Lost in MySpace
Encyclopedia
"Lost in MySpace" is the fourth episode in the 13th season of the Fox
animated series King of the Hill
, and the 239th episode overall. It originally aired on November 2, 2008. The episode's title references the television series Lost in Space
.
inqures after the apparent switch, the former regular explains that he had met Thatherton on MySpace
and decided that he had much more in common with him than with Strickland. Hank relays this news to an infuriated Buck, who demands to know what MySpace is; when Donna explains MySpace and the concept of social networking websites, Buck commissions her to create a MySpace account for the business and gives her full reign over the company page. She soon abandons her 'boring' accountant duties in favor of getting everyone at Strickland to create their own personal blog
s and post personal videos of unprofessional activities, creating friction between her and Hank, as he prefers that Donna do her original job and that the company reach out to customers the traditional way. Hank finds no support from Buck, who is instead so pleased with Strickland's new online publicity that he promotes Donna to a second assistant-manager position. Soon, petty squabbles over the contents of everyone's personal blogs erupt among the employees, and Hank confronts Donna about the conflicts that everyone's blogging has caused. She refuses to hear him out, however, telling him instead to blog about it. She then exacts revenge by organizing a flash mob
to show up at Strickland and beat up Hank; her plan backfires when the assembled crowd mistakes Buck for Hank and attacks him instead, resulting in her being fired on the spot.
Agreeing that maybe a company website was a mistake after all, Hank and Roger take down Strickland's MySpace page, only for Enrique and the other employees to later discover that Donna has changed the password and reinstated a new page slandering Strickland and urging everyone to stop buying their propane. When it becomes apparent that no one knows how to contact Donna, Hank exasperatedly reads through all four years of her personal blog posts seeking clues as to how to find her. Finally, he comes across a recent entry describing her plans for an upcoming date at a local restaurant, and the entire Strickland roster accompanies him to the restaurant that night to talk to her. There, Donna admits that she had felt constrained by her role as accountant and just wanted a chance to be creative, and Hank tells her that she could have used some of her creativity for good. The episode ends with Donna back in her old accounting position, redesigning the page to have a more formal and businesslike appearance.
Meanwhile, Dale
rents a pig to hunt truffles but loses it in the woods, and has to borrow Ladybird in order to track it back down. Bobby
and Bill
accompany Dale on his quest, but they decide that Ladybird is a better truffle-hunter and give up on looking for the pig. Ladybird finds something which does turn out to be a mushroom, but Dale identifies it as a magic mushroom rather than a truffle. At that moment, the pig runs by, steals it from Dale's hand, and eats it; the last thing shown is the pig drooling and swaying as it hallucinates vividly.
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 239th episode overall. It originally aired on November 2, 2008. The episode's title references the television series Lost in Space
Lost in Space
Lost in Space is a science fiction TV series created and produced by Irwin Allen, filmed by 20th Century Fox Television, and broadcast on CBS. The show ran for three seasons, with 83 episodes airing between September 15, 1965, and March 6, 1968...
.
Plot
During a business slump, Joe Jack happens to notice one of Strickland Propane's regulars purchasing from rival company Thatherton Fuels. When 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...
inqures after the apparent switch, the former regular explains that he had met Thatherton on MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
and decided that he had much more in common with him than with Strickland. Hank relays this news to an infuriated Buck, who demands to know what MySpace is; when Donna explains MySpace and the concept of social networking websites, Buck commissions her to create a MySpace account for the business and gives her full reign over the company page. She soon abandons her 'boring' accountant duties in favor of getting everyone at Strickland to create their own personal blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
s and post personal videos of unprofessional activities, creating friction between her and Hank, as he prefers that Donna do her original job and that the company reach out to customers the traditional way. Hank finds no support from Buck, who is instead so pleased with Strickland's new online publicity that he promotes Donna to a second assistant-manager position. Soon, petty squabbles over the contents of everyone's personal blogs erupt among the employees, and Hank confronts Donna about the conflicts that everyone's blogging has caused. She refuses to hear him out, however, telling him instead to blog about it. She then exacts revenge by organizing a flash mob
Flash mob
A flash mob is a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and sometimes seemingly pointless act for a brief time, then disperse, often for the purposes of entertainment, satire, artistic expression...
to show up at Strickland and beat up Hank; her plan backfires when the assembled crowd mistakes Buck for Hank and attacks him instead, resulting in her being fired on the spot.
