Return of the ‘King’: Beloved animated sitcom ‘King of the Hill’ reboot premieres
BY SARAH PASSINGHAM
Arlen, Texas, is about to welcome back a couple of globe-trotting former residents. Animated sitcom “King of the Hill” returns Monday, Aug. 4, to Hulu. The show’s 14th season jumps years ahead of where the last season’s finale left off 15 years ago, with the Hills, Hank (Mike Judge, “Beavis and ButtHead”) and Peggy (Kathy Najimy, “Hocus Pocus 2,” 2022), moving back to Arlen after years abroad working on their retirement fund.
Since the Season 13 finale, Hank’s career in the propane and propane accessories business took himself and Peggy out of the country and halfway around the world to Saudi Arabia. Their son, Bobby (Pamela Adlon, “Better Things”), now in his twenties, also split from the small Texan town in which he grew up. Although he didn’t travel as far as his parents, he is living his dream as a chef in Dallas.
Now that the Hills are back in town — back in the same house, even — they realize that while some things remain the same, Arlen sure has changed since they last saw it. The alley behind the Hill house is still the spot for Hank and his
three buddies to crack open an Alamo and catch up. Stephen Root (“Barry”) returns to voice Bill Dauterive, Hank’s neighbor and loyal, if not obsessive, friend. Boomhauer (also voiced by Judge), too, is back and incomprehensible as ever.
Johnny Hardwick, the Emmy-nominated writer, producer and original voice actor of Hank’s obtuse conspiracy theorist pal Dale Gribble, died in 2023, having already completed recording for six episodes of the upcoming reboot. Filling in as the voice of Dale for the rest of the season’s 10-episode run is Toby Huss (“Bookie”), an alum of the original series.
Also returning is Lauren Tom (“Goliath”), voicing both Minh Souphanousinphone and her daughter, Connie. Variety reported in June that Connie has a “prominent role in the new season.” Ronny Chieng (“The Daily Show”) joins the cast as the voice of Kahn Souphanousinphone (voiced in the original series by Huss), the Hill’s ambitious and self-centered Laotian American neighbor and husband to Minh.
“King of the Hill” co-creators Judge and Greg Daniels (“Upload”), who both recently received Emmy nominations for pro-
ducing the Adult Swim animated series “Common Side Effects,” are back at the helm of the beloved slice-of-life series with new showrunner Saladin K. Patterson (“Shifting Gears”), eager to put Hank in a variety of mildly uncomfortable scenarios. “A lot has happened in the world since the original run of the show ended. There’s just a lot more for Hank to complain about,” Judge shared with Vulture in an interview in May.
Another voice cast member, Jonathan Joss (“Tulsa King”), passed away after production for the new season wrapped, his performance as John Redcorn already recorded. Joss was tragically killed, and following the news of his death in June, Judge, Daniels and Patterson released a statement, saying, “[Joss’] voice will be missed at ‘King of the Hill,’ and we extend our deepest sympathies to Jonathan’s friends and family.”
Don’t miss the brand-new season of “King of the Hill,” dropping on Monday, Aug. 4 on Hulu. All 10 new episodes will be available to stream on premiere day.
Horoscopes
take a step back and clarify your plans. Your friends may invite you on an energizing getaway or a relaxing retreat.
TAURUS
You’ll participate in various activities offered by your community or municipality this week. Your determination will drive you to take on new projects. Even if you’re reserved by nature, nothing will stop you from turning your ideas into reality.
GEMINI
Realizing your dreams takes time and patience. Collaborating with others will be key to achieving your goals. Sometimes, you must clear the air and start fresh.
CANCER
You’ll need to be patient in both your personal and professional life to reach an agreement. Avoid getting bogged down by the same old conflicts. If you need to settle a legal matter in court, luck will be on your side.
LEO This week, your doctor might finally find the right treatment for your health issue. At work, an unexpected advancement could be on the horizon. In your romantic life, your significant other may propose a serious commitment.
VIRGO
You’ll achieve an impressive feat that fills you with pride. You’ll help someone in need by lending a listening ear. You’ll earn their heartfelt gratitude. At work, you’ll be tasked with more responsibilities.
LIBRA
Your children or elderly parents will need your undivided attention this week. You won’t hesitate to dedicate your time and energy to support them. In your relationship, you’ll openly express your love.
SCORPIO
You may consider going back to school or taking a short training course to enrich your career. Even if you’re short on time and need to put in a lot of effort, you’ll accomplish a meaningful goal that makes you proud.
SAGITTARIUS
You’ll work overtime this week and be generously compensated. This will boost your salary and improve your working conditions in the long run. You’ll be showered with love and affection by your romantic partner.
