"Just Another Manic Kahn-Day" is the 23rd episode of season 13. It was written by Jennifer Barrow and directed by Jack Perkins and Steve Robertson.
Summary[]
Hank makes the dire mistake of telling Kahn not to pick up his medication from the pharmacy — which turn out to be sorely needed to curb Kahn's manic-depressive mood swings, but Hank must choose between his neighbor's mental health and the progress of his high-tech grill after learning that Kahn's manic side is very skilled at robotics and is actually willing to hang out with Hank and his friends. Meanwhile, Bobby tries to find the humor in a "Ray J. Johnson" comedy record after his parents and other adults claim it is funny.
Plot[]
When Minh and Connie leave for Laos for a few weeks, Minh asks Hank to keep an eye on Kahn. Hank goes with Kahn to the grocery store where Kahn is supposed to pick up his medication, but ends up ignoring his prescription. Hank talks Kahn out of the medicine, believing he doesn't need it and that Minh may just be doping him up for having slight mood swings. Hank and Kahn start to bond over Kahn being able to modify grills and appearing super happy and upbeat- much to his usual superior mood and belittling the gang. One day, Hank and the guys go to Kahn's to check up on him when he doesn't show to build the grills. They find him on the couch, severely depressed and talking of wanting to die. Hank suggests getting ice cream or taking Kahn out to watch a comedy movie to lift his spirits, but that doesn't work. Hank then uses his high school football coach's verbally abusive pep talks (in the same vein as the "Loser! You're a loser!" one from "Peggy the Boggle Champ"), but that just makes Kahn tear up and cry.
During this time, the Grill-Stravaganza is about to occur and Kahn promises Buck Strickland to build a super-powerful robotic grill for the event. Hank soon feels guilty for using Kahn's alternating moods to build his grill, and buys his drugs illegally from Octavio. Kahn, in a manic state, tries to say he doesn't need the medicine, showing he is getting along with the guys well thanks to being off the medicine. However, Hank convinces him that the drugs are going to help Kahn be himself, and the mood swings aren't him. Kahn takes the medication and says they take a while to kick in, and there's no telling whether retaking the medication after days of not taking it will make him manic or depressive. The gang waits outside the room while he lies down to rest and wait for the medicine to kick in. He emerges from the room, declares himself manic and finishes the grill. The Grill-Stravaganza event ends up being a smashing success, with Kahn's robotic grill attracting numerous customers to buy grills. The episode ends with Kahn and Hank eating a burger together cooked by the grill.
In the secondary plot of the episode, Bobby finds a Raymond J. Johnson album in Hank's closet. Bobby learns from Peggy that the album makes his father laugh; this surprises Bobby, saying that if it can make Hank laugh, that Johnson must be hilarious. Bobby listens to the famous "You can call me Ray, or you can call me J ... but you doesn't has to call me Johnson" gag, numerous times, unable to conceive why others find it funny. He even plays it for Bill, Boomhauer, and Dale, who all burst into laughter, but are unable to explain why it is so funny. However, after listening and studying it enough, Bobby ends up getting the humor and eventually bursting in laughter, with Peggy commenting "Johnson got another one."
Characters[]
- Hank Hill
- Peggy Hill
- Bobby Hill
- Dale Gribble
- Bill Dauterive
- Jeff Boomhauer
- Joseph Gribble
- Kahn Souphanousinphone
- Minh Souphanousinphone
- Connie Souphanousinphone (non-speaking)
- Buck Strickland
- Donna
- Enrique
- Joe Jack
- M.F. Thatherton
- Octavio (non-speaking)
- Melinda (non-speaking)
- Ray J. Johnson, Jr. (pictured; voice)
- Tid Pao Souphanousinphone (indirectly mentioned)
Stinger Quote[]
- Ray J. Johnson, Jr. record: "But you doesn't have to call me Johnson!"
Quotes[]
Kahn: "Sadness covers me like a blanket. Tuck me in, let me die."
Trivia[]
- The episode title is a reference to the song "Manic Monday" by The Bangles.
- Though this was the last episode broadcast (on Adult Swim and overall) before the 2025 revival, "To Sirloin With Love" is still considered the series finale (to the original run), as it was written and produced as one.
- By airdate, this is the final King of the Hill episode to air in the 2010s.
- Minh mentions fishing on the "Yangtow River" in Laos, however there is no such existing river. It could be a reference to China's Yangtze River, though that's debatable.
- Tid Pao's Q-Bag graffiti can be seen spray painted on the fence when the guys go get Kahn's medication from Octavio.
- This is the final episode to air during Johnny Hardwick's lifetime, as he would die thirteen years after this episode's airing in 2023. Thusly, over 15 years and seven episodes later, Any Given Hill-Day would be release in dedication of his memory.
- When Peggy says "Johnson got another one," she is standing in front of and cooking on a non-propane stove.
- Hank using his old coach's motivational speech to cheer Kahn up (which ends up being a brutal insult that does nothing but make Kahn cry more) is similar to what Hank did to Peggy on "Peggy the Boggle Champ".
- The song playing when the guys visit a super-productive Kahn is "Dancing with Myself" by Billy Idol.
- It was hinted that Kahn was manic depressive in the episode "Lost in MySpace" (Peggy casually mentioned it).
- Raymond J. Johnson Jr. was a comic persona created by Bill Saluga, who was a member of the improvisational comic troupe Ace Trucking Company which also featured Fred Willard.
- Kahn is shown to have painted an exquisite self-portrait; Boomhauer was shown to also have this talent in "Naked Ambition" when he's accidentally committed to a mental hospital for his incoherent speech. Interestingly, both paintings are created when each character's mental health is questioned, likely an allusion to "mad artists" like Vincent van Gogh.