The Perils of Polling
Encyclopedia
"The Perils of Polling" is the first episode of the fifth season of the animated television series King of the Hill
, and 85th episode of the series overall. "The Perils of Polling" originally aired in the United States
on Fox on October 1, 2000.
, Peggy
, Bobby
and Luanne attend a county fair, where a number of "fringe" candidates for the upcoming 2000 presidential election are campaigning. Hank is approached by an eccentric independent, but uses Bobby's enthusiasm over a trick-performing pig as an excuse to get away. Mitch the Amazing Diving Pig executes some impressive stunts, but after diving into a deep pool through three burning hoops, he becomes entangled in a hose and fails to surface. Bobby jumps in, pulls Mitch to safety, and revives him. Mitch's manager Rooks Epperson gives Bobby the nickname of "the Amazing Pig-Saving Boy", and a presidential campaign staffer for then-Governor of Texas
George W. Bush
takes his picture alongside Mitch. Later, Luanne proudly announces that she has decided to cast her presidential vote for a Communist
candidate, and that her vote will cancel out Hank's in her very first election. After hearing that Luanne's support is based on nothing more than the candidate's appearance, Hank takes her to a Bush campaign speech to teach her about the issues, and after convincing her to vote for him, he meets the Governor himself. Hank is initially excited to meet his candidate, but is horrified to discover that Bush has a limp handshake.
Hank's confidence in Bush is shaken by this revelation, and he begins to question his need to vote at all. Bill
, Boomhauer
, and Dale
all criticize Hank for his obsession over such an apparently trivial matter, but Hank cannot be talked out of his disillusionment, even after being compared to Luanne. When election day, arrives, Hank skips voting to go shopping with Dale, even while Peggy runs the polling station from the Hills' garage. Dale, however, ends up driving to Mexico
as part of an elaborate conspiracy
plan to wait out the results of the election in case "society collapses", to Hank's annoyance. Meanwhile, Luanne, saddened to find that Hank has lost his heart to vote, calls him to explain that he has inspired her to look beyond a candidate's physical appearance and to examine the issues instead. Reinspired, Hank tricks Dale out of his keys and rushes back to Arlen, even receiving a police escort when the officer pulls him over for speeding but finds out that he hasn't voted yet. Hank and Luanne walk into the polling booths side by side just before the deadline and cast their votes.
During the closing credits, Hank and Bobby deliver a speech about the rewards of voting.
"The Perils of Polling" originally aired in the United States
on October 1, 2000 on the Fox Network.
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 85th episode of the series overall. "The Perils of Polling" originally aired in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on Fox on October 1, 2000.
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...
, 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...
, 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 Luanne attend a county fair, where a number of "fringe" candidates for the upcoming 2000 presidential election are campaigning. Hank is approached by an eccentric independent, but uses Bobby's enthusiasm over a trick-performing pig as an excuse to get away. Mitch the Amazing Diving Pig executes some impressive stunts, but after diving into a deep pool through three burning hoops, he becomes entangled in a hose and fails to surface. Bobby jumps in, pulls Mitch to safety, and revives him. Mitch's manager Rooks Epperson gives Bobby the nickname of "the Amazing Pig-Saving Boy", and a presidential campaign staffer for then-Governor of Texas
Governor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
takes his picture alongside Mitch. Later, Luanne proudly announces that she has decided to cast her presidential vote for a Communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
candidate, and that her vote will cancel out Hank's in her very first election. After hearing that Luanne's support is based on nothing more than the candidate's appearance, Hank takes her to a Bush campaign speech to teach her about the issues, and after convincing her to vote for him, he meets the Governor himself. Hank is initially excited to meet his candidate, but is horrified to discover that Bush has a limp handshake.
Hank's confidence in Bush is shaken by this revelation, and he begins to question his need to vote at all. 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...
, 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....