CAPRICORN
You’ll start a promising and wellpaying new job. This new position will allow you to save money and minimize the financial burdens that have been holding you back from true happiness for too long.
AQUARIUS
Your strong intuition and vivid imagination will help you set your priorities straight and design a future that’s right for you. This newfound mental clarity will guide you along the right path.
PISCES
You’ll organize a large gathering this week. Your charisma will captivate everyone around you. After reflecting on your romantic relationship, you may find that you need to take a step back to rekindle the flame.
New Streaming Movies & Shows
“The Pickup” (Aug. 6)
Buckle in for this one wild trip worth stealing a watch. This action-comedy follows truck drivers Russell (Eddie Murphy) and Travis (Pete Davidson) as they’re ambushed by ruthless criminals led by a savvy mastermind, Zoe (Keke Palmer), a cunning thief with a plan that goes far beyond a simple heist. With bullets flying, Russell and Travis have one very bad day that keeps getting worse. Along for the action-packed ride is Eva Longoria, Marshawn Lynch, Joe Anoa’I, Andrew Dice Clay and Ismael Cruz Cordova.
Word Search
“King of the Hill” (Aug. 4)
After years working a propane job in Saudi Arabia to earn their retirement nest egg, Hank and Peggy Hill return to a changed Arlen, TX., to reconnect with old friends Dale, Boomhauer and Bill. Meanwhile, Bobby is living his dream as a chef in Dallas and enjoying his 20s with his former classmates Connie, Joseph and Chane.
Where all the top choices can be found in one place!
“SEC Football: Any Given Saturday” (Aug. 5)
Get an inside look at the Southeastern Conference during the 2024 season with this documentary series, which offers rare access to the players, coaches and programs that define the sport’s most dominant league. From highstakes games to rivalry week showdowns and the personal journeys behind the game, this series captures the intensity and emotion of every moment.
BY JAY BOBBIN
“The
Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” - Season 3 (Aug. 6)
From creator and executive producer Bruce W. Smith and executive producer Ralph Farquhar, Season 3 finds Penny Proud and her loyal crew embarking on international escapades, wild adventures, and fantastical stops packed with hilarity, heart, and, most of all, discovery.
Q: I was fascinated by Mariska Hargitay’s documentary “My Mom Jayne,” but it didn’t go very deeply into when she started her own acting career. When was that?
A: Since Hargitay’s mother Jayne Mansfield (“The Girl Can’t Help It,” 1956) was the main subject of the HBO and HBO Max film, and that was where director-producer Hargitay wanted to keep the focus, it’s not surprising there was little detail about her own career. However, she noted that she has wanted to take a professional path different than her mother’s, and she started on it with small roles even before attending the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television — and landing them was likely helped by her being named Miss Beverly Hills USA.
The 1986 CBS crime drama “Downtown” was Hargitay’s first series, and the movie “Ghoulies” (1984) and guest shots on such series as ABC’s “Ellen” and “Thirtysomething,” CBS’s “Wiseguy” and NBC’s “Baywatch” (before it went into first-run syndication) and “The Single Guy” were among her other early credits. She also had a recurring role on CBS’s “Falcon Crest” and was a fullfledged series regular on that network’s short-lived “Tequila and Bonetti.”
Durable Powers of Attorney, Health Care Powers of Attorney and Living Wills (Declaration of Desire for
‘Goodfellas’ engage in crime in Martin Scorsese classic
BY JAY BOBBIN
“The Godfather” is considered by many to be the crown jewel of movies about mobsters, but “Goodfellas” is also right up there.
Currently streaming on Peacock, director Martin Scorsese’s 1990 drama based on true events is filled with great performances — including one that earned an Oscar for Joe Pesci — but the style of the film also is one of its “stars.” Based on the book “Wiseguy” by Nicholas Pileggi (who co-wrote the screenplay with Scorsese), the picture traces the career of the real-life Henry Hill (portrayed by Ray Liotta), who was a loyal associate of some underworld bigwigs until circumstances prompted him to turn on them.
Foremost among them: Paul Cicero (Paul Sorvino), the chief of an illegal New York dynasty; and Jimmy Conway (frequent Scorsese collaborator Robert De Niro), the mastermind of many of the group’s schemes. Hill rises quickly under their tutelage, living the high life at a young age to a degree that would make anyone wonder what his profession was — even Karen (Lorraine Bracco), the set-up date who despises him at first but later becomes his wife, wonders about this.
