A Firefighting We Will Go
Encyclopedia
"A Firefighting We Will Go" is the 10th episode in the third season of the Fox
animated series King of the Hill
, and the 45th episode overall.
, Boomhauer
, Dale
and Bill
are in custody for an unknown crime. Hank's glasses have been broken and taped back together, Boomhauer's ear is bandaged, and Bill's face is burned. In an extended flashback, the four become volunteer firefighters when the regular firefighters go on strike. During their training they meet Chet Elderson, an elderly volunteer who loves to plug in his electric Alamo Beer sign, which throws off sparks but fascinates Dale. Through their constant fighting, they bungle their way through learning the basic firefighting procedures, including breaking a hydrant open while trying to impress the kids. The sources of their injuries are revealed along the way: Boomhauer is struck on the ear by a jar lid thrown by Bill, who stomps on Hank's glasses in revenge for having his ping-pong ball taken away and then gets hit in the face with a hot Frito pie
thrown by Dale.
After a series of mishaps, Chet Elderson dies (of natural causes, not the guys' incompetence), and at his funeral they screw up being pallbearer
s, accidentally pull Chet's pants off, and fall into the open grave. Hank scolds Dale for ruining the funeral and claims he will not talk to him anymore.
The four eventually get their first fire call, which turns out to be a small dumpster fire. However, the next call sends them back to the station, which has burned to the ground in their absence - the incident that led to them being taken into custody. The fire chief makes them go through each moment that happened before they rushed out of the station for the first fire. Each of the friends recreates the scene, putting more emphasis on themselves. Dale's story depicts Hank as a drill instructor
, while Dale is buff, with long, flowing hair. Boomhauer's story has everyone talking in his own usual unintelligible style, while Boomhauer himself is talking slowly and coherently. Bill's story depicts him as completely bald and fatter than normal, with a weakness for French bread pizza. These three accounts suggest that the fire was caused by either Bill leaving the stove on after roasting a marshmallow for dessert, Boomhauer accidentally knocking over his tanning lamp, or Dale dropping a lit cigarette on the carpet. In Hank's story, he says that the fire could not have been caused by any of those things, because as the responsible one he cleaned up after each of his friends before leaving.
After running to the fire truck (where he learns that Dale switched Hank's empty oxygen tank for his own full one), he remembers seeing something in the rear view mirror: Chet Elderson's Alamo Beer sign. He realizes that Dale had plugged it in after Chet's death, but protects Dale by saying that Chet had done it. In turn, the chief decides to call the incident an electrical fire in order to save Chet's good name. He releases the four, who promptly decide to try their hand at plumbing work in exchange for all the beer they can drink.
In a side plot, Peggy
pulls her groin muscle trying to lift Bobby
up, but after working out is eventually able to accomplish it.
". Other references throughout the episode include:
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
animated series King of the Hill
King of the Hill
King of the Hill is an American animated dramedy series created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, that ran from January 12, 1997, to May 6, 2010, on Fox network. It centers on the Hills, a working-class Methodist family in the fictional small town of Arlen, Texas...
, and the 45th episode overall.
Plot
HankHank Hill
Henry Rutherford "Hank" Hill Age 50 animated series King of the Hill. Hank lives in Arlen, Texas and works at the fictional Strickland Propane selling propane and propane accessories. Hank's voice is provided by series creator Mike Judge. The Economist named Hank Hill as one of the wisest people...
, Boomhauer
Boomhauer
Jeff Dexter Boomhauer III, almost always referred to as simply Boomhauer, is a fictional character in the animated series King of the Hill. The character is voiced by series creator Mike Judge, and is known for his nearly incomprehensible speech....
, Dale
Dale Gribble
Dale Alvin Gribble is a fictional character in the animated series King of the Hill. and is voiced by Johnny Hardwick . He is an exterminator, bounty hunter, smoker, gun fanatic, and paranoid believer of almost all conspiracy theories and urban legends...
and Bill
Bill Dauterive
Bill Dauterive, born Gillaume Fontaine de la Tour D'Haute Rive is a fictional character on the Fox animated series King of the Hill...
are in custody for an unknown crime. Hank's glasses have been broken and taped back together, Boomhauer's ear is bandaged, and Bill's face is burned. In an extended flashback, the four become volunteer firefighters when the regular firefighters go on strike. During their training they meet Chet Elderson, an elderly volunteer who loves to plug in his electric Alamo Beer sign, which throws off sparks but fascinates Dale. Through their constant fighting, they bungle their way through learning the basic firefighting procedures, including breaking a hydrant open while trying to impress the kids. The sources of their injuries are revealed along the way: Boomhauer is struck on the ear by a jar lid thrown by Bill, who stomps on Hank's glasses in revenge for having his ping-pong ball taken away and then gets hit in the face with a hot Frito pie
Frito pie
Frito pie is a dish made with chili, cheese, and corn chips. Optional additions include salsa, refried beans, rice, and jalapeños, among others....
thrown by Dale.
