How close is the "King of the Hill" Cartoon to Austin, TX? (Dallas: homes, live)

[atxcio]

I had heard somewhere a while back, that Arlen was a hybrid of Austin and Garland (huge, generic suburb of Dallas). It was physically similar to Garland (or really any older Dallas suburb with huge amounts of 70's and 80's built tract houses) but geographically closer to Austin / Central Texas.

Having lived in the DFW area awhile, I can tell you those older suburbs really do resemble the KOTH setting... alleys (which I don't see in Austin), flat, older tract housing with modest value. Folks who might fancy a few acres in the country, but happen to live on a tiny lot in a subdivision instead. Driveway culture -- not much else to do in the neighborhood but hang out in the driveway/yard.

And the propane thing... dunno about you, but as I would drive from Dallas to Austin, along I35 just north as you enter Austin... there was a little office building with a sign like "Texas Propane Association" or something... it was on like a little hill on the west side of the highway... for some reason, I always noticed it. Maybe Mike Judge did too.

[ITChick]

Originally Posted by TheHarvester

I think it's a good preview of life in Texas. People who hate the characters in KoTH should NOT move to Texas!

Interesting! I had always wondered that.

Well, since I really love the show, then hopefully I should love Texas too!

[ITChick]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

We don't have Texas accents in Austin, so I don't think it could be Austin.

Interesting! I remember watching the old MTV show "Austin City Limits", and noticed that no one on the show had any kind of southern accent.

[ITChick]

Originally Posted by mrsengle

I LOVE KoTH! Watch it every night! I have a few quotes that are my favorite:

1. Is there anything that beer can't do?
2. Ah, Ronald Reagan. God I miss voting for that man!
3. I sell propane and propane accessories. (I think of that every time I pass the Texas Propane Gas Association heading south on I-35!)
4. Why would anyone do drugs when they can just mow their lawn?

LOL!

It's too early in the morning here for me to remember any exact quotes, but the one thing that always makes me laugh is how Hank introduces himself to others:

"Hank Hill, Strickland Propane".

[ITChick]

Originally Posted by OntheMoveAGAIN

"We don't go down Aisle 8G Connie"

Oh, I remember that quote, but please refresh my memory as to what episode that was from!

[TheHarvester]

Originally Posted by ITChick

I remember watching the old MTV show "Austin City Limits", and noticed that no one on the show had any kind of southern accent.

ACL is a PBS show, but MTV did a Real World series in Austