Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 50

John Malkovich’s Red Ghost Cut from THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is finally almost upon us. But one actor who Marvel Studios revealed as starring in the movie, and even showed up in some trailers, didn’t actually make the final cut. In an interview with Variety, director Matt Shakman revealed that iconic actor John Malkovich’s role wound up on the cutting room floor. This confirms that Malkovich was portraying early FF villain Red Ghost, who commanded an army of super apes. Here’s what Matt Shakman said about having to cut the two-time Oscar winner’s scenes:

There were a lot of things that ultimately ended up hitting the cutting room floor. When we were building a ’60s retro-future world, introducing all of these villains, introducing these four main characters as a group, as well as individually, introducing the idea of a child — there was a lot of stuff to balance in this movie and some things had to go ultimately in terms of shaping the film for its final version.

Marvel Studios/Marvel Comics

Shakman, who worked with John Malkovich on his first feature film Cut Bank, said, “It was heartbreaking not to include him in the final version of the movie, because he’s one of my very favorite humans and one of my biggest inspirations.” The Red Ghost scene was part of a larger sequence showing the team battling some of their most iconic villains. It’s unclear if any of those other villains made the cut. However, a Little Cesar’s Pizza ad did show the team fighting Giganto from Fantastic Four #1. Of course, if the movie is successful, we may see an extended cut in some form. It would be a shame if we never see Malkovich chew the scenery as a comic book villain. We deserve that at least once.

Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on July 25.

The post John Malkovich’s Red Ghost Cut from THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS appeared first on Nerdist.

THE WALKING DEAD: DEAD CITY Scores Season 3 Renewal, Releases Synopsis and New Showrunner Info

The Walking Dead: Dead City ended its second season with a disheartening turn of events in more ways than one. The series killed off my homie Bruegel, Herschel betrayed his own mama to be with the Dama, and Maggie still couldn’t bring herself to just go ahead and kill Negan. Like girl, either kill the man or be his friend, stop this back and forth! Maggie, Negan, and Armstrong decide to stay in NYC as New Babylon takes over and gains control. It felt inevitable, so it is not shocking that AMC is renewing The Walking Dead: Dead City for a third season. Robert Clark/AMC

Maggie needs to somehow win her son back over, but that’s going to be hard. He’s deeply brainwashed by Dama and upset with his mom for not killing Negan. I assume the Bricks is just left to its own devices at this point. Meanwhile, Negan is back to having pretty much nothing and no one after losing all of his men and power in that final battle.

RELATED ARTICLE

What Happens to Maggie and Negan in THE WALKING DEAD: DEAD CITY Season 2 Finale?

He’s reeling over the death of Ginny and for some reason isn’t wanting to be with his wife and son in another locale. I will never understand that man. And Armstrong is no longer fully on board with New Babylon’s actions, which spells eventual trouble for him. There’s a lot to wrap up in The Walking Dead: Dead City season three, whenever it arrives. 

For now, we already have a brief synopsis for season three: 

In season three, Maggie and Negan finally put aside their differences to build the first thriving community in Manhattan since the apocalypse, but when chaos in the city begins to arise, they are forced to question: have they learned from their old wounds or will their dark past spell doom for the entire city?

Y’all. This synopsis is wild. I would have never thought these two would build a community as co-leaders, especially in a wild place like Manhattan. Who will the residents be? Will some of the Bricks people live there? How are they going to do this with New Babylon all over the place? Who knows.

We do know that Seth Hoffman will be Dead City’s new showrunner, replacing Eli Jorné. It’s not totally clear why Jorné is leaving the series but Hoffman was responsible for some great episodes of the flagship series like “Too Far Gone.” So I’m confident that he will take Maggie and Negan’s story to a new level. 

Robert Clark/AMC

“We’re thankful to Eli Jorné for two seasons of Dead City that took the story of these iconic characters in exciting new directions and broadened this thriving Universe by introducing a new corner of the walker apocalypse,” said Dan McDermott, president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks. “As we continue to create new stories for a passionate TWD fanbase, we’re delighted to have a seasoned Walking Dead veteran like Seth Hoffman at the helm of a new season, alongside the remarkable Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, that will bring new adversaries and alliances and push the boundaries of Maggie and Negan’s conflicted relationship.”

