All of the KING OF THE HILL Revival Easter Eggs, Callbacks, Cameos, and References

Every King of the Hill Revival Easter Egg and Reference From Season 14, Episode 1 “Return of the King”

The King of the Hill Revival References Luanne & Lucky Through a Photo

One of the big questions fans had coming into the King of the Hill revival was how the series would address the characters of Luanne and Lucky, due to the passing of their original series voice actors, Brittany Murphy and Tom Petty. While the revival avoided directly referencing what they are up to in the modern day, we did see a pre-timeskip photo of the couple on the wall of the Hills’ home in the King of the Hill Revival. 

Don’t Miss the Doggie Reference in King of the Hill Season 14

As Peggy is catching up with Nancy Gribble, we get a brief look at Nancy and John Redcorn’s newest venture together. In a YouTube promo video for their HGTV-style reality show, a quick scroll through the comments included an icon of Doggie. The Souphanousinphone family’s scruffy white dog was a recurring figure in the original series. Most notably, Doggie was Bobby’s dance partner for the Musical Canine Freestyle competition in King of the Hill season seven’s “Dances With Dogs”. 

“Iron Chef! Iron Chef!” Chant in Revival Is a King of the Hill Season 5 Easter Egg

In the King of the Hill revival season, we first find Bobby at his restaurant serving a group of college students who invite him to a frat party, referring to him as “Iron Chef”. This leads to them chanting “Iron Chef! Iron Chef!” on the revival, which is a direct Easter egg that mirrors the fifth season episode “Now Who’s the Dummy.” In that original series episode, Bobby chants that exact phrase with his new ventriloquist puppet doppelganger in a touching moment of acceptance from his dad. 

“Uhhh…There’s a Rooster on the Label,” Is a Subtle Reference to Season 6

When Bobby arrives at the college party, he ends up manning the grill and notes how he always comes prepared with his spatula and hot sauce. While small, the hot sauce appears to have a rooster on the bottle, which could be a subtle revival reference to a joke in King of the Hill season six’s “A Man Without a Country Club”. 

In that episode, Hank and Peggy are invited to an event at a prestigious country club, where they meet a hot sauce mogul, Mr. Tranh. Upon meeting him, Peggy comments that he looks “much younger on the label”. To which he confusingly responds, “Uhhh, there’s a rooster on the label”. 

Every King of the Hill Revival Easter Egg and Reference From Season 14, Episode 2 “The Beer Story”

Vaya con Dios

In “The Beer Story”, we find out that the Hills aren’t the only ones with a television revival. The melodramatic Spanish-language show, “Monsignor Martinez,” was a recurring bit seen throughout the original series’ run. And as it turns out, it has also received an in-universe reboot. 

Megalo Mart Returns in the Revival (RIP Chuck Mangione)

Another mainstay of King of the Hill saw a prominent return in this revival episode as well: Megalo Mart. The fictional big box store was a common setting for many episodes of the original King of the Hill series, and was known for its celebrity spokesperson, Chuck Mangione. The jazz musician even appears briefly as a cardboard cutout with Snoop Dogg promoting homebrew beer kits. 

This was a fun King of the Hill revival Easter egg that has sadly turned bittersweet as the real-life Chuck Mangione passed away just weeks before the series’ return.

Every King of the Hill Revival Easter Egg and Reference From Season 14, Episode 3 “Bobby Gets Grilled” 

“Fiddy Men” Easter Egg Pays Off Cotton Hill Catchphrase in King of the Hill Revival 

“Bobby Gets Grilled” saw a fun payoff to a recurring joke around Hank’s late father, Cotton Hill. A veteran of World War II, Cotton often bragged about the “fiddy men” he killed while fighting in the war. When a group of representatives from the German cultural community comes to Bobby’s restaurant, concerned about his use of “authentic” German cuisine, one member reveals he is the grandson of one of Cotton’s “fiddy men”. 

Every King of the Hill Revival Easter Egg and Reference From Season 14, Episode 4 “Chore Money, Chore Problems” 

“How Do I Live” Revival Duet is a Direct Reference to King of the Hill Season 3

One of the more overt references to the original King of the Hill Series comes during the revival’s “Chore Money, Chore Problems” episode, where Bobby and Connie go out for karaoke. In a cute montage, we see the childhood friends singing a duet of “How Do I Live”, the same song they shared their first dance to in King of the Hill season 3’s “Love Hurts…and So Does Art”.

Every King of the Hill Revival Easter Egg and Reference From Season 14, Episode 5 “New Ref in Town”

“New Ref in Town” Riffs on Hank Hill’s Long-Standing, Complex Emotions About Soccer

The King of the Hill revival episode, “New Ref in Town,” feels like a spiritual callback to the series’ other famous soccer episode, season three’s “Three Coaches and a Bobby”. The episode notoriously highlighted Hank’s passionate disdain for all things soccer after Bobby joins the local team in favor of football. “New Ref in Town” hilariously plays on Hank’s newfound love for the sport after his time in Saudi Arabia, and the shame he feels for now enjoying it. 