After a series of mishaps, Chet Elderson dies (of natural causes, not the guys' incompetence), and at his funeral they screw up being pallbearer
Pallbearer
A pall-bearer is one of several funeral participants who helps carry the casket of a deceased person from a religious or memorial service or viewing either directly to a cemetery or mausoleum, or to and from the hearse which carries the coffin....
s, accidentally pull Chet's pants off, and fall into the open grave. Hank scolds Dale for ruining the funeral and claims he will not talk to him anymore.
The four eventually get their first fire call, which turns out to be a small dumpster fire. However, the next call sends them back to the station, which has burned to the ground in their absence - the incident that led to them being taken into custody. The fire chief makes them go through each moment that happened before they rushed out of the station for the first fire. Each of the friends recreates the scene, putting more emphasis on themselves. Dale's story depicts Hank as a drill instructor
Drill instructor
A drill instructor is a non-commissioned officer or Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in the armed forces or police forces with specific duties that vary by country. In the U.S. armed forces, they are assigned the duty of indoctrinating new recruits entering the military into the customs and...
, while Dale is buff, with long, flowing hair. Boomhauer's story has everyone talking in his own usual unintelligible style, while Boomhauer himself is talking slowly and coherently. Bill's story depicts him as completely bald and fatter than normal, with a weakness for French bread pizza. These three accounts suggest that the fire was caused by either Bill leaving the stove on after roasting a marshmallow for dessert, Boomhauer accidentally knocking over his tanning lamp, or Dale dropping a lit cigarette on the carpet. In Hank's story, he says that the fire could not have been caused by any of those things, because as the responsible one he cleaned up after each of his friends before leaving.
After running to the fire truck (where he learns that Dale switched Hank's empty oxygen tank for his own full one), he remembers seeing something in the rear view mirror: Chet Elderson's Alamo Beer sign. He realizes that Dale had plugged it in after Chet's death, but protects Dale by saying that Chet had done it. In turn, the chief decides to call the incident an electrical fire in order to save Chet's good name. He releases the four, who promptly decide to try their hand at plumbing work in exchange for all the beer they can drink.
In a side plot, Peggy
Peggy Hill
Margaret J. "Peggy" Hill is a fictional character in the American animated series King of the Hill.-Biography:Peggy is the matriarch of the Hill family, and the wife of series protagonist Hank Hill. She wears rimless glasses and is generally seen wearing cut-off blouses and culottes...
pulls her groin muscle trying to lift Bobby
Bobby Hill (King of the Hill)
Robert Jeffrey "Bobby" Hill is a character on the animated series King of the Hill and is voiced by Pamela Adlon. Bobby is the only child of Hank and Peggy Hill.- Biography :...
up, but after working out is eventually able to accomplish it.
Cultural references
This episode is significant because of several references to The Three Stooges, most notably the episode's title, which is a reference to the 1940 Stooges short "A Plumbing We Will GoA Plumbing We Will Go
A Plumbing We Will Go is the 46th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
". Other references throughout the episode include:
- Dale singing the first line of "Swinging The Alphabet" (sung by the Stooges in 1938's "Violent Is the Word for CurlyViolent Is the Word for CurlyViolent Is the Word for Curly is the 32nd short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
".
- Hank constantly playing the role of MoeMoe HowardMoses Harry Horwitz , known professionally as Moe Howard, was an American actor and comedian best known as the leader of The Three Stooges, the farce comedy team who starred in motion pictures and television for four decades...
among the group, at one point calling Boomhauer a "knucklehead".
- A rendition of "Three Blind Mice", which was used as an intro theme to Stooges shorts, playing at the end of the episode when Bill brings up a woman looking to hire four plumbers (which could be a reference to the Stooge short that the episode title parodies). A common theme in Stooge shorts was the three of them being hired by a random individual for a job in which they have little or no experience.
- Instances of slapstick comedy and idiotic mishaps, such as Dale throwing a Frito pieFrito pieFrito pie is a dish made with chili, cheese, and corn chips. Optional additions include salsa, refried beans, rice, and jalapeños, among others....
in Bill's face, Boomhauer bonking Dale and Bill's heads together, and Boomhauer's use of the Jaws of Life on a fire hydrant.
- A portion of the main plot - inept firemen not available to put out their own burning fire station, is also the focus of 1938's "Flat Foot StoogesFlat Foot StoogesFlat Foot Stooges is the 35th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
".
Errors
- Dale's hair is much darker than usual when he is switching the labels on the oxygen tanks.
- Heck Dorland would later reappear in "Born Again on the Fourth of July," but looks much younger there than he does in this episode. His voice is also deeper and more masculine sounding.
- When Dale & Bill are playing ping pong, their positions change when Hank slides down the pole, grabs the ball & crushes it.
- There is no explination for Dales glasses being crooked.