King of the Hill/Hank's Unmentionable Problem

Hank's Unmentionable Problem
Season 1, Episode 6
Airdate	February 23, 1997
Production Number	4E07
Written by	Greg Daniels & Mike Judge
Directed by	Adam Kuhlman
← 1x05 Luanne's Saga	1x07 → Westie Side Story
King of the Hill — Season One

Hank's Unmentionable Problem is the sixth episode of the first season of King of the Hill.

Starring: Mike Judge (Hank Hill, Boomhauer), Kathy Najimy (Peggy Hill, Receptionist), Pamela Segall (Bobby Hill, Mrs. MacIntosh), Brittany Murphy (Luanne Platter, Nurse)

and Johnny Hardwick (Dale Gribble, Expecting Father)

Also Starring: Ashley Gardner (Nancy Gribble, Boomhauer's girlfriend, Tasha), Steven Banks (Dr. Morley), Jim Cummings (C. Everett Koop, "Soy to the World" Man), Toby Huss (Cotton Hill)

Uncredited: Stephen Root (Bill Dauterive)

Plot Overview

Peggy is concerned with Hank's persistent constipation, despite his insistence on ignoring the problem. When she finally convinces him to see a doctor, Peggy tries to get him to make before he has to undergo an operation.

Notes

Music

• Ludwig van Beethoven - "Ode to Joy"

Arc Advancement

Characters

• It's revealed that Nancy is a weather girl.

• Hank's constipation seems based on him keeping his emotions bottled up. Once he opens to Peggy, his bowels seem to loosen.

Trivia

The Show

• The closing credits play over "Hank" addressing the audience as an actor. This is one of only a scarce few times the show breaks the fourth wall.

Goofs

• Hank unplugs the TV, but moments later you can see a glow coming off the screen.

• When Hank kicks Bobby out of the bathroom in the final scene, he's wearing his pyjamas in all shots, save for one in which Hank comes out and it cuts to the three of them rejoicing and Bobby's in his normal clothes.

Quotes

• C. Everett Koop: (on TV) Food that is not absorbed becomes waste and enters the pouch-like cecum.

Hank: Who the hell is that? Howard Stern?

• Hank: I'll have some skirt steak, some brisket, a little piece of that New York steak, uh, couple of them steak fingers, and a burger.

Peggy: Oh, Hank, please, have just one veggie.

Hank: Oh, all right. Uh, put some macaroni and cheese on there, too.

• Bill: (seeing Hank in his casket) He looks like an angel. A dead angel.

• Peggy: Now would that be good for a man who's constipated?

Hank: Peggy!

Peggy: Well, I didn't say it was you.

"Soy to the World" Man: Is this for your husband?

Peggy: Yes.

• Hank: Do you have anything that tastes good?

"Soy to the World" Man: Hmm. Uh... no.

• Hank: You might have noticed in tonight's episode there was some brief nudity. Now, as an actor, I only do nudity when I feel the script warrants it. And I thought tonight's episode only warranted seeing the side of my rump. You can believe me when I tell you the Fox executives were pushing for a whole lot more. If any of you were offended by my body, I'm truly sorry. Good night.