"Husky Bobby" is the eighteenth episode of King of the Hill. It was first aired on November 9, 1997. The episode was written by Jonathan Collier, and directed by Martin Archer.
Summary[]
Bobby becomes a rising fashion icon for husky boys, much to Hank's displeasure.
Plot[]
Peggy and Hank take Bobby shopping at Shelwyn's department store. Unfortunately, Bobby is unable to squeeze himself into any of the pants on sale. Hank asks a salesman if they have bigger sizes, and the employee suggests that Bobby may feel more at home shopping at H. Dumpty's.
On the way to H. Dumpty's, Peggy encourages Bobby by telling him that "being different is the best thing in the whole wide world." When Bobby tries on the clothing at the store, he is impressed by the selection. His enthusiasm catches the attention of the store's owner, Hal Dumpty, who asks Hank and Peggy if Bobby would be interested in modeling for an upcoming fashion ad. Hank is mortified by the idea (despite him constantly nagging Bobby to get a job and start paying his own way) and Bobby is unsure of the idea of plus-size modeling after hearing of Hank's disagreement. He asks Luanne for advice, who says modeling is an opportunity for him, and drives Bobby to the photo shoot. When the pair return, the boy announces that he will be appearing in a newspaper advertisement the following day. A horrified Hank screams so loudly that it echoes through the neighborhood outside in the night.
The next morning, an embarrassed Hank demands the newspaper company remove the advertisement and sneaks onto his neighbors' lawns to retrieve the offending flyers. Shortly thereafter, a major talent agency phones the Hill residence offering Bobby representation and even more work. Though Hank warns his wife that kids who are different are victimized by their peers (prompting a flashback revealing that at Bobby's age, Hank was a bully), Peggy insists there is nothing wrong with allowing their son to feel good about himself. She takes Bobby to the talent agency to meet Claude Stokes, an agent who believes the boy could become just as famous as one of the superstars of husky modeling, a boy named Andy Maynard. Hank sheepishly sneaks inside a photo studio, where he observes his son being given a makeover by a female stylist. He grows more distressed after Luanne tells him that Bobby will appear in an upcoming fashion show before getting photo shoots. Fuming, Hank grabs Bobby and pulls him out of the studio. He then forbids his son from attending the fashion show before going to bed.
Early the next morning, Bobby leaves the house quietly with a garment slung over his shoulder. When Hank discovers his son missing, he and Peggy rush to the mall where the fashion show is being held. Backstage, Bobby meets Andy Maynard, who makes no secret of the fact that he is a husky supermodel. Claude Stokes tells Bobby that he will walk onstage first, causing Andy to throw a temper tantrum. When Hank appears, Bobby makes a dash for the stage, but Hank throws the boy over his shoulder and heads for the exit. Bobby protests as they leave. Moments later, as a triumphant Andy Maynard walks on stage, Dooley and his buddies begin hurling donuts at the models, staining the wardrobe and ruining the show. Bobby is amazed that his father knew that would happen; Hank comments that putting donuts, teenagers, and husky boys in the same area is a dangerous combination. Bobby realizes he could have been humiliated if he was onstage and thanks his dad for somehow predicting that event before they leave the mall.
Characters[]
- Hank Hill
- Peggy Hill
- Bobby Hill
- Luanne Platter
- Dale Gribble
- Jeff Boomhauer
- Bill Dauterive
- Carlo
- Andy Maynard
- Hal Dumpty
- Claude Stokes
- Stuart Dooley
Trivia[]
- Luanne is seen back together with Buckley in-person after their breakup in the Season 1 episode "Luanne's Saga". They continue to date until Buckley's death in the Season 2 episode "Propane Boom". Although Luanne hinted that they were back together in "King of the Ant Hill", Buckley did not return in-person until this episode.
- The song playing during the fashion walk at the end (before the donuts are thrown) is Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless) by Crystal Waters.
- Hank's statement about "trying to contain an outbreak" and accusation of Peggy "driving the monkey to the airport" is a possible reference to the 1995 film Outbreak, about a deadly pandemic started by a monkey.
- The red-haired woman who greets guests at the fashion show appears to be the same red-haired bar waitress who Cotton Hill has a habit of slapping the rear of whenever he eats and drinks at the bar she works at. It is possible that she quit that job briefly after Cotton slapped her rear in the Season 1 episode "Shins of the Father". However, she is seen working at that bar again in the Season 3 episode "Next of Shin", where Cotton again slaps her rear. Husky Bobby would mark the first time her voice was heard.
Goofs[]
- At the fashion show at the end, the whale above the stage has a hat on, which is ejected at the end, releasing confetti. However, in one of the frames prior to this, the whale is missing the hat.
- Bobby's room appears much larger than normal during the overhead shot when Hank discovers he's left for the fashion show.