And it seems we won’t have to wait too long for another season. Production is set to begin in Boston this fall. Before we know it, we will be back in the New York groove.

The post THE WALKING DEAD: DEAD CITY Scores Season 3 Renewal, Releases Synopsis and New Showrunner Info appeared first on Nerdist.

Matt Reeves Finally Finishes THE BATMAN – PART II Script

Although it will not belong to the main on-screen DC Universe, we were very happy to hear that The Batman – Part II will continue on in DC’s new world order. Under James Gunn and Peter Safran, The Batman – Part II will belong to DC’s Elseworlds Projects. These projects will take place in TV, movie, or game form but will not factor into the main universe story. Still, they play a critical role in keeping the DC Universe varied and interesting.

But what is the current state of The Batman – Part II? Unfortunately, the film has been delayed once more. Although The Batman – Part II was originally meant to arrive in 2025, it will now be released on October 1, 2027, after two delays. James Gunn confirmed the news on Threads, revealing, “The only reason for the delay is there isn’t a full script (those of you who follow me here probably know that already). Matt is committed to making the best film he possibly can, and no one can accurately guess exactly how long a script will take to write. Once there is a finished script, there is around two years for pre-production, shooting and post-production on big films.”

But happily, Matt Reeves and co-writer Mattson Tomlin have finally finished The Batman—Part II‘s script. They took to Instagram to celebrate the news. And hey, although the script was delayed, it comes right on schedule, at least according to James Gunn.

Gunn recently shared in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, “Listen, we’re supposed to get a script in June. I hope that happens. We feel really good about it. People should get off Matt’s nuts because it’s like, let the guy write the screenplay in the amount of time he needs to write it. That’s just the way it is. He doesn’t owe you something because you like his movie. I mean, you like his movie because of Matt. So let Matt do things the way he does.”

Gunn additionally shared, “I am irritated by people. I mean, it’s just that thing people don’t need to be entitled about. It’s going to come out when he feels good about the screenplay. And Matt’s not going to give me the screenplay until he feels good about the screenplay.” Happily, it seems like that time has finally come. Reeves and co made the June deadline. And, according to Variety sources, “the studio is thrilled with Matt Reeves’ just-submitted screenplay draft for the sequel to The Batman.” Huzzah!

Warner Bros.

Here’s everything we know about The Batman – Part II.

Title

For now, the sequel to The Batman carries the descriptive title of The Batman – Part II.

The Batman – Part II‘s Plot

We don’t know much yet about The Batman – Part II‘s plot. But we do know that a cinematic universe is building for The Batman. Next up, we’ll see a Penguin series on HBO Max, and that will tie directly into the coming sequel.

Warner Bros.

One thing is clear about The Batman – Part II; its focus will stay on Batman, a.k.a Bruce Wayne. Reeves shares:

To me, the thing that I really feel is that I also believe that Rob [Pattinson] is so special in the role. My goal has always been to do these point-of-view stories that allow the character to always be the emotional center of the story. Because a lot of times what happens is, after you do the first one, then suddenly other Rogues Gallery characters come in, and they kind of take over, and then Batman takes a backseat sort of character-wise, or emotionally.

The Batman – Part II‘s CastWarner Bros.

For now, we know Robert Pattinson will return as our Bruce Wayne/Batman. It just wouldn’t be a The Batman movie without him. In addition, an article in GQ notes that Matt Reeves has confirmed Andy Serkis’ return as Alfred Pennyworth in The Batman – Part II.

A February 21, 2024 interview on Vanity Fair also confirmed Barry Keoghan—who had a brief cameo in the first film as the Joker—will return, presumably in a much bigger role, for The Batman – Part II.

Warner Bros.Behind the Scenes

Matt Reeves is returning to write the sequel to The Batman. But this time, he will find a co-writer in Mattson Tomlin. We assume Reeves will also direct The Batman – Part II.

The Batman – Part II Release Date

The Batman – Part II will release on October 1, 2027.

Originally published on February 8, 2023.