Agreeing that maybe a company website was a mistake after all, Hank and Roger take down Strickland's MySpace page, only for Enrique and the other employees to later discover that Donna has changed the password and reinstated a new page slandering Strickland and urging everyone to stop buying their propane. When it becomes apparent that no one knows how to contact Donna, Hank exasperatedly reads through all four years of her personal blog posts seeking clues as to how to find her. Finally, he comes across a recent entry describing her plans for an upcoming date at a local restaurant, and the entire Strickland roster accompanies him to the restaurant that night to talk to her. There, Donna admits that she had felt constrained by her role as accountant and just wanted a chance to be creative, and Hank tells her that she could have used some of her creativity for good. The episode ends with Donna back in her old accounting position, redesigning the page to have a more formal and businesslike appearance.
Meanwhile, 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...
rents a pig to hunt truffles but loses it in the woods, and has to borrow Ladybird in order to track it back down. 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 :...
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...
accompany Dale on his quest, but they decide that Ladybird is a better truffle-hunter and give up on looking for the pig. Ladybird finds something which does turn out to be a mushroom, but Dale identifies it as a magic mushroom rather than a truffle. At that moment, the pig runs by, steals it from Dale's hand, and eats it; the last thing shown is the pig drooling and swaying as it hallucinates vividly.
Trivia
- When Hank and PeggyPeggy HillMargaret 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...
are looking at Donna's MySpace page at their house, Peggy's Substitute Teacher of the Year trophy from 1997 can be seen. - On Donna's MySpace page, Chuck Mangione is listed under her music section. (Chuck Mangione is often alluded to or seen in several episodes of the series).
- Peggy impersonates Ted DansonTed DansonEdward Bridge “Ted” Danson III is an American actor best known for his role as central character Sam Malone in the sitcom Cheers, and his role as Dr. John Becker on the series Becker. He also plays a recurring role on Larry David's HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm and starred alongside Glenn Close...
online; celebrity impersonation is a common practice on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
. - Peggy also mentions that while impersonating Ted DansonTed DansonEdward Bridge “Ted” Danson III is an American actor best known for his role as central character Sam Malone in the sitcom Cheers, and his role as Dr. John Becker on the series Becker. He also plays a recurring role on Larry David's HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm and starred alongside Glenn Close...
, Kahn admitted to her (believing she was DansonTed DansonEdward Bridge “Ted” Danson III is an American actor best known for his role as central character Sam Malone in the sitcom Cheers, and his role as Dr. John Becker on the series Becker. He also plays a recurring role on Larry David's HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm and starred alongside Glenn Close...
) that he was Manic Depressed, which was later used as the plot of a later episode, Just Another Manic Kahn-Day. - The show drew 8.6 million viewers, the third highest-rated show on Fox that evening.
- Ladybird is able to follow Dale's commands, despite having gone deaf in "Doggone CrazyDoggone Crazy"Doggone Crazy" is the 223rd episode of King Of The Hill-Plot:Hank's dog Ladybird starts to act up around loud noises, and he is forced to turn to a "dog spiritualist" for help...
". - Donna is apparently dating again, following the "recent divorce" Dale mentioned in You Gotta Believe (In Moderation). She has also apparently slept with her coworkers Melinda and Joe Jack, as well as with Buck Strickland, though Buck had previously mentioned his wife catching the two of them "in flagrante" in The Good Buck.
- MySpace is owned by the Fox Network's parent company, News CorporationNews CorporationNews Corporation or News Corp. is an American multinational media conglomerate. It is the world's second-largest media conglomerate as of 2011 in terms of revenue, and the world's third largest in entertainment as of 2009, although the BBC remains the world's largest broadcaster...
. - This episode marks the final appearance of Booda Sack