"Pilot" - OAD 1/12/97 (Episode 1)

This episode is most notable, quite obviously, for being the very first episode of King of the Hill. We are introduced to several main characters, including (but not limited to) Hank, Peggy, Bobby, Luanne, Dale, Bill and Boomhauer, among others. Bobby is hit in the head with a baseball at a little league game, resulting in a black eye. He and Hank make a trip to the Mega-Lo-Mart after the game to buy some WD-40 and a tap and die . Hank gets into a heated argument with an employee, Buckley, and a couple of women standing by begin to speculate as to how Bobby obtained the black eye thinking Hank might have caused it due to his rage. Rumors spread, and eventually a man named "Anthony" with child services receives word that Hank hit Bobby in the eye with a bat. Anthony pays a visit to the Hill house, where Hank and Dale are outside working on Hank's truck. Peggy speaks with Anthony first, and then an enraged Hank comes storming into the living room after hitting his head on the hood of his truck indirectly caused by Bobby throwing a ball against the wall of his room. Hank is furious, which only adds fuel to the case being made against him. After being questioned, Hank tells Anthony to get out of his house in a fit of rage. Anthony then visits with Dale and Boomhauer, but their responses to his questions yield nothing except for the impression that these people were "rednecks." He visits Hank's house once again, persuading Bobby to come with him and be adopted by a family with a pool. Hank, once again, makes him leave. Once back at the child services building, Anthony tells his story to his supervisor, describing where he had been as "redneck city." The supervisor asks Anthony if he had spoken to Harvey, the little league coach, to which Anthony responds with an embarrassed chuckle. The investigation is called off, and the supervisor calls the Hills to inform them. Bobby answers the phone, and instead of telling his parents that the investigation was called off, he takes advantage of Hank. He pulls a few stunts, knowing that his father will be angered, but because Hank still thinks he could have Bobby taken away, he is forced to let Bobby get away with what he he doing. Peggy soon receives word of the investigation having been called off. She confronts Bobby, who tells her that he only acted the way he did because he was afraid his dad wouldn't love him for what he had done. She tells this to Hank, who then proceeds to talk with Bobby and tell him that he loves him (although in a very hurried way). The show ends with Hank and Bobby 'fake' wrestling in the front yard, only for Anthony, who is "going back to L.A." to see as he is passing by. He tells his supervisor who is sitting with him on the bus, but he responds with "see what, twig boy?" Anthony simply says "never mind', and the show ends.