The post Matt Reeves Finally Finishes THE BATMAN – PART II Script appeared first on Nerdist.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA Live-Action Movie Casts Link and Zelda, Alas Hunter Schafer Not Involved

A live-action The Legend of Zelda movie has been a long time in the making. It has been a number one request from fans for years. We learned about the movie was actually happening all the way back in 2023. And, of course, the number one question that followed the announcement was, “Who would play Link and Zelda in the live-action movie?” But we received no word about casting, leaving plenty of room for speculation… Until now. The live-action The Legend of Zelda movie has finally cast its Link and Zelda. Interestingly enough, despite many high-profile names being tossed around, the live-action Zelda movie has gone with two relatively unknown actors. Let’s take a look at who has been cast.

Who Will Play Link in the Live-Action The Legend of Zelda Movie?Nintendo

Although his name isn’t in the title, our hero Link is an important character. In the live-action The Legend of Zelda movie, Link will be played by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth might be best known to Nerdist readers as the creepy kid from Mike Flanagan’s Netflix show, The Haunting of Bly Manor. Now, he’ll be much less eerie and much more epic as he takes on maybe the most iconic video game leading man ever, Link. We can see the vision in this The Legend of Zelda live-action movie casting choice.

Who Will Play Princess Zelda in the Live-Action The Legend of Zelda Movie?Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda fans REALLY hoped that Hunter Schafer would play Princess Zelda in the live-action The Legend of Zelda movie. And we must admit, casting Hunter Schafer would have been a really perfect decision. Schafer is super talented, and we’d have loved to see a transgender person cast in such a high-profile role. But, alas, it was not to be. The Legend of Zelda has instead cast Bo Bragason as its live-action Princess Zelda. You might know Bragason from Disney+’s Renegade Nell, and we’re excited to see what she can do.

Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto Is Excited By the Link and Zelda Casting for The Legend of Zelda Movie

The film is scheduled to be released in theaters on May 7, 2027. Thank you for your patience. (2/2)

— 任天堂株式会社 (@Nintendo) July 16, 2025

Nintendo Head Shigeru Miyamoto shared some words of praise for the this duo on social media. He noted, “This is Miyamoto. I am pleased to announce that for the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda, Zelda will be played by Bo Bragason-san, and Link by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth-san. I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen. The film is scheduled to be released in theaters on May 7, 2027. Thank you for your patience.”

Well, if this The Legend of Zelda live-action movie casting decision is good enough for Shigeru Miyamoto, we suppose it’s good enough for us.

More About the Upcoming Movie

So far, we know that The Legend of Zelda will release on May 7, 2027. It will be directed by Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes‘ Wes Ball. We don’t know much about the plot of The Legend of Zelda yet, but we assume it will follow the story of Link and Zelda as they battle evils across the kingdom.

The post THE LEGEND OF ZELDA Live-Action Movie Casts Link and Zelda, Alas Hunter Schafer Not Involved appeared first on Nerdist.

This Dating App for Disney Adults Has the Best Name Ever: Single Riders

The world of Disney is not just a world of magic. It’s also a world of love. Mickey and Minnie. Donald and Daisy. Beast and Belle. Aladdin and Jasmine. Those are just a few famous pairings from the Mouse House, a place that is home to countless iconic romances. Now a new dating app in development wants to help Disney Adults find their own prince or princess in the parks. And it has the best name for a dating app ever: Single Riders.

@joethebeardednerd

@Single Riders Dating App Single Riders Dating App: An Update #single #distok #datingapps #singlerider #uoap #orlando #disneyadult

♬ original sound – JoetheBeardedNerd

Disney content creator Joe the Bearded Nerd is working on a dating app designed specifically for theme park enthusiasts. He explained in his TikTok video announcing the idea where the concept came from. It started two years ago when a date stood him up. He responded the way many Orlando locals would do in that situation: he went to Disney. There he had a moment of inspiration that would make Figment proud.

Disney

He hopes his app will launch before the end of the year, with beta testers getting an early chance to try it. The service’s amazing name—which comes from special lanes on certain rides that let guests skip ahead so long as they’re willing to ride alone—isn’t the only reason we think his app will be a hit. It’s because it’s not only about helping Disney adults find love. It will also have a “friendship” side. It will let Disney enthusiasts find people to go to the parks with.