, 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...
all criticize Hank for his obsession over such an apparently trivial matter, but Hank cannot be talked out of his disillusionment, even after being compared to Luanne. When election day, arrives, Hank skips voting to go shopping with Dale, even while Peggy runs the polling station from the Hills' garage. Dale, however, ends up driving to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
as part of an elaborate conspiracy
Conspiracy theory
A conspiracy theory explains an event as being the result of an alleged plot by a covert group or organization or, more broadly, the idea that important political, social or economic events are the products of secret plots that are largely unknown to the general public.-Usage:The term "conspiracy...
plan to wait out the results of the election in case "society collapses", to Hank's annoyance. Meanwhile, Luanne, saddened to find that Hank has lost his heart to vote, calls him to explain that he has inspired her to look beyond a candidate's physical appearance and to examine the issues instead. Reinspired, Hank tricks Dale out of his keys and rushes back to Arlen, even receiving a police escort when the officer pulls him over for speeding but finds out that he hasn't voted yet. Hank and Luanne walk into the polling booths side by side just before the deadline and cast their votes.
During the closing credits, Hank and Bobby deliver a speech about the rewards of voting.
Production
Written by Jim DauteriveJim Dauterive
James Thomas "Jim" Dauterive is an American animation producer and writer. Dauterive is most notably known for executive producing and writing several episodes of the animated series King of the Hill, and developing and writing for the new Fox series Bob's Burgers.-King of the Hill:Dauterive joined...
"The Perils of Polling" originally aired in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on October 1, 2000 on the Fox Network.
Quotes and Exchanges
- Hank: Well, Luanne, I wish you'd get this excited about voting in your first presidential election. Now, did you send in those registration forms I gave you for your eighteenth birthday?
Luanne: No... but that's okay, I'll just vote for President next year.
- Hank: What were you thinkin'? The Russians don't even believe in communism any more!
Luanne: You said you wanted me to vote.
Peggy: You sure did, Hank. Maybe Luanne has a good reason for throwing her vote away.
Luanne: I've got several! First, the line at his booth was the shortest, I like his tie, it's red, and his shirt is white, and his jacket is blue, and that stands for America. (jubilantly) Communism!
- Hank: This is dead serious! I don't know what to do! I thought I knew the man, but the man I knew had a strong, firm grip!
Bill: I thought you only cared about the issues, Hank.
Hank: Well, yeah! But... a man's handshake is an issue! It's, uh... well, it's the 'character' issue!
Bill: No. Character is about havin' principles, and not sleepin' with the help, and such... but a wimpy handshake? Now, that's just trivial, Hank. Trivial.
Hank: It's not trivial! This man could be the next leader of the free world! We're gonna have nutjob third-world dictators walkin' all over us when they find out our President doesn't have a strong enough finger to push 'the Button'!
Dale: That makes a lot of sense. ...A lot of nonsense! (He, Bill, and Boomhauer laugh loudly.) Why don't we choose a President by lotteryLotteryA lottery is a form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize.Lottery is outlawed by some governments, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing a national or state lottery. It is common to find some degree of regulation of lottery by governments...
, like they choose the PopePopeThe Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
?
Hank: Don't be ridiculous! That's how Luanne would pick a President!
Bill: No dumber than a handshake...
- Bill: So, who'd you vote for, Hank?
Luanne: Nuh-uh-uh! If he tells you, it won't come true!
Continuity and Trivia
- The Communist candidate that Luanne initially backs is named Robert Parigi, which is the name of the associate producer for The Goode FamilyThe Goode FamilyThe Goode Family is an American animated sitcom, which originally aired on ABC from May 27, 2009 to August 7, 2009. The series was created by Mike Judge and follows the life of an environmentally responsible, albeit obsessive, family...
, another show created by King of the Hill'sKing of the HillKing 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...
co-creator Mike JudgeMike JudgeMichael Craig Judge is an American animator, film director, writer and voice actor, best known as the creator and star of the animated television series Beavis and Butt-head , King of the Hill , and The Goode Family .He also wrote, directed and in some instances produced the films Beavis and...
.
- The song featured as Mitch the Amazing Diving Pig performs the final dive of his act is "Ring of FireRing of Fire (song)"Ring of Fire" or "The Ring of Fire" is a country music song popularized by Johnny Cash and co-written by June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore. The single appears on Cash's 1963 compilation album, Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash...
" by Johnny CashJohnny CashJohn R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
.