"Snow Job" is the twenty-fifth episode of King of the Hill. It was first aired on February 1, 1998. The episode was written by Cheryl Holliday, Alan R. Cohen, Alan Freedland, and Jim Dauterive, and directed by Adam Kuhlman.
Summary[]
During a rare snowstorm in Texas, Hank finds himself disillusioned when he gets the job of feeding Buck Strickland's dogs and house-sitting instead of managing Strickland Propane while Buck is in the hospital for a heart attack. Things get worse when Hank discovers that Buck has an electric oven and reveals that he's not as enamored with propane as Hank is.
Plot[]
The Hills help celebrate the Strickland Summer in January Picnic, in which Strickland Propane employees and their families gather in a park for some hamburgers on the grill. The festivities are cut short when it suddenly begins to snow. Reacting quickly to the heating crisis, Buck Strickland orders his staff into action in hopes of getting the jump on the electric company. Later, while ogling a company girlie calendar, Strickland suffers a heart attack. At the hospital, Strickland assigns Lloyd Vickers, an MBA-type in his thirties, temporary control of the company. Hank, meanwhile, is assigned to tend to Strickland's dogs, much to his embarrassment.
Hank tells Peggy about the appointment and his disappointment in not being chosen to run the company. The next day, Vickers announces he is raising prices by ten cents per gallon because the storm has created a propane shortage, calling it supply and demand. Hank objects, but Vickers blows him off and smugly gives him flex-time to take care of Strickland's dogs to get him out of his hair. He later discovers that Vickers has ordered the installation of tattlers—devices that meter when a driver makes a stop and for what duration—into all company trucks. Outraged, Hank brings the issue to Strickland, hoping he will put a quick end to the insulting policy decision. But Strickland tells Hank he signed the purchase form himself, and doesn't truly care about propane, only money. Later, Peggy and Hank travel to Strickland's home, where they feed his dogs. Inside the kitchen, Hank receives the shock of his life: Strickland uses an electric stove.
Completely shaken and disillusioned about his life and career, Hank packs his bags and heads out of town for some quiet time in the country. Meanwhile, Strickland drivers, outraged over the installation of the tattlers, remove them from the trucks in protest. When Vickers refuses to back down and threatens to fire them, the drivers all quit and walk out en masse. Vickers counters he will simply replace them with friends from his college alumni newsletter. But driver Joe Jack points out that anyone who operates one of the trucks must be licensed to transport hazardous materials. When Strickland learns what happened, he promptly berates and fires Vickers for his stupidity, managing to hold back from swearing in the presence of some nuns (whom he promptly donates to). While visiting a small mom-and-pop general store in the country, Hank suddenly grows inspired. He realizes the secret to running a business is service with a smile and making people happy, not shaking everyone down for profit. He decides to quit the propane business and open his own general store. But when Hank returns home, he listens to the many messages from needy customers that have accumulated on his answering machine.
End of episode
Recalling fond memories from the past, Hank returns to work. He tells Strickland he has returned because he still believes in the product. Strickland, however, notes that the business cannot run without licensed drivers. Hank points out a window, where five large tow trucks are parked. He points out that a hazardous materials license is not required to tow the vehicles to delivery sites. Soon after, Hank and his friends are delivering propane using the trucks to tow the Strickland Propane vehicles.
Characters[]
- Hank Hill
- Peggy Hill
- Bobby Hill
- Luanne Platter
- Dale Gribble
- Jeff Boomhauer
- Buck Strickland
- Lloyd Vickers
- Joe Jack
- Three unnamed Strickland Propane employees
- Pa
- Ma
- Velma Throckmorton
- Hugh Jimmerson
- Leta Anderson (voice-only)
- Enrique (non-speaking)
- Stu (non-speaking)
- D.C. (non-speaking)
- Tom (non-speaking)
- Nancy Gribble (non-speaking)
- Joseph Gribble (non-speaking)
Stinger Quote[]
- Peggy: "Look at me, I'm a kitty. Meow!"
Trivia[]
- This episode shows that Buck does not use a propane stove and that he is only in the propane business for money.
- This is the first time Strickland's propane trucks are referred to as "bobtails": a bobtail is a commercial long-haul tractor truck without a trailer attached, as well as a truck used to carry and deliver propane. It is the operation of such trucks that requires a special license, something not required when driving a simple tow truck.
- This is the second episode to reference Montana in regard to Peggy's past, after "Westie Side Story".
- As Hank plays back the messages on the answering machine, it can be heard that the elderly lady Velma Throckmorton has become frozen to her walker and that Hugh Jimmerson had to resort to wearing a humiliating sweater. Both of these individuals are seen at the end of the episode while Hank and his friends are driving away. Velma has icicles hanging from her walker, and Hugh, much to his dismay, is wearing the sweater, and promptly takes it off and waves it around.
- Mrs. Strickland seems to be ignored in this episode as she does not visit Buck at the hospital and is not thought of when Buck orders Hank to feed his hounds.
Quotes[]
To be added.
Goofs[]
- When Hank dials "911" after Mr. Strickland has his infarction, he dials "900".
- At the end of the episode, Hank says "a hazardous materials license is not required to tow the vehicles to delivery sites". This is not true; you still need one to tow hazmat vehicles.
- As Pa insults Ma in the general store after she insulted him first, he begins walking straight into the solid counter.