"How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Alamo" is the one hundred-sixty-sixth episode of King of the Hill. It first aired on April 18, 2004. The episode was written by Christy Stratton, and directed by Brian Sheesley.
Summary[]
Hank tries to teach Bobby about the Alamo after discovering that the new history textbooks in school contain pop history — and things get worse when Hank's plans for an Alamo play include a director who wants to portray the American force as a bunch of drunken, doped-up, slave-owning, prostitute-loving cowards. Meanwhile, Nancy gets a Flat Stanley doll in the mail, and Peggy and Luanne put it through dangerous scenarios to teach kids about safety.
Plot[]
When Hank finds out Bobby's new Texas History textbook hardly even mentions The Alamo, he teams up with Bruce Tuttle, an aspiring writer-director, to produce a play about it. However, Bruce creates a revisionist version of the story, and despite Hank's disgust, Bobby must participate in the play to get extra credit and avoid summer school. Meanwhile, Nancy receives a Flat Stanley in the mail. Peggy and Luanne photograph it in a number of dangerous situations, resulting in the school's Flat Stanley Project participation being cancelled.
Characters[]
- Hank Hill
- Peggy Hill
- Bobby Hill
- Luanne Platter
- Dale Gribble
- Bill Dauterive
- Jeff Boomhauer
- Unnamed history teacher (voiced by Elizabeth Perkins)
- Joseph Gribble (non-speaking)
- Stuart Dooley (non-speaking)
- Clark Peters
- Susie (non-speaking)
- Leventhal (non-speaking)
- Judy (non-speaking)
- Shawn (non-speaking)
- Principal Moss
- Nancy Gribble
- Flat Stanley (object)
- Bruce Tuttle
- Buck Strickland (mentioned)
- James Butler Bonham, Alamo messenger (mentioned)
- Sharla
- Davy Crockett (pictured)
- Stephen F. Austin (mentioned)
- Selena (mentioned)
- Unnamed male school board member (voiced by David Herman)
- Unnamed female school board member (voiced by Ashley Gardner)
- Santa Anna (mentioned)
- General Houston (mentioned)
- Pork Processing Plant foreman (voiced by Stephen Root)
- Alamo Ghost actor (voiced by Stephen Root)
- Davy Crockett reenactor (voiced by David Herman)
- William B. Travis reenactor (voiced by Dennis Burkley)
- James Bowie reenactor (voiced by Johnny Hardwick)
- John Wayne (mentioned)
- Oliver Stone (mentioned)
- Flat Stanley teacher (voiced by Ashley Gardner)
- Lady Bird (pictured)
- Doggie (pictured)
Stinger Quote[]
- Bill: "I feel the fun slowing down."
Trivia[]
- The episode name is a reference to the 1964 Stanley Kubrick film Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.
- When Hank grabs a Texas History book from off the bookshelf in the living room, specific books are seen on the shelf which include the Bible, Shogunate, The Firm and The Guinness Book of World Records.
- The image of the meat processing plant is very similar to the one used in the Season 7 episode "Pigmalion".
- Luanne seems skeptical about the dangers of people accidentally falling onto a pork plant killing line, despite seeing Trip Larsen die in this exact way in the earlier episode.
- One of the topics discussed in Bobby's history textbook was the first Taco Bell, but that is a franchise that actually started in California.
- Peggy and Luanne got jobs at Mega Lo Mart as a part of their tour with Flat Stanley.
Gallery[]
| Season 7 | Season 8 | Season 9 |
Patch Boomhauer · Reborn to Be Wild · New Cowboy on the Block · The Incredible Hank · Flirting With the Master · After the Mold Rush · Livin' on Reds, Vitamin C and Propane · Rich Hank, Poor Hank · Ceci N'est Pas Une King of the Hill · That's What She Said · My Hair Lady · Phish and Wildlife · Cheer Factor · Dale Be Not Proud · Après Hank, le Deluge · DaleTech · How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Alamo · Girl, You'll Be a Giant Soon · Stressed for Success · Hank's Back · The Redneck on Rainey Street · Talking Shop | ||