King of the Hill/The Company Man

The Company Man
Season 2, Episode 9
Airdate	December 7, 1997
Production Number	4E12
Written by	Jim Dauterive
Directed by	Klay Hall
← 2x08 The Son That Got Away	2x10 → Bobby Slam
King of the Hill — Season Two

The Company Man is the ninth episode of the second season of King of the Hill, and the twenty-first episode overall.

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

and Johnny Hardwick (Dale Gribble)

Special Guest Voice: Stockard Channing (Mrs. Holloway)

Special Guest Voice: Burt Reynolds (M.F. Thatherton)

Also Starring: Ashley Gardner (Panhandler Waitress, Chiffon), Toby Huss (Kahn Souphanousinphone), Billy West (Mr. Holloway)

Uncredited: Stephen Root (Bill Dauterive, Buck Strickland)

Plot Overview

Hank is sent by Buck Strickland to win over a new client from Boston to supply propane less he falls into the hands of Thatherton Fuels. Unfortunately, Hank's reliable sales pitch fails to impress and has to bend his integrity to seal the deal.

Notes

Music

• ZZ Top - "Tush"

Seen, But Not Heard

• John Redcorn

• Nancy Gribble

• Cotton Hill

• Dooley

• Buckley

Arc Advancement

Characters

• It's revealed that Buck has promoted Hank 15 times in the past 15 years, right up to Assistant Manager. As Buck reveals this to Bobby, Hank visibly blushes.

Trivia

The Show

• First appearance of Buck Strickland.

• This episode also features the first appearance of Strickland's rival Thatherton, although this is the only episode in which he's voiced by Burt Reynolds. In subsequent episodes he is voiced by Toby Huss.

Behind the Scenes

• This episode was produced during the first season, but was held off airing until the second season for unknown reasons. It's featured on the first season DVD set because it goes by production order.

• The original ending of this episode revealed that Mrs. Holloway is really the owner of Holloway Hollows and approves of going with Strickland Propane.

Goofs

• Despite references to Thatherton Fuels, when Hank looks out the window, it's named Thatherton Propane.

• When Bobby asks the waitress for three scoops of ice cream, the lower half of him is briefly transparent.

• When Hank gets up and grabs his hat, it passes through his beer bottle.

Quotes

• Salesman: Sir, I don't really recommend a cowboy boot for a chubby-toed customer like yourself. You might want to try a Birkenstock sandal.

Hank: Shut the hell up.

Mr. Holloway: Here's your spurs, J.R!

Bobby: I helped pick 'em out.

Hank: Well, that sure would complete the outfit, but I don't want to scar the carpet.

Salesman: Who cares about the carpet? You hurt my feelings.

• Hank: I'm only not wearing the hat because of my solemn vow I made to President Lyndon Baines Johnson on the occasion of the birth of his daughter, Lynda Bird.

Mr. Holloway: Lyndon Johnson killed our Kennedy.

• Hank: Please, ma'am, I'm trying to carry on a conversation! Yeah, yeah, I see your rear, very nice. Okay, there's some people over there that want to look, too.