Church Hopping is the one hundred-ninety-seventh episode of King of the Hill. It was first aired on April 9, 2006. The episode was written by Jim Dauterive, and directed by Robin Brigstocke.
Synopsis
When the Hill family finds out that the church pew they have been sitting in for twelve years has been taken over by another family, they abandon their Methodist church and begin worshipping at the new "Megachurch" after auditioning other churches. The relocation to the Megachurch tends to occupy their lives much more than normal; as Hank describes it, "It keeps coming at you." Hank decides enough is enough and chooses to run away and worship Lucky's way. Hank returns home from drinking with Lucky - while highly intoxicated - and declares he is finished with church altogether. Later that night, Hank dreams of plan to return to Arlen Methodist. In a meeting with Karen Stroup, Hank negotiates the return of his pew, the departure of The Smiths (the family that earlier usurped his pew) and leverages the departure of other parishioners in exchange for a permanent seat at Arlen Methodist.
Stinger Quote
Pager buzzing and Hank sighing.
Trivia
- In the beginning of the episode, the family is late to church because Bobby had set the clocks incorrectly on daylights savings time. This caused Hank to say, "Bobby you spring forward, not spring back!" meaning Bobby set the clock an hour back, rather than an hour forward.
- At the Point After Lounge, Hank and Lucky sing along with "Baby Come Back," the 1977 soft rock hit for the group Player.
- As Hank and the family try another new church, Hank opens the door only to hear "Day By Day," then closes it and walks away. "Day By Day" is a hymn based on a prayer ascribed to the 13th century bishop St. Richard of Chichester and was a standard in many hymnals. The version that we hear in the episode, however, is from the 1971 musical "Godspell" with music by Stephen Schwartz.
- This is one of the few episodes where Hank is visibly drunk. The others include As Old as the Hills, Yankee Hankee, Night and Deity and What Happens at the National Propane Gas Convention in Memphis Stays at the National Propane Gas Convention in Memphis. He's also seen visibly drunk at a much younger age through a flashback in Be True to Your Fool.
- Luanne reveals in this episode she does not know Lucky's last name, even though they've been dating for several weeks.