Up On The Hill
By TIM DAVID HARVEY
10 Episodes. Starring: Mike Judge, Kathy Najimy, Stephen Root, Pamela Adlon, Lauren Tom & Ronny Chieng. Created By: Mike Judge & Greg Daniels. On: Hulu & Disney +.
We'd say we were in the golden age of animated television, but the yellow family of sitcom's 'Simpsons' already took care of that, from the crude drawings of when you millennials were born, until around about now. That's despite that J. Cole lyric about Kendrick Lamar falling off, which we all know isn't true. He retracted all that (DOH!) and didn't want the smoke. Forget albums with no guest features. How about thirty something seasons and counting?
Half that and you get the fellow Fox come Disney + and Hulu show 'King Of The Hill', still created and show ran by Mike Judge & Greg Daniels, no matter how many times Hank Hill throws that lawn sign in the trash can...things like that were hilarious back in my day. I can't believe I'm saying that, but they still are. The Hills took an extended hiatus when Hank and Peggy moved to the middle-east, but propane proved to still be king when they returned last year to rave reviews. And just wait until you watch the last episode of this new set of ten which we hope gets us a sweet sixteenth season. Because 'King Of The Hill' may once again be the best thing on television, if you can still call it that, I tell you what. Animated or not. Couple that with Prime Video's 'Batman: Caped Crusader' spiritual sequel to 'The Animated Series', not to mention Disney's 'X-Men '97' reboot and it's not just a golden age, it's a nostalgic one. What a time to still be alive.
Mike Judge, Kathy Najimy, Stephen Root, Pamela Adlon, Lauren Tom are joined by one of today's funniest men Ronny Chieng in a show that throughout its history have added Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston and Meryl Streep to its lawn. Yup, it was Streep, Pitt and 'Friends' big back in its day and way. The picket fence stance with a tin of beer being their equivalent of a couch gag from 'The Simpsons', with as little as an "uh-huh." Back in the day it used to be the big-three of those two families and 'The X-Files' on Fox. I want to believe in small screen successes like that again. Now, in the revived blue-collars of Arlen, Texas, there's a few more wrinkles and a little less hair (same). Not to mention an all grown up Bobby Hill, no gout, who fuses Japanese food and loves BTS (OMG SAME!). Just wait until he talks to Hank about his favourite member and whether he'd jump off a bridge with "her", too.
In this season there's a failure to hard launch (alright, alright, alright, Mr. Texas, Matthew McConaughey once guest starred on this show too. We can't wait until Mickey Mouse brings all the seasons back) with Connie, a scruffy but lovely dog that will have you in "the feels" (Hank Hill voice) of your fondest memories. Scams, nerds and actual relation-SHIPS, in some comedic and compelling couple counselling. Not to mention a golden girl, a celebrity chef that makes Ramsey look as lovable as family. So literally cuddle up with someone (because there's an episode about that, too) before the rooster sounds another morning and just remember the good ole times of our lives and the shows that reflected them on the tube. 'K.O.T.H' knows how to keep up with the times (see, I put it in an abbreviation, I do, too), but isn't afraid to stay in its own lane. Because that's the sweet spot. And like the end of its Gracie Films like, quotable I.D.'s, season fifteen knocks it out the park.
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