Smoking and the Bandit
Encyclopedia
"Smoking and the Bandit" is the 183rd episode of the FOX
animated television series King of the Hill
. Johnny Hardwick
was nominated for an Annie Award for voice acting for this episode. The episode's title is a reference to the movie Smokey and the Bandit
.
and Dale
, along with Bobby
and Joseph, visit a restaurant, where the kids misbehave. Bobby responds to his father's scolding, but Joseph only listens to Hank. When they enter, Dale lights a cigarette, only to be told by the waitress that smoking in public areas has been outlawed. At the Arlen Bystander, Peggy
is upset that she is again passed over for a front page story, and relegated to covering "the Waffle House
Beat". Joseph ignores Dale again at home while listening to Nancy, prompting Dale to ask Hank for help gaining Joseph's respect, to which Hank replies "be a man". Peggy decides to quit her beat, since nothing ever happens at Waffle House.
Later, Dale returns alone to Waffle House (shown as "Waffle Cafe" on the sign), where they try to make him put out his cigarette
, but he continues anyway and gives an angry, impassioned speech in protest. Peggy's rival at the Bystander gets word of this and publishes an article (much to Peggy's dismay) nicknaming him the "Smoking Bandit". Afraid of prosecution, Dale tries to hide his identity by giving up smoking, but as he throws his cigarettes and related merchandise out, he overhears Joseph talking about how he looks up to the Bandit. Dale then continues his protests as the Bandit, and articles continue to be published, which Joseph cuts out to paste on his wall. Dale tries to prove that he is the Bandit so Joseph will look up to him, but in person he doesn't act as "cool" as the papers said. Dale even tries sending in a videotape to the news, but his identity is hidden (he is in silhouette and has a high-pitched, incomprehensible voice) and he still fails to gain respect.
Bobby and Joseph copy the Bandit by breaking rules at school and at home, ending up suspended, and this sends Hank to hunt for the Bandit. Dale is reluctant to go, as he really is the Bandit, but he comes along anyway. Soon, during the hunt, he begins to act "cool" to Bobby and Joseph and he gets his son's respect. Meanwhile, Peggy has tailed the four and stops at a nightclub they tried to enter. She walks over to the bouncer and drops various names to try to enter since she is not "on the list", acting as a sort of "Nightclub Bandit". He finally allows her to go inside, but she doesn't have the $12 cover charge and still can't go in.
Eventually, Dale tries to get out of the hunt, but Hank refuses to let him. Dale finds a deserted bar and goes there to try to "catch" the Bandit, and the other three follow. Dale claims to have caught the Bandit, and Hank finally realizes that Dale is the Bandit. He decides to "let him escape", with the promise that he will not try anything like this again.
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 television 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...
. Johnny Hardwick
Johnny Hardwick
Jonathon David Hardwick Jr. is a stand-up comedian and voice actor. He is best known as the voice of Dale Gribble in the animated American television show King of the Hill. He served as staff writer, story editor, and producer for the show as well.-Biography and career:A native of Austin, Texas,...
was nominated for an Annie Award for voice acting for this episode. The episode's title is a reference to the movie Smokey and the Bandit
Smokey and the Bandit
Smokey and the Bandit is a 1977 American film starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Pat McCormick, Paul Williams, and Mike Henry. It inspired several other trucking films, including two sequels, Smokey and the Bandit II, and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3...
.
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...
and 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...
, along with 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 Joseph, visit a restaurant, where the kids misbehave. Bobby responds to his father's scolding, but Joseph only listens to Hank. When they enter, Dale lights a cigarette, only to be told by the waitress that smoking in public areas has been outlawed. At the Arlen Bystander, 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...
is upset that she is again passed over for a front page story, and relegated to covering "the Waffle House
Waffle House
Waffle House is a restaurant chain with over 1600 locations found in 25 states in the United States. Most of the locations are in the Southern United States, where the chain remains a regional cultural icon...
Beat". Joseph ignores Dale again at home while listening to Nancy, prompting Dale to ask Hank for help gaining Joseph's respect, to which Hank replies "be a man". Peggy decides to quit her beat, since nothing ever happens at Waffle House.
Later, Dale returns alone to Waffle House (shown as "Waffle Cafe" on the sign), where they try to make him put out his cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
, but he continues anyway and gives an angry, impassioned speech in protest. Peggy's rival at the Bystander gets word of this and publishes an article (much to Peggy's dismay) nicknaming him the "Smoking Bandit". Afraid of prosecution, Dale tries to hide his identity by giving up smoking, but as he throws his cigarettes and related merchandise out, he overhears Joseph talking about how he looks up to the Bandit. Dale then continues his protests as the Bandit, and articles continue to be published, which Joseph cuts out to paste on his wall. Dale tries to prove that he is the Bandit so Joseph will look up to him, but in person he doesn't act as "cool" as the papers said. Dale even tries sending in a videotape to the news, but his identity is hidden (he is in silhouette and has a high-pitched, incomprehensible voice) and he still fails to gain respect.
Bobby and Joseph copy the Bandit by breaking rules at school and at home, ending up suspended, and this sends Hank to hunt for the Bandit. Dale is reluctant to go, as he really is the Bandit, but he comes along anyway. Soon, during the hunt, he begins to act "cool" to Bobby and Joseph and he gets his son's respect. Meanwhile, Peggy has tailed the four and stops at a nightclub they tried to enter. She walks over to the bouncer and drops various names to try to enter since she is not "on the list", acting as a sort of "Nightclub Bandit". He finally allows her to go inside, but she doesn't have the $12 cover charge and still can't go in.
Eventually, Dale tries to get out of the hunt, but Hank refuses to let him. Dale finds a deserted bar and goes there to try to "catch" the Bandit, and the other three follow. Dale claims to have caught the Bandit, and Hank finally realizes that Dale is the Bandit. He decides to "let him escape", with the promise that he will not try anything like this again.
Quotes
- Dale: All I can say is I wish I had the Smoking Bandit's courage... he's the Rosa ParksRosa ParksRosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African-American civil rights activist, whom the U.S. Congress called "the first lady of civil rights", and "the mother of the freedom movement"....
of nicotineNicotineNicotine is an alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants that constitutes approximately 0.6–3.0% of the dry weight of tobacco, with biosynthesis taking place in the roots and accumulation occurring in the leaves...
!
BillBill DauteriveBill Dauterive, born Gillaume Fontaine de la Tour D'Haute Rive is a fictional character on the Fox animated series King of the Hill...
: He's a hero, just like the guy who rides his bicycle faster than French peopleLance ArmstrongLance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
. I bet he smokes, too! - Bobby: I can't believe I thought the Bandit was cool. You know who's cool? That rapper with the bullet in his nose... Bulletnose!
Joseph: Yeah! One wrong sneeze, and the whole joint goes up!