Perfect name, perfect concept. But if you want to ensure ensure the app itself is perfect, Joe wants to hear from you. He is encouraging Disney fans to chime in with the kinds of features they want to see included.

@singleridersapp

Disney Adult Dating App: Coming Soon! #distok #single #singlelife #dating #datingtips #datingapps #disneyadult

♬ original sound – Single Riders Dating App

I’m a very happily married Disney fan. But since I also love dad jokes I still have an idea for the dating side. Include a “speed dating” feature that lets singles ride meetup on Tron Lightcycle Run.

If you can quickly find love on a ride that fast, you’ve truly found a magical romance worthy of a Disney movie.

The post This Dating App for Disney Adults Has the Best Name Ever: Single Riders appeared first on Nerdist.

Rachel Brosnahan Wants Lois Lane as Superwoman in the DCU, and James Gunn May Agree

One of the many standout parts of James Gunn’s Superman is Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. There have been some great portrayals of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Daily Planet reporter over the decades, most recently on Superman & Lois. But Brosnahan is already one of the best Lois Lanes ever, even after just one appearance. The former Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star didn’t just wait to be saved by Superman, she saved Superman herself. This led Wired (via a fan question) to ask James Gunn and Rachel Brosnahan if Lois ever had superpowers. Here’s what they had to say in response:

Rachel Brosnahan: “Yes, she does. Boy, does she! She becomes Superwoman for a day on her birthday in All-Star Superman, and there’s other [comics] where she gets powers”.

James Gunn: “Like right now in the comics, you can go see her. She has superpowers in the comics as we speak.” I think about it every time I see her with powers, I’m like, ‘I know it. I know it’s Rachel’s’.”

Rachel Brosnahan: “James, are you feeling inspired?”

James Gunn: “Yeah, maybe. I think about it every time I see her with powers, I’m like ‘I know it’s Rachel’s.’ She’s so happy to be cast as Lois Lane, and another part of her is like, ‘I want to be able to fly’.”

DC Studios/DC Comics

Lois Lane has a long history of becoming Superwoman in the comics. Yet DC never sticks with the concept for long. She first became Superwoman in an “imaginary story” in 1943. And for the next several decades, DC would recycle this story. Either via magic or super science, Lois Lane would get powers, only to lose them by issue’s end. Even Grant Morrison’s excellent All-Star Superman had Lois receive powers and become Superwoman for just one issue. Although it was a very memorable and iconic story, where Lois gets the gift of superpowers for just one day.

DC Comics

In more recent years, DC has made a more concentrated effort to tell longer “Lois as Superwoman” stories. Although, only longer by only a little bit. In 2016, Lois Lane absorbed a dying Superman’s powers, headlining a new Superwoman series of her own at last. But within an issue, Superwoman became Lana Lang. In the past year, Lois became Superwoman once again, absorbing General Zod’s powers, and fighting crime in Metropolis. This lasted a record six months, but she recently lost the powers once again. DC seems afraid to commit to Lois Lane having powers for very long.

DC Comics

While a strong case can be made that Lois Lane is more iconic as a tough-as-nails human woman who doesn’t need powers, just her brains and her spirit, things changed when Lois married Clark and they had a super son in the comics. Now, the Kents are a family where everyone (including Clark’s cousin, “brother,” and family dog) all have powers, except for his wife, who’s stuck being “the guy in the chair” when it comes to family adventures. Maybe if Rachel Brosnahan gets to fly as Superwoman on the big screen, it may happen in the comics too, on a more permanent basis.

The post Rachel Brosnahan Wants Lois Lane as Superwoman in the DCU, and James Gunn May Agree appeared first on Nerdist.

IMAX Tickets for Christopher Nolan’s THE ODYSSEY Going On Sale a Year Before Film’s Release

Universal Pictures is taking the “epic” in “epic poem” super seriously when it comes to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. The Oppenheimer director is shooting his big budget adaptation, currently in the middle of production, entirely with his beloved IMAX cameras. It will be the first movie ever filmed that way. The studio also released a theatrical trailer for the movie ahead of Jurassic World Rebirth, despite, again, very much still being made. We don’t even know who most of the people in the movie are even playing yet! Now Universal is doing something that sounds like it can’t possibly be real, though it very much is. IMAX tickets for Nolan’s The Odyssey will soon go on sale one whole year before you can actually use them.Universal Pictures

Variety reports that starting on July 17, 2025 moviegoers will be able to purchase tickets for select showings of The Odyssey. That wouldn’t be particularly noteworthy if not for the fact it doesn’t come out until July 17, 2026.

