My Own Private Rodeo
Encyclopedia
"My Own Private Rodeo" is the 18th episode from Season 6 of King of the Hill
. It was a nominee for the GLAAD Media Awards
for "Outstanding Individual Episode (In a Series Without a Regular Gay Character)" and by the Writers Guild of America Award
for Animation. The title is a reference to the film My Own Private Idaho
. This episode is rated TV-PG.
is planning on a ceremony where he and Nancy retake their wedding vows. After initial reluctance, his friends decide to find his father "Bug" (with Nancy's help) and invite Bug to the ceremony. Dale became estranged from Bug because on his actual wedding to Nancy, his father seemed to kiss her passionately. Hank
, Bill
, and Boomhauer decide to go track Bug down in order to make amends with his son. However, they discover that not only is Bug gay
, he has been working all this time at a gay rodeo. After the show, Hank goes to Bug, who reveals the truth; he was about to kiss a Filipino caterer, before Dale came in, so he "grabbed the nearest thing in a dress", Nancy. The conversation is interrupted by Juan Pedro, Bug's lover, who is upset upon learning that Bug had a son and didn't tell him. Bug admits that he was "confused" during his marriage to Dale's mother. Dale comments that his father has "pleased hundreds of women". Eventually, Bug returns to Arlen and asks for Dale's forgiveness, without telling Dale he is gay.
Although unsure at first, Dale reconciles with his father. Bug notices Joseph's lack of resemblance to Dale or Nancy and asks if she cheated on Dale. She reluctantly admits the truth, that Hank, Bill, Boomhauer, John Redcorn's
sister, Peggy and even Bobby know about the affair, and he does not ask any further questions. Dale misconstrues Bug's sympathy, believing Bug still has feelings for Nancy, leading to Bug trying to admit to Dale that he is gay. However, his explanation of a "partner" and his strange behavior are misconstrued by Dale as his father being a government agent. Dale goes to the gay rodeo to inform the men that his father is a secret agent monitoring their activities. After a struggle, Bug finally makes up with Juan Pedro and kisses him in front of Dale, who relents and lets them attend the ceremony.
A subplot concerns Nancy dealing with the ceremony as a way to start over after years of adultery her husband is unaware of and anxiety she has on that issue. It is revealed in the final part of the episode that Dale believes John Redcorn to be gay.
voiced the part of Bug in the original storyline. In this version, Dale suffers from a toothache
and refuses to go to a dentist, fearing a tracking device would be implanted in him by his father's cohorts. Most of the episode's events, like Hank going to the rodeo, remain the same, but the ending is different in that Bug, feeling Dale would reject him if he told the truth, covers his sexuality by explaining he is monitoring the gay rodeo's activities. Relieved, Dale has his father hold his hand while he goes to the dentist. After the script was re-written, David Herman was hired to do Bug's voice.
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...
. It was a nominee for the GLAAD Media Awards
GLAAD Media Awards
The GLAAD Media Award is an accolade bestowed by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to recognize and honor various branches of the media for their outstanding representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives...
for "Outstanding Individual Episode (In a Series Without a Regular Gay Character)" and by the Writers Guild of America Award
Writers Guild of America Award
The Writers Guild of America Award for outstanding achievements in film, television, and radio has been presented annually by the Writers Guild of America, East and Writers Guild of America, West since 1949...
for Animation. The title is a reference to the film My Own Private Idaho
My Own Private Idaho
My Own Private Idaho is a 1991 independent drama film written and directed by Gus Van Sant, loosely based on Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, and Henry V, and starring River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves...
. This episode is rated TV-PG.
Plot
DaleDale 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...
is planning on a ceremony where he and Nancy retake their wedding vows. After initial reluctance, his friends decide to find his father "Bug" (with Nancy's help) and invite Bug to the ceremony. Dale became estranged from Bug because on his actual wedding to Nancy, his father seemed to kiss her passionately. Hank
Hank 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...
, 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...
, and Boomhauer decide to go track Bug down in order to make amends with his son. However, they discover that not only is Bug gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
, he has been working all this time at a gay rodeo. After the show, Hank goes to Bug, who reveals the truth; he was about to kiss a Filipino caterer, before Dale came in, so he "grabbed the nearest thing in a dress", Nancy. The conversation is interrupted by Juan Pedro, Bug's lover, who is upset upon learning that Bug had a son and didn't tell him. Bug admits that he was "confused" during his marriage to Dale's mother. Dale comments that his father has "pleased hundreds of women". Eventually, Bug returns to Arlen and asks for Dale's forgiveness, without telling Dale he is gay.
Although unsure at first, Dale reconciles with his father. Bug notices Joseph's lack of resemblance to Dale or Nancy and asks if she cheated on Dale. She reluctantly admits the truth, that Hank, Bill, Boomhauer, John Redcorn's
John Redcorn
John Redcorn III , is a character in the animated series King of the Hill. He is addressed or referred to as "John Redcorn" or "Mr...
sister, Peggy and even Bobby know about the affair, and he does not ask any further questions. Dale misconstrues Bug's sympathy, believing Bug still has feelings for Nancy, leading to Bug trying to admit to Dale that he is gay. However, his explanation of a "partner" and his strange behavior are misconstrued by Dale as his father being a government agent. Dale goes to the gay rodeo to inform the men that his father is a secret agent monitoring their activities. After a struggle, Bug finally makes up with Juan Pedro and kisses him in front of Dale, who relents and lets them attend the ceremony.
A subplot concerns Nancy dealing with the ceremony as a way to start over after years of adultery her husband is unaware of and anxiety she has on that issue. It is revealed in the final part of the episode that Dale believes John Redcorn to be gay.
Original plot
Charles Nelson ReillyCharles Nelson Reilly
Charles Nelson Reilly was an American actor, comedian, director and drama teacher known for his comedic roles in theater, movies, children's television, animated cartoons, and as a panelist on the game show Match Game....
voiced the part of Bug in the original storyline. In this version, Dale suffers from a toothache
Toothache
A toothache, also known as odontalgia or, less frequently, as odontalgy, is an aching pain in or around a tooth.-Causes:* Dental etiology, In most cases toothaches are caused by problems in the tooth or jaw, such as** Dental caries...
and refuses to go to a dentist, fearing a tracking device would be implanted in him by his father's cohorts. Most of the episode's events, like Hank going to the rodeo, remain the same, but the ending is different in that Bug, feeling Dale would reject him if he told the truth, covers his sexuality by explaining he is monitoring the gay rodeo's activities. Relieved, Dale has his father hold his hand while he goes to the dentist. After the script was re-written, David Herman was hired to do Bug's voice.