No Return of the King

This is sad news. (H/t Sepinwall.) Not entirely unexpected news—I remember interviewing Stephen Root, on the set of ABC's 9/11 miniseries, way back when King of the Hill was in the middle of one of its previous death scares. And maybe it's more or less time. You could argue that the show properly should have ended with Cotton's death, which brought Hank's issues (how to be a father and a man while avoiding his own dad's mistakes) full circle. And I'll admit that—as with The Simpsons—I don't watch every episode anymore myself. 

But if KOTH doesn't get another reprieve, I'll be especially sad anyway. I loved this show from when it debuted, before I was Time's TV critic, and even in its shaky first few episodes I knew there was something special in it. I guess for that reason it's always felt particularly "mine" in a way only a handful of others shows have. (Freaks and Geeks, for one.) 

I put KOTH on my list of the 100 best TV shows of all time last year and I remember taking a little flak for it. I stand by it more than ever, though. I think KOTH automatically gets discounted a couple points for being a cartoon, first, and being from the Beavis and Butt-head guy, second. But I believe that it's one of the best TV series about families, live-action or cartoon, period. It's one of the best TV series about America, period. It gets at some of the same particularities and truths of life outside the coasts—and busts some of the same red-and-blue-America myths—as Friday Night Lights gets credit for now. And I don't just say that because it's set in Texas. 

I don't have an alley by my house, but if I did, I'd go out there and open a beer in honor of Hank Hill right now.