This is, uh, not normal for a very obvious reason. Do you know if you’ll be free one whole year from today? Can you safely pre-buy tickets to a movie 365 days in advance? If so, congratulations! I don’t know what I’m doing for dinner tonight.

Universal Pictures

Despite this feeling far more like an original type of promotions, we expect this limited pre-sale to work. For one this movie already feels like a big deal. The other reason is that not many tickets will go on sale. Fans can only get them for IMAX theaters with 70mm screens. Even then it will only be for certain showtimes. Other screenings, both large format and otherwise, should go on sale much closer to the film’s release.

In fairness to Universal Pictures, in some ways this is a fitting way to promote this movie. It took Odysseus an unusually long time to get home from the Trojan War. Now it’ll take an unusually long time for moviegoers to use their movie tickets to see how he finally did.

The post IMAX Tickets for Christopher Nolan’s THE ODYSSEY Going On Sale a Year Before Film’s Release appeared first on Nerdist.

THE LAST OF US Season 3 Set to Arrive in 2027

The Last of Us is undoubtedly one of the best shows on TV right now. If you don’t believe us, just ask Emmy voters. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey both snagged lead acting nominations for 2025, and they are well-deserved. With the show’s second season in the books, fans are now looking forward to season three. There have been a ton of storyline teases and even the big exit of Neil Druckmann. And now we know that The Last of Us season three is aiming for a 2027 release. 

In an interview with Variety, HBO and Max content chairman/CEO Casey Bloys addressed a question about when the next season would arrive. Bloys said, “The series is definitely planned for 2027. Craig is still working it out whether it will be two more seasons or one more long season. It hasn’t been decided yet, and I’m following Craig’s lead on that.”

HBO

So, that means we could get a supersized The Last of Us season three in 2027 or even get a season four to further break down the series. Either way, it doesn’t sound like this show will end up on the chopping block like so many others. Honestly, we will take the big ole season so we don’t have to wait. 2027 feels like it is so far away, but in today’s world two years isn’t too long to wait for another season.

The post THE LAST OF US Season 3 Set to Arrive in 2027 appeared first on Nerdist.

Get Captain Pike’s STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS Hair in This Tutorial

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has many out-of-this-world elements, as a show set in the future about aliens and cosmic anomalies. However, many Trekkies agree that the perfectly coifed hair of one Captain Christopher Pike of the U.S.S. Enterprise, played by actor Anson Mount, remains the most out-of-this-world element. He truly rocks a perfect quiff, a hairdo that features longer hair on top, with sides that are shorter and fade into the longer hair. You know, kind of like Johnny Bravo. Paramount+ clearly realizes what a star on its own Pike’s hairdo is. So, in anticipation of Strange New Worlds‘ third season, Trek‘s YouTube channel has dropped a new hair tutorial video all about “Pike’s Peak.” You can watch it down below:

While in his hair and makeup trailer, we witness Anson Mount’s process for getting the perfect version of “Pike’s Peak” down. Now we know officially that the peak itself is but four inches off the top. Somehow, Captain Pike keeps that hairdo in perfect standing formation. Even with all the times photon torpedoes blast the Enterprise, and the crew falls all over themselves on the bridge. How he does it, we don’t know. It’s certainly not a problem for bald Star Trek captains like Jean-Luc Picard and Benjamin Sisko. The video ends with a gag of Anson Mount wearing a goofy, long-haired wig. We can safely say we never want to see him work that look again.

Paramount+

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is currently wrapping up filming season four, even though the third season is about to premiere. Sadly, Strange New Worlds will be ending its run with a shortened fifth season, presumably sometime in 2027. While we will miss our illustrious crew, we may miss Captain Pike’s iconic hairdo even more. The first two episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season three drop on Paramount+ on July 17.