Also pivotal to Hill’s mob existence is Tommy DeVito (Pesci), a bountifully profane henchman with a hair-trigger temper. Many of the most shocking scenes of violence in “Goodfellas” involve Tommy, and Pesci pours everything into the sort of indelibly
memorable performance you can’t imagine anyone else giving. (He would later adapt it to earn laughs when he joined the “Lethal Weapon” franchise.)
Hill starts to question his role in the organization as his own vices expand and as he starts to worry about the stability of Conway — who seems to develop a taste for eliminating anyone who might implicate him in criminal activity. The result is an amazing extended sequence showing a drug-fueled Hill in a whirlwind of trying to deal with personal matters while handling self-serving professional business.
Another hugely notable “Goodfellas” scene is an earlier one that has been emulated numerous times since, with a single, lengthy camera shot following Hill and Karen on a date as they make their way through a nightclub to a front-row table — where performing singer Bobby Vinton sends them a bottle. To consider how much choreographing it took Scorsese and his team to stage that sequence uninterrupted is staggering.
With a superbly chosen soundtrack featuring songs on the order of “Layla” by Derek and the Dominos and “What Is Life” by George Harrison, “Goodfellas” maintains an exciting pace that makes its run time fly by. It’s a classic for the ages, and in the career of a filmmaker who’s certainly made his share of classics, it’s destined to remain an influential standout.
BY JAY BOBBIN
Best AIRPORT MOVIES
“The High and the Mighty” (1954): Passengers on a soon-to-beimperiled flight, including a co-pilot with a troubled history (John Wayne), are shown boarding as this drama opens.
“The V.I.P.s” (1963): London’s Heathrow Airport becomes a longerthan-expected stop for passengers intending to fly during foggy conditions.
One traveler is played by Elizabeth Taylor, whose “Summer Under the Stars” day on Turner Classic Movies this Saturday, Aug. 9, includes this film.
“Sunday in New York” (1963): Early in this romantic comedy, an airline pilot’s (Cliff Robertson) workplace is the setting before his sister (Jane Fonda) arrives for a visit.
“Airport” (1970): Well, of course.
The adaptation of Arthur Hailey’s bestseller spends plenty of time inside a Midwestern airport socked in by a snowstorm, giving space for the personal stories of staff members and passengers to unfold — one being the saga of an elderly, sprightly serial stowaway played by Oscar winner Helen Hayes.
“Airport 1975” (1974): The first of the three “Airport” sequels takes its time maneuvering through Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport as crew members and passengers assemble for a flight that will be interrupted by a midair collision that severely damages the cockpit.
“Airplane!” (1980): Several characters memorably make their way through an airport while desperately trying to buy tickets, dispatching wouldbe solicitors and so forth — with the control tower becoming a major setting of the comedic action later.
“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” (1987): With that title, airports would have to be among the destinations of the mismatched travelers played by Steve Martin and John Candy in this John Hughes comedy.
“Die Hard 2” (1990): A Washington, D.C., airport shut down by terrorists aiming to free a colleague is the setting for the second screen adventure involving New York police detective John McClane (Bruce Willis).
“Love Actually” (2003): This multi-story romantic comedy memorably begins and ends at a British airport, where arriving passengers are greeted by loved ones (with poignant voiceovers by Hugh Grant as England’s prime minister).
“The Terminal” (2004): As the title of this Steven Spielberg-directed comedy-drama suggests, an airport — specifically New York’s JFK — is the principal setting as Tom Hanks plays a foreigner unable to return home, nor enter America legally.
“Up in the Air” (2009): George Clooney’s corporate-downsizer character spends a lot of time in airports, as he travels continually to reduce the staff of companies that hire his firm.
On Wednesdays, we watch Netflix: Ortega, regulars joined by Lady Gaga for Season 2
BY DANA SIMPSON
For any viewers who fancy themselves as crazy, kooky, mysterious or spooky, Netflix has good news: Wednesday, the Addams family’s prodigal daughter, returns to the streamer with more action and deadpan humor than ever before. Premiering the first of its two parts Wednesday, Aug. 6, on the streamer, “Wesdesday” Season 2 snaps right back to it with a second part less than a month later, on Sept. 3.
Returning to her most iconic television role, Jenna Ortega (“Scream,” 2022) stars as moody teen psychic Wednesday Addams, who is ready to return to Nevermore Academy after her Season 1 encounters with a monstrous Hyde (Daniel Himschoot, “Mad Max: Fury Road,” 2015), a sinister secret society and, worst of all, several excessively chipper teenagers. And while Wednesday’s fellow students are even more aggressively interested in her following her heroism in saving their schoolmates from certain death, not everyone is happy to see the braid-clad school saviour back in the hallowed halls of Nevermore.