Every King of the Hill Revival Easter Egg and Reference in Season 14, Episode 6 “Peggy’s Fadeout” 

Motorcycle Mama—We Get a Fun Peggy Easter in the King of the Hill Revival

“Peggy’s Fadeout” saw a slew of references to many of Peggy’s memorable moments from the original series. One of the best is a rather seductive photo of Peggy on a motorcycle. While other photos we see hanging in the barber shop of this scene are clearly faked by Bill, this revival Easter egg is actually real and lifted directly from King of the Hill season seven’s episode “Queasy Rider”. 

Three-Time Substitute Teacher of the Year Winner*

Another fun easter revival egg comes when we see Peggy’s Substitute Teacher of the Year awards on the bookshelf in King of the Hill season 14, episode six. This easter egg even has an extra layer, as we can see the 1999 award has Peggy’s name taped over the first part. This is a hilarious nod to the episode “Little Horrors of Shop”, where Hank briefly became a substitute shop teacher. After he was controversially forced to resign, Peggy ran under the name “Mrs. Hank Hill” for that year’s award in an attempt to capitalize on his popularity. 

Boggle Champ—A King of the Hill Season 14 Reference to Peggy’s Love of Boggle

Similar to her substitute teaching awards, we also catch a glimpse of Peggy’s other passion, Boggle. This hourglass trophy appears to be the same one she won way back in the season one King of the Hill episode, “Peggy the Boggle Champ”. 

Mrs. Heimlich County

The episode ends with Bill giving a eulogy for Peggy at his fake funeral for her. During the touching speech, Bill totes a list of her accomplishments. One of them is a season 14 reference to Peggy competing in a beauty pageant in the King of the Hill season three episode “Peggy’s Pageant Fever.”

Every King of the Hill Revival Easter Egg and Reference From Season 14, Episode 7 “Any Given Hill-Day” 

Peggy’s World of Books

“Any Given Hill-Day” had one of the best side stories of the season, with Peggy starting up a neighborhood book nook. Among the books we see in the little library are A Tale of Two Cities and A Dinner of Onions. These two wonderful revival callbacks reference a similarly themed Peggy episode, “Full Metal Dust Jacket.” In it, A Tale of Two Cities is cited as Peggy’s favorite book, and A Dinner of Onions is the fictitious novel read by the elitist book club Peggy attempts to join. 

Every King of the Hill Revival Easter Egg and Reference in Season 14, Episode 8 “Kahn-scious Uncoupling” 

Old Maid

This Kahn-centric episode saw him and Minh celebrating their wedding anniversary, and reaffirmed his grudge against Bill. This revival episode included a direct reference to Kahn’s late mother, Laoma, and her controversial love affair with Bill in season seven’s “Maid in Arlen”. 

Every King of the Hill Revival Easter Egg and Reference From Season 14, Episode 9 “No Hank Left Behind” 

The Hill Boys—King of the Hill Season 14 Bring Hank’s Brothers to the Screen

While many fans were expecting the appearance of Hank’s half-brother G.H. (aka Good Hank) in this revival, “No Hank Left Behind” also featured a surprise cameo by Hank’s other half-brother, Junichiro. Having not appeared since the season 6 two-parter, “Returning Japanese”, Junichiro briefly appears via Zoom at the beginning of the episode along with the other Hill boys. 

That’s My Purse! King of the Hill Revival References Popular Season 6 Episode

The revival episode’s B-plot focused on Peggy and Bobby, and ended with a wild callback to one of the King of the Hill‘s most famous episodes, “Bobby Goes Nuts”. After Peggy receives an MRI at the end of the episode, the doctor notes signs of a lingering injury in Peggy’s groin…where she was kicked by Bobby. 

Every King of the Hill Easter Egg and Reference in Season 14, Episode 10 “A Sounder Investment” 

The Bounce House Easter Egg Takes Us Back to King of the Hill‘s Past

As Bobby and Connie finally begin to date in the revival, we get a fun reference to the King of the Hill season five episode “T’was the Nut Before Christmas”. You know, the time Bobby, Connie, and Joseph were sold beer by a delinquent that Bill took in around the holidays. The trio wound up getting drunk in the bounce house outside Bill’s home, and Bobby got sick. Good times. 

Bobby Remembers Connie’s First Period in the Revival’s Finale

After Connie gets hurt at the trampoline park, Bobby takes her to the hospital and is quick to provide the doctors with all her information. He’s cut off just as he mentions her first menstruation in a cute nod to the King of the Hill season four episode, “Aisle 8A”, wherein Connie got her first period while staying with the Hills. 

Old Top—The King of the Hill Revival Brings Back Buck Strickland

Many fans had long been assuming that Hank’s former boss, Buck Strickland, would be long dead in the new timeline of the revival. And after nine episodes without so much as a passing mention, “A Sounder Investment” surprised fans with the return of a much older and slimmed-down version of the sleazy businessman. 

The King of the Hill Revival Was Chock Full of Easter Eggs and References 

All in all, the King of the Hill revival was a love letter to fans that celebrated its past while crafting an exciting and promising future ahead. There were a ton of Easter eggs, references, and fond memories shared within the 10 episodes. It’s good to be back in Arlen. 

King of the Hill season 14 is streaming now on Hulu.