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"Torch Song Hillogy" is the one hundred-eleventh episode of King of the Hill. It first aired on February 17, 2002. The episode was written by Emily Spivey and directed by Anthony Lioi.

Summary[]

When Bobby is feeling down about never having won a trophy of his own, Peggy enters him into a contest for a chance to carry the Olympic torch through Arlen. However, the very person whom Bobby feels he can never beat is the one chosen to carry the torch.

Plot[]

During Nancy Gribble's review of the run of the Olympic torch from Greece, Hank and the guys hear how the torch will eventually make its way through Arlen and local residents are encouraged to enter a contest. Dale and Bill start commenting how Hank is the local hero which leads Bobby to make the claim that he hopes to one day do something heroic so that Hank will have to build him a trophy shelf.

Hank points out how the shelf covered in spider plants is Bobby's trophy shelf and is in its current state because Bobby has yet to get a trophy of his own. Later, Bobby is staring at the two shelves and confesses to his mother Peggy how he feels he will never obtain a trophy. Peggy later sneaks to the garage and carelessly removes Hank's name from one of his football trophies in order to have a name plate for Bobby made. She gives the trophy to Bobby for winning the "Best You You Can Be" contest.

Feeling better, Bobby shows Hank the trophy the next morning, but Hank instantly recognizes it as his football trophy. Bobby becomes upset at Peggy passing off Hank's award as one for him which causes Peggy to be upset at Hank for not letting Bobby's self-esteem heal. Hank tells both of them that giving someone a trophy for no reason or effort will not improve anything. Peggy seems to accept Hank's view but then decides to enter Bobby in the contest to carry the torch through Arlen. Hank later tells the guys about Peggy's plan and how he firmly believes that, not only should someone more deserving of the honor be elected, but that he thinks Bobby will be crushed if he is not picked.

On the day the announcement is to be made, Bobby's excitement is clear at thinking he is sure to win and reveals that he has been power walking in an attempt to prepare himself for the half mile run. Just then, Nancy arrives in the news van. Bobby becomes overjoyed at believing he was chosen to carry the torch, but he is devastated when Hank is declared the winner. Peggy automatically assumes Hank secretly wrote and submitted an essay to put himself in the running, but Hank admits he did no such thing. Although Bobby is upset, he admits that Hank is more deserving of the honor. Peggy continues to assume Hank entered himself in the contest but Dale, Bill, and Boomhauer reveal they were the ones who wrote the essay since they felt that not only was Hank the most deserving, but that it was also a chance for him to redeem himself for his ankle injury during the state final.

At the congratulatory party, Peggy continues to blame Hank for winning the contest as everyone else continues to praise Hank for past and current accomplishments. When Hank eventually leaves because he cannot stand the attention he is getting, Bobby follows him back home and urges Hank to accept carrying the torch as he should not pass it over in hopes of making Bobby feel better since there will be other opportunities in the future for Bobby to achieve something. Hank replies that he does not deserve the honor and shows Bobby the rest of the home movie of the state football match wherein Hank was shown doing a backflip and dancing after scoring a touchdown. While Bobby is impressed by Hank's moves, Hank explains how it was in the very next play that Hank broke his ankle and Arlen lost state. He saw it as God punishing him for showboating which causes Bobby to question if this is why his father is always so uptight and not willing to be more fun. When Hank hesitates to give an answer, Bobby tells him that his broken ankle was pure coincidence and that he shouldn't feel bad about feeling good. Accepting Bobby's wisdom, Hank tells Peggy how he is going to run with the torch without any guilt and Peggy finally stops blaming Hank for his victory.

The day of the flames arrival in Arlen has come and the town is overjoyed at the run about to take place. When the runner from Durndle is arriving, Peggy and the guys joke about the residents of Durndle being slow until they see the runner is handicap and making the run in an electric wheelchair. As the runner and Hank meet and pass the flame, Dale quickly lights a cigarette from the fire to "inhale" the winter games. Hank begins his run and enjoys the feeling of happiness from carrying the torch until he trips while going around a corner and the flame is extinguished in a puddle.

Bobby and Peggy catch up to him and see what's happened. Hank angrily tells Bobby that this is exactly what happens when enjoying the moment. Refusing the be the reason the Olympic games don't take place, Hank re-lights the flame from a lighter and continues running. As he gets to McMaynerberry, he realizes he cannot pass on the fake flame and puts it out. As Dale appears, Bobby remembers how he had lit his cigarette with the original flame. He snatches the cigarette and uses it to re-light the torch and keep the run going.

Later at the Hill house, Peggy removes the plants from Bobby's shelf and the unlit torched is placed there. Bobby then proceeds to dance like Hank had done.

Characters[]

Stinger Quote[]

  • Bill: "Mm-hmm, ye- Hey!"

Trivia[]

  • The actual torch used for the 2002 Olympics relay looked nothing like the one depicted on KotH; it featured a design in which the flame was encased in glass, which would have made it impossible for Bobby to light with a cigarette.
  • Hank and the other torchbearers' outfits look more like uniforms from the Canadian Olympic team than the real jumpsuits used for the relay, which featured a blue motif (rather than red) on white.

Goofs[]

  • Although Dale in this episode states "[Hank]'s 40, cut him some slack", Hank already stated in the earlier episode "Yankee Hankee" that he is 41 years old.

Gallery[]


Season 5 Season 6 Season 7

Bobby Goes Nuts · Soldier of Misfortune · Lupe's Revenge · The Father, the Son, and J.C. · Father of the Bribe · I'm with Cupid · Torch Song Hillogy · Joust Like a Woman · The Bluegrass is Always Greener · The Substitute Spanish Prisoner · Unfortunate Son · Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret Hill · Tankin' it to the Streets · Of Mice and Little Green Men · A Man Without a Country Club · Beer and Loathing · Fun with Jane and Jane · My Own Private Rodeo · Sug Night · Dang Ol' Love · Returning Japanese · Returning Japanese II
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