But it’s not all about Wednesday this season. As happens to many older sisters at some point in their lives, Wednesday’s younger sibling, her
electrokinetically charged brother, Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez, “A Wrinkle in Time,” 2018), joins her at Nevermore, thus dragging the entire Addams family further into her social circle.
Tudum reports that in addition to Pugsley now studying and learning to control his own powers on campus, the siblings’ parents, Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones, “Chicago,” 2002) and Gomez Addams (Luis Guzmán, “Traffic,” 2000), “have reasons to be on campus much more often” than they did in the first season.
Also joining Morticia and Gomez for the occasional school drop-in are Morticia’s mother, Hester Frump (a.k.a. Grandmama), played for the first time by glam icon Joanna Lumley (“Absolutely Fabulous”), and the kids’ enchantingly bizarre Uncle Fester, played once again by “Saturday Night Live” and “Portlandia” comedian Fred Armisen.
Other returning actors include Hunter Doohan (“Your Honor”) as Tyler Galpin; Emma Myers (“A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder”) as Enid Sinclair; Joy Sunday (“Rise,” 2023) as Bianca Barclay; Georgie Farmer (“Evermoor”) as Ajax Petropolus; Moosa Mostafa (“The Last Bus”) as Eugene Ottinger; Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (“Devs”) as Sheriff Deputy Ritchie Santiago; and reportedly, Christina Ricci (“Yellowjackets”) as green-thumbed teacher Marilyn Thornhill. Victor Dorobantu also returns as disembodied hand, Thing.
View from the Couch
“SUNSET BOULEVARD”
One of the most classic screen stories about Hollywood makes its 4K Ultra HD debut, as director and co-writer Billy Wilder’s dark tale paradoxically unfolds in the glittery environs of the shiny show-business capital. The 1950 saga casts William Holden as a struggling screenwriter asked by faded silent-movie star Norma Desmond — played by Gloria Swanson in a truly iconic performance (just watch Carol Burnett’s spoof of the picture) — to fine-tune a script she has created for her intended comeback. The two become more deeply involved, with Holden’s character eventually drawn in closely enough to pay dearly for being a party to Norma’s
Soccer stars: ‘Desperate Housewife’ Eva
Longoria joins the world of football in ‘Necaxa’
BY CAROLINE COLLACUTT
Following the success and popularity of “Welcome to Wrexham,” Hollywood continues to dazzle, entertain and take the sports world by storm in the all-new “Necaxa,” premiering Thursday, Aug. 7, on FXX, with streaming available the next day on Hulu.
sports stories of our time, and what has happened in Wrexham, Wales, is truly magical,” says Nick Grad, president of FX Entertainment. “With Eva Longoria, they’re now teaming to support the dreams and aspirations of the Necaxa fans and Aguascalientes community, too.”
What some fans are most excited for, however, is the addition of a much beloved figure from the music and horror communities alike.
Lady Gaga (“A Star Is Born,” 2018) joins “Wednesday” as Rosaline Rotwood, a teacher at Nevermore Academy. Although very little is known about her character, Entertainment Weekly reported that the superstar’s role would be limited to a guest role in the second half of the season. Season 2 of “Wednesday” also features Steve Buscemi (“Boardwalk Empire”), Billie Piper (“Kaos”), Evie Templeton (“Pinocchio,” 2022), Owen Painter (“Tiny Beautiful Things”), Noah B. Taylor (“Law & Order: Organized Crime”), Thandiwe Newton (“Westworld”) and Christopher Lloyd (“The Addams Family,” 1991), among others.
Don’t miss your chance to get “altogether ooky” with Ortega, Gaga and others when “Wednesday” Season 2 premieres Wednesday, Aug. 6. Part 2 will follow as of Sept. 3.
