patrons cheering for him as result while an angry Marie proclaims to her parents that they leave, but however, her parents are busy cheering on Bobby for finishing his steak challenge, much to Marie's dismay. Bobby thanks the people of Arlen. Hank and Peggy hug and kiss in relief but is short-lived when Chuck Mangione is simultaneously seen dining in the Panhandler Steakhouse as well and tells them off that he was trying to eat his meal.

After returning home, Hank and his friends are shocked to find that the couch is gone with Dale mourning over the loss of it. As Connie drops by and looks on, Bobby doubles over and vomits; at first, Connie thinks Bobby is vomiting because of the "break up", but after learning that he ate the 72-ounce beef, she is satisfied and asks Bobby if he could come watch TV with her after he is finished.

During the end credits, a scene is shown where it is revealed that Bill was the one who took the couch for himself while talking on the phone with Dale.

Characters

• Hank Hill
• Peggy Hill
• Bobby Hill
• Luanne Platter
• Dale Gribble
• Joseph Gribble
• Jeff Boomhauer
• Bill Dauterive
• Kahn Souphanousinphone
• Connie Souphanousinphone
• Stuart Dooley
• Marie (debut)
• Marie's Mother
• Marie's Father
• Unnamed men (cameo)
• Chuck Mangione (cameo)

Trivia

• The title is a play on the Paul Anka song "And They Call It Puppy Love".
• On the part where Bobby is lying on the floor and listing to music, the song that is playing when Hank walks in and says "At least his taste in music has improved" is "There's a Tear in My Beer" by Hank Williams, and later re-recorded by his son Hank Williams, Jr. in 1988 (jobs).
• There was no tagline for this episode as it had a closing scene over the credits instead of the theme song.
• Luanne's hair has started growing back, after losing it in an explosion in "Propane Boom".
• During the closing credits, when Bill is talking over the phone, the animation shifts and becomes slightly different.
• This episode was the winner of a Primetime Emmy Award in 1999 for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour).
• Starting with this episode, Richard Appel joins King of the Hill as an executive producer and showrunner. Appel had previously worked on The Simpsons.
• This is the second time the "72 ounce beef" challenge was shown, the first was from "The Company Man" where Mr. Holloway quits after only taken one bite.
• Marie is shown as being a Hall Monitor at Tom Landry Middle School. It should be noted that this episode takes place before Emily, the eventual permanent Hall Monitor made her debut.

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