An episode of *King of the Hill* that aired 18 years ago is famous for its parody of a real person. The show is currently popular again thanks to a new revival series that premiered on Hulu this summer. With the revival launching 15 years after the original ended, many viewers are revisiting the classic episodes to see how life in Arlen, Texas – and for Hank Hill – has stayed the same or changed.
Today marks the 18th anniversary of the *King of the Hill* episode “Four Wave Intersection,” which first aired on October 14th, 2007. While it might not be the most famous episode from the show’s later seasons, it’s a standout for the character Boomhauer, delving into his past and how he sees himself now. The episode also holds a unique record: Hank threatens to fight someone three times – more than in any other single episode.
Hank Really Likes to Kick People’s Asses
In the twelfth season of *King of the Hill*, episode four, “Four Wave Intersection,” a heat wave descends on Arlen, Texas. Bobby and his friends talk Hank into getting them season passes to a water park. Things quickly get out of hand when they arrive and discover that local surfers have commandeered one of the rides, preventing other park visitors – including Bobby – from using it. The surfers even resort to bullying Bobby and his friends, in one instance sending him down a large water slide without his clothes.
The guys attempt to enlist Boomhauer’s help, discovering he used to be a longboard surfer. However, his outdated style is mocked. Hank becomes increasingly annoyed by the situation and finally intervenes, delivering his signature threat: “I don’t know what’s going on, but someone needs to get their butt kicked.” Hank’s threats are a running joke on the show, and it’s especially funny when he actually follows through and delivers a kick.
The main focus of this episode is Hank repeatedly threatening to fight people. He says he’s going to “kick their asses” twice throughout the episode, and then finally declares, “To kick your ass!” when confronting the bullies. This is the first time in the series that Hank has made these kinds of threats three times, and each one is delivered with a slightly different tone and wording as he becomes more involved in the conflict.
This King of the Hill Episode Also Parodied Real Life
In this episode, Hank makes more threats than ever before, but surprisingly, he’s not the one who actually throws a punch. That honor goes to Boomhauer, who uses his surfboard to take out one of the bullies, marking a turning point for the theme park. Meanwhile, Bill finds himself stuck on the side of the road and unexpectedly becomes a local celebrity. He starts waving to passersby, earning him the nickname “Heat Waver” and boosting town morale during a heat wave. This was a playful nod to a real person who was known for doing the same thing in their own community.
I always loved hearing about Johnny Barnes when I visited Hamilton, Bermuda! He was this incredible guy who’d stand at the Foot of the Lane roundabout *every* day and wave to everyone driving by – for hours! He became such a landmark over fifty years that they even put him in the tourist guides, and people would specifically come to say hi. It’s a really strange thing, but it reminded me of something… years later, I found out that the character Bill in *King of the Hill* seems to be inspired by him! It’s such a wild coincidence.
This really highlights what made *King of the Hill* so special from the beginning. The show could be hilariously aggressive with Hank, deeply quirky with Boomhauer, and still offer relatable, grounded storylines for Bill. That unique blend is a big reason why the show remains popular today, and why fans are enjoying the new episodes – it feels like everything is coming together perfectly.
What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
Read More
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Top gainers and losers
- How the Marvel Multiverse Works
- Silent Hill F Enjoyed an Outstanding PS5 Debut in Japan
- Get Ready for the Bitcoin Boom! $2 Billion Liquidity Set to Launch Crypto to New Heights
- Beloved Fall Movie Returns to Streaming As Sequel Production Wraps (And You Can Watch It Free)
- Soak the Foreman Guide in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Remake
- Disney World Is Fixing The Worst Part Of The Frozen Ride And I’m So Glad They Finally ‘Let It Go’
- Guide: Battlefield 6 Open Beta: All Weekend 2 Start Times and PS Plus Double XP
- Crypto Chaos: When Tiny Tokens Try to Outshine Bitcoin-Will They or Won’t They? 🤡💸
2025-10-14 18:10