Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for King of the Hill season 14, episode 2.Several of the original voice actors fromKing of the Hilldied before they could record lines for the revival season, and the new episodes feature a perfect tribute to one of them. In the 15 years between seasons 13 and 14 ofKing of the Hill,Johnny Hardwick, who voiced Dale, Jonathan Joss, who voiced John Redcorn, and a few other cast members died before the revival series.
TheKing of the Hillrevivaldoes feature tributes to both Hardwick and Joss, as well as some of the lines they recorded before their deaths. OtherKing of the Hillvoice actors who had already passed on, however, were memorialized in more unique ways. One of them was very subtle, but it almost definitely put a smile on the faces of longtime fans ofKing of the Hill.
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers' Runnin’ Down a Dream Is Featured
Petty Voiced Lucky In The Original King Of The Hill & The Revival Used One Of His Songs
Tom Petty is best known for being the lead singer of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, but he also had a long history withKing of the Hill.Petty voiced Lucky Kleinschmidt, Luanne’s husband and the father of her child, sinceKing of the Hillseason 8 in 2004. Sadly, Petty passed away in 2017 from an accidental overdose (viaNPR), and he wasn’t able to record lines for the revival.
Even though Tom Petty wasn’t able to be part ofKing of the Hill’s revival, the show didn’t forget about him.King of the Hillseason 14, episode 2 features the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song “Runnin' Down a Dream” while Hank and Bobby are brewing beer for a competition. Lucky doesn’t appear in the episode, but it’s a tribute to Petty nonetheless.
The Song Choice Fits Perfectly In The Show
Petty’s Song Is A Fitting Tribute To His Effect On King of the Hill & It Works Well In The Episode
It’s also worth noting that using “Runnin' Down a Dream” is a great tribute to the late Tom Petty.Using his song highlights Petty’s musical talents while also working as a nod to Petty and a recognition of his time voicing Lucky in the originalKing of the Hill. Not only that, it’s a great reference for longtimeKing of the Hillfans who were wondering how the show would handle Petty’s death.
King of the Hillshowrunner Saladin Patterson said that not including Lucky in the revival was a way to honor Tom Petty. “Sometimes the best way to honor someone’s work is to hang their jersey up in the rafters as a show of respect and what they meant to the organization,” (viaIGN).
Petty’s song also works wonderfully in the moment itself. “Runnin' Down a Dream” plays as Hank and Bobby are brewing their respective beers for a competition.They’re literally chasing their dreams of beating each other and brewing the best beer they can, and the song’s upbeat tempo works really well for the montage. Even if it wasn’t Petty’s song, it would have worked in the scene.
No revival series ever wants to deal with the death of one of its original actors, butKing of the Hillhas set a great example for everyone else. Using “Runnin' Down a Dream” in a fun moment like this thanks Tom Petty for his impact on the show while simultaneously using his voice for another great moment.King of the Hilljust proved that an actor tribute can be so much more than a memorial card.