The post Get Captain Pike’s STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS Hair in This Tutorial appeared first on Nerdist.

The 15 Best KING OF THE HILL Episodes of All-Time

Ho yeah, Propaniacs! King of the Hill is back! After 15 years off the air, the beloved Mike Judge animated series is returning to the small screen courtesy of Hulu on August 4. But before we head back to Arlen, we thought we’d take a look back at some of our favorite episodes from the series’ original run. 

RELATED ARTICLE

KING OF THE HILL Revival Trailer: Hank Hill Takes on Vegans, Fruity Beer, and Nepo Babies in Season 14

Here are 15 King of the Hill episodes that you need to watch before the revival.

15. “Lupe’s Revenge” (Season 6, Episode 3)Fox

There are a lot of classic Peggy centric episodes throughout the series, but season 6’s “Lupe’s Revenge” feels like the most quintessential of the series when it comes to Peggy as a character. (“Full Metal Dust Jacket” and “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret Hill” could have easily been on this list, too.)

After successfully convincing Tom Landry Middle School to let her lead a class field trip to Mexico (even though she’s only a substitute teacher), Peggy ends up accidentally kidnapping a Mexican child back with her to Texas. Things only get worse when she attempts to return the girl home and winds up being arrested. In the end, she pleads her case in a Mexican courtroom with hilarious results. 

The whole episode plays on everything that makes Peggy an amazing and endearing character, with her overconfidence and ineptitude serving as both the source of and solution to all her problems. 

14. “A Firefighting We Will Go” (Season 3, Episode 10)Fox

Who doesn’t love a Rashomon story? When Hank and the gang jump at the opportunity to live out their childhood dreams of becoming firefighters (or at least volunteer ones), that dream quickly turns into a nightmare when the local firehouse burns down on their watch. 

As each character recounts their version of events, we are treated to fun variations of the story through each unique perspective. We see everything from Dale picturing himself as a buff he-man with a luscious head of hair to the highlight of the episode wherein Boomhauer speaks in a normal voice while everyone else adopts his signature fast-talking gibberish. 

It’s a fantastic ensemble story that highlights the best of the core cast’s dynamics, and ultimately showcases what makes these four childhood friends so special. 

13. “Dang Ol’ Love” (Season 6, Episode 20)Fox

Of all the core cast, Boomhauer probably has the least episodes centered around him as the focal character. But “Dang Ol’ Love” is a classic. 

A notorious bachelor, Boomhauer spends most of the series as your stereotypical “ladies man” archetype. That all changes however when he begins seeing a woman who finally makes him catch that dang ol’ thing called love. Before he knows it, Boomhauer is head over heels for the first time in his life, and ready to propose …only to find himself rejected and in the shoes of so many women he’s dated and cast aside. 

It’s a simple but great episode that humanizes and gives a little depth to a mostly one note character. Plus, it has some great moments from Bill as well that really showcase the versatility of the friend group and how they balance each other. 

12. “Of Mice and Little Green Men” (Season 6, Episode 14)Fox

On the Dale-centric side of things, “Of Mice and Little Green Men” is a fantastic episode that blends that classic Hank and Bobby formula with the more bonkers pairing of Dale and Joseph. 

While the two fathers struggle to connect with their sons’ interests– Bobby acting in a theatrical production of Of Mice and Men and Joseph trying out for the lacrosse team– Hank and Dale decide to swap and mentor the other’s kid instead. This snowballs when Dale comes to the conclusion that the reason he has such a hard time connecting with his son is because Joseph is actually an alien. Naturally. 

Things only escalate from there, but in the end both relationships grow stronger in this touching adventure of fatherhood and extra terrestrials. 

11. “Hank’s Cowboy Movie” (Season 3, Episode 19)Fox

Similar to “A Firefighting We Will Go,” this season 3 episode stands out as one of the best ensemble storylines of the series. And this time the action happens on an even grander scale! The episode brings in an extended roster of characters like Peggy and Nancy, as well as a touching Bobby and Hank story at its core. 

After a trip to see the Dallas Cowboys training camp in Wichita Fall, Bobby is left with a newfound distaste for his home town. Worried the new generation will all want to leave, Hank sets out to convince the Cowboys to move their camp to Arlen. In order to do this, he gets the whole gang together to make their own promotional video to mail to the team …and things go about as well as you’d imagine.