BY JAY BOBBIN
illusion that she still maintains great fame and influence. Filmmaker Erich von Stroheim is memorable as her fantasy-supporting butler; Nancy Olson, Fred Clark, Jack Webb, Jack Warden (in one of his earliest movie roles) and showman Cecil B. DeMille (as himself) also are in the cast. Several decades later, the picture spawned a stage musical that has done great things for Nicole Scherzinger lately, in the role of Norma in the Broadway revival. **** (Nor rated: AS, V) (Also on DVD and Blu-ray)
“NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH”
A troubled young man (played by Jack Quaid, of “The Boys”) who has trouble discerning between fantasy and reality may be the only hope for a kidnapped woman in this melodrama. Others are skeptical that he really witnessed the abduction, so he turns to a neighbor (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) — a newly retired security guard — for help. The man has his own doubts about the story, until a very real assault makes him believe there’s more veracity to the situation than others are willing to accept. Malin Akerman, who’s also currently in Netflix’s “The Hunting Wives,” plays Quaid’s sister. *** (R: AS, P, V) “FLEETWOOD MAC”
The group’s second eponymous album became one of the seminal
releases in the history of popular music, and the 1975 collection also marked the debuts of guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and vocalist Stevie Nicks with the band. This Blu-ray version reaffirms that the album almost plays like a greatest-hits compilation since it offers such classic hits as “Landslide,” “Say You Love Me,” “Rhiannon” and “Over My Head” — along with such other fan favorites as “Warm Ways” and “Monday Morning,” drummer Mick Fleetwood, bassist John McVie and the latter’s vocalist wife Christine McVie also were in the group at the time. **** (Not rated)
“BETTER OFF DEAD”
A cult favorite, writer-director Savage Steve Holland’s 1985 comedy comes to 4K Ultra HD for the first time. Pretty much the king of disaffected-youth roles at the time, John Cusack plays, of course, a disaffected youth whose major falling-out with his girlfriend (Amanda Wyss) prompts him to consider taking drastic action, until an exchange student (Diane Franklin) gives him new insight into himself. David Ogden Stiers (“M*A*S*H”) and Kim Darby (“True Grit”) portray Cusack’s parents in a cast that also includes Curtis Armstrong (“Revenge of the Nerds”) as the hero’s equally offbeat best friend. Co-star E.G. Daily, of “Smelly Cat” jingle
With “Wrexham” stars Ryan Reynolds (“Deadpool,” 2016) and Rob Mac (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) acting as the show’s executive producers — and as on-screen talent — this next football-filled adventure follows A-lister Eva Longoria (“Desperate Housewives”) as she “sets out to reignite the soul of one of Mexico’s oldest and most storied football clubs, Club Necaxa,” per the series’ logline. Working alongside players in Aguascalientes, Mexico, Longoria hopes to breathe life back into this century-old football club, which has recently relocated after a series of tough seasons.
Utilizing the help of Reynolds and Mac — alongside team investors Al Tylis and Sam Porter — Longoria hopes to share her enthusiasm for the impressive team, once boasted as one of the country’s best, and to garner international interest for a sport beloved around the globe.
“Rob and Ryan helped Wrexham AFC become one of the greatest
fame on “Friends,” performs some tunes for the music score. *** (PG: AS, P, V) (Also on DVD and Blu-ray)
“LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL”
A young woman (portrayed by Ingrid Torelli) who allegedly is a victim of demonic possession becomes the focus of a TV show presented on Halloween in this melodrama, which works in elements of parody of the late-night talk genre. David Dastmalchian plays the host of the program, on which he surrounds the girl with a medium (Fayssal Bazzi), an ex-magician (Ian Bliss) and a parapsychologist (Laura Gordon) — all of whom are among those who try to prove that the supernatural is real, thus qualifying for a big monetary reward. Expectedly, things don’t go as intended during the show, giving credence to the validity of otherworldly events. Veteran actor Michael Ironside of “Top Gun” and “Total Recall” fame is the story’s narrator. *** (R: AS, P, GV) (Also on Blu-ray)
“BRAINSTORM”
Not to be confused with other films with the same title, this 1965 melodrama — one of the latest Blu-ray offerings from the Warner Archive series — is a terrifically noirish tale produced and directed by William Conrad, who starred in
He continues: “As we begin the journey alongside our partners at Disney+ Latin America with ‘Necaxa’ this summer, everyone is excited to see them bring the same love and support to Mexico that they’ll be bringing to the fifth season of ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ as the club heads into the championship; the next chapter of its fairy-tale journey.”
As interest in shows like “Wrexham” continues to grow, Longoria shared her thoughts on the genre with GQ Mexico, stating that “[sports] are the last live event in the world. You have to watch it as it’s happening, and it has everything. The emotion in sports is an intrinsic drama that’s hard to describe: every player has a story, every team has a story, every city has a story … it’s the best kind of stage!”
A thrilling story of dedication and a celebration of athletes near and far, “Necaxa” debuts on FXX Thursday, Aug. 7, with streaming available the next day on Hulu.
the television shows “Cannon” and “Jake and the Fatman” later. Jeffrey Hunter plays a systems expert who prevents a woman (Anne Francis, who had been a guest star on Hunter’s “Temple Houston” TV series) from killing herself when she parks on train tracks as a locomotive approaches; she turns out to be the wife of his company’s owner (Dana Andrews), who isn’t too pleased when they start an affair, leading the new lovers into an intricate plot to get rid of the husband. Viveca Lindfors co-stars, and Conrad has an Alfred Hitchcock-like cameo. *** (Not rated: AS, V) (Also on DVD)
