In a somewhat surprising move, the FOX network has decided to cancel one of the staples of its Sunday night line-up. On the eve of Halloween, the King of the Hill TV show has been cancelled after 13 seasons on the air.
King of the Hill follows the animated adventures of the Hill family from the small town of Arlen, Texas. The family’s patriarch, Hank (Mike Judge), is a propane salesman who’s obsessed with his lawn and the Dallas Cowboys. His well-meaning wife Peggy (Kathy Najimy) holds several part-time jobs and together, they raise their husky teenage son, Bobby (Pamela Adlon). Other characters include niece Luanne (Brittany Murphy), neighbor Bill (Stephen Root), and conspiracy-lover Dale (Johnny Hardwick).
The series debuted on January 12, 1997 on FOX and quickly became a staple of the network’s animation line-up. Having survived to produce over 240 episodes, King has become the second longest-running animated series, following The Simpsons. It’s become very popular in syndication, both in the US and internationally.
In recent years, King has been on the verge of cancellation several times. Earlier this month, Gary Newman, the co-chair of 20th Century Fox TV, hinted to TV Week that it may be time to pull the plug. He said, “I don’t know if the network will be ordering more seasons or not. That show has had its last rites read to it several times, and keeps rearing its head again.”
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This season, King has been averaging seven million viewers and a 3.4/8 rating/share in the 18-49 demographic, a far cry from the series’ heyday. Simpsons and Family Guy, the shows that air before and after, both attract better numbers.
Back in early April, FOX ordered 13 episodes for the show’s 13th season. Production is nearly completed on those and the network has decided that they will be the series’ last. The episodes that are currently airing are actually from the show’s 12th season. FOX won’t begin showing King’s final batch of episodes until February 2009 which means that, though cancelled, the series could end up on the network’s 2009-10 schedule.
King isn’t scheduled to have any kind of series-closing finale. Executive producer John Altschuler says that this is by design. If there’d been a series finale when the show ceased production in the past, it would have been difficult to revive it.
If this is truly the end of King, Altschuler feels good about the run but ultimately isn’t totally convinced it’s over. He told Variety, We’ve been here before… When it’s time for King of the Hill to go, it will go. But I think with the ratings this good, and with quality that doesn’t seem to be diminishing, it would be very odd for King of the Hill not to keep going.”
Influencing the network’s decision to cancel King, aside from the declining ratings, is the fact that FOX is hot to introduce two new animated series in midseason; Sit Down, Shut Up, from Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz, and The Cleveland Show, a spin-off of Family Guy. Stay tuned! 
Image courtesy FOX.
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Man I just can’t believe this is going on with fox they had it made with the Simpson’s and king of the hill and familyguy they still don’t understand that they didn’t make a good diction in canceling that show. I can literally walk down the street and ask peopleif they like the Cleveland show and they would say who never seen it or it sucksand ever one knows familyguy sucks now……..just bring them back pleas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!fox…
I simply cannot believe that there is no more king of the hill that sucks please bring it back.
King of the Hill appealed to the most simple of people in America. It just wasn’t funny. Maybe to simpletons, it was funny. But to people who graduated high school, it just wasn’t funny at all.
Who honestly wants to watch 30 minutes of an average ordinary southern redneck life? Why waste 30 minutes each week? Your time would be much better spent cleaning the scum from your toilet or bath tub.
Cool Story bro.
I have graduated not only from high school, but also from college, and I’m currently enrolled in a PhD program, and yet I still find King of the Hill to be a funny show. It’s a great representation of a typical American family, with all its twists and flaws. Even if you don’t like this show, you have to admit that it’s 100 times better than the absolutely ridiculous Cleveland show, which lacks a decent plot and humor.
No one ever truly appreciated this show, it’s an excellent show though. Family Guy demoralizes and mocks people of the world, the Cleveland show is more of the same shit! I hate seth mcfarlane and anything to do with him. Mike Judge made a wonderful show and I was terribly sad when I found out it was being cancelled.
Please bring back King of the Hill!!! I stilll watch the old episodes all of the time.
Me too!!! I love that all of the seasons are on instant stream on Netflix
This is Fox at its best. Some of my favorite shows, (Firefly, Dollhouse, King of the Hill, Prison Break- on the fence for 3 years, Fringe-just barely scraped by this year.) have seen their end due to Fox banhammer.
English is not my first langauge neither is laotion.
Still whatever Hank and family does, make me smile and feels nice. we have watched almost all of the seasons. I truly feel fox should think of starting it again and soon.
I like family guy. hate the cleveland show, can live with american dad.
but KOTH is a show that needs to be revived.
Can’t wait to see when Dale gets to know about Joseph, Waiting to see how Hank runs Strickland propane by itself.
man i cant believe this shit that was my 3rd fav show on fox i’m so disappointed.
do not cancel terra nova
Maybe people are just getting stupider if they could not understand king of the hill. It had morals and values which is lacking into todays tv shows. This is a show that normal people wouldn’t feel afraid for their children to watch and it does have hidden humor for the adults which was a great talent that mike judge created. Maybe once people are tired of the crappy demoralizing shows, they will know what was once great. I wish for the return of this great show because all there is left is family guy, cleveland show, bobs burgers, and south park. Lets face it, maybe people are getting stupider by the year. This is probably why mike judge created the goode family in hopes to reach out to those poor stupid people. Theres always beavis and butthead, but nothing will compare to king of the hill.
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