In the end, the ordeal does bring this close knit community together in a heartwarming way. And while it may not have won over the Cowboys, it sure does win over the audience.

10. “To Sirloin With Love” (Season 13, Episode 20)Fox

While not technically the last episode to officially air of the series, for all intents and purposes, “To Sirloin With Love” serves as the series finale for the show’s original run. And it’s a darn near perfect one. In fact, we’d go as far as to call it one of the best series finales in television history. 

When Bobby displays an acute knack for beef, he soon finds himself a prodigy among the meat judging community. The episode evolves into a story about Bobby joining the college team and competing in a fairly straightforward King of the Hill plot. It beautifully pulls together the core of the show, which is the relationship between Hank and Bobby. Plus, the final moments of the episode really crank up the emotion for longtime fans of the series. It ends with a touching tribute to 13 seasons of friends, family, and steaks.  

9. “Bills Are Made to Be Broken” (Season 4, Episode 3) Fox

Bill is easily one of the most loveable of the side characters on King of the Hill. Often the butt of the joke due to his tragic luck, “Bills Are Made to Be Broken” is one episode where we really see Bill shine. 

When a young high school player breaks Bill’s old football record through questionable means, the stage is set for another disappointing chapter in Bill’s life. However, Hank finds a loophole that allows Bill the opportunity to play on the Arlen High team once more in order to get the record back. 

It’s a heartfelt story that showcases Bill and Hank’s friendship and even offers a more sincere exploration of Bill’s emotional depth. Long live the Billdozer.

8. “Keeping Up with Our Joneses” (Season 1, Episode 10)Fox

For the most part, like many series, King of the Hill’s first season is a mixed bag. Not bad necessarily, but filled with growing pains as the writers are still fine tuning and figuring out the characters. That said, “Keeping Up with Our Joneses” is a standout classic from this early batch. 

When Hank catches Bobby smoking, he uses a questionable parenting method to teach him a lesson. Specifically, he forces Bobby to smoke an entire carton of cigarettes in an attempt to make him sick and never want to smoke again. This of course backfires and not only gets Bobby hooked on cigarettes, but reawakens Hank and Peggy’s addiction as well. 

Although not the best Bobby and Hank story, “Keeping Up with Our Joneses” does establish some of the classic themes of the show and makes for a memorable early entry in the series. 

7. The Witches of East Arlen (Season 7, Episode 23)Fox

What do you get when you mix King of the Hill, Dungeons & Dragons, and a guest appearance by David Cross? An all-time classic, that’s what. 

After Bobby fails to land a role in the school musical, he sets out on a journey of discovery as he desperately looks to find his “thing.” When he stumbles upon a deck of tarot cards at the flea market, Bobby ends up finding himself taken in by a cringy group of nerds who take their love of “magick” to the next level. 

The episode is a great Bobby centric coming of age story, where, in the end, he may not have found his “thing”, but he does find a greater sense of self nonetheless. 

6. “Nancy’s Boys” (Season 4, Episode 21)Fox

One of the greatest running gags/storylines of the series is easily the Dale and Nancy’s messy marriage and her “secret affair” with John Redcorn. And there’s no better episode that captures the chaos of that whole situation better than “Nancy’s Boys.”

In an absurdly hilarious twist on the situation, Nancy winds up “cheating” on John Redcorn with Dale after being forced into a double date night with Hank and Peggy. As Nancy attempts to fix her “mistake”, Dale and John Redcorn strike up an unexpected friendship that only further complicates things. 

The whole episode is a brilliantly woven farce that somehow also manages to find a surprisingly sweet resolution for everyone involved. 

5. “Hanky Panky/High Anxiety” (Season 4, Episode 13 & 14)Fox

There are a few classic two-parter stories throughout the series and, for me, “Hanky Panky” and “High Anxiety” are the best of the bunch. Similar to The Simpsons’ classic “Who Shot Mr. Burns?” mystery, this pair of episodes see the cast in their own little whodunit. 

“Hanky Panky” serves as a dramatic setup with Buck Strickland’s wife Mrs. Liz turning things upside down for Buck, Hank, and the rest of the characters– culminating in the mysterious death of Buck’s ex-mistress, Debbie. Then, High Anxiety brings things home in hilarious and bizarre fashion as the truth eventually comes to light in this macabre caper.

Oh and this is the story where Hank accidentally smokes marijuana. Need we say more? 

4. “Wings of the Dope” (Season 3, Episode 23)Fox

Luanne episodes are a special thing. They’re heartfelt, empowering, and hilarious, all the things that make her so memorable. And “Wings of the Dope” is the best of them all. 

For the first two seasons of the series, Luanne is largely a side character without much agency or ambition. This can be best exemplified in her on-again, off-again boyfriend Buckley, who treats her with little respect and serves as a symbol of arrested development in her life. When Buckley is killed in the season 2 finale– a casualty of the propane explosion at the Mega Lo Mart– it marks a turning point for Luanne’s journey as a character throughout the show’s third season. 

This culminates in “Wings of the Dope,” where Luanne is at a crossroads in her life and finds herself visited by Buckley’s angel to help her through it. What follows is a beautiful exploration of faith, perseverance, and profound growth of a beloved character. 

What else can you say but “Chicken thigh.” 

3. “Aisle 8A” (Season 4, Episode 5)Fox

Hank Hill’s comedic brilliance shines when he’s put into uncomfortable situations that push him to his breaking point. There’s no better example of that than “Aisle 8A.”

He watches Connie while Kahn and Minh go out of town, and things quickly spiral into comedic chaos when Connie gets her first period. The whole situation is a nightmare scenario for Hank, who treats it like a medical disaster and rushes her to the emergency room wrapped in a blanket. Meanwhile, the episode also serves some poignant coming of age beats as well, as it highlights Connie and Bobby’s perspective during this significant milestone of adolescence. 

While the show’s more out-there stories can be fun and entertaining in their own right, this episode shows that King of the Hill is at its best when it finds the humanity and humor in the little things that make up life. 

2. “Bobby Goes Nuts” (Season 6, Episode 1)Fox

Is there a more iconic and quotable episode of King of the Hill than this? Even if you have never seen the show, chances are you’ve heard the phrase “That’s my purse! I don’t know you!” It’s almost become as ubiquitous in pop culture as the meme of Homer disappearing into the bushes from The Simpsons. And it’s not surprising because this is one of the funniest episodes of the series. 

When Bobby is beaten up by bullies, Hank sends his son to the YMCA to learn how to defend himself. Unfortunately, the boxing class is full, but Bobby manages to get a spot in a women’s self defense course instead. Armed with a new fighting style and a hilarious catch phrase to go with it, Bobby soon goes overboard with his new power and is kicking nuts left and right. (Including his father’s nuts.)

It’s simple, hilarious, and an all-time classic for a reason. 

1. “Meet the Propaniacs” (Season 4, Episode 20)

And that brings us to the best episode of King of the Hill, which is “Meet the Propaniacs.” While “Bobby Goes Nuts” may be the funniest, “Meet the Propaniacs” is pure perfection when it comes to embodying everything that makes the series so special. 

King of the Hill is, at its core, about the complicated relationship between Hank and Bobby. About two very different personalities of two different generations trying to find common ground with each other. In a lot of ways this episode feels like a spiritual precursor to “To Sirloin With Love,” with the story centering around Hank and Bobby finding a new hobby on which to build a relationship. 

RELATED ARTICLE

Bobby Hill Speaks the Truth in KING OF THE HILL Clip

The episode sees Bobby helping out during a crisis at Strickland Propane, distracting an angry mob by putting on a propane themed comedy show. While Peggy initially fears Hank will be angry that Bobby is “making fun” of sweet lady propane, the opposite happens. Hank loves it. Hank is literally crying with laughter at every joke. And thus the comedy group known as “The Propainiacs” is born. 

Unfortunately, through the course of the episode, hijinx ensue that ultimately result in the Propaniacs being barred from performing at official propane functions. But in the end, what’s important is the connection that Hank and Bobby have made. 

The post The 15 Best KING OF THE HILL Episodes of All-Time appeared first on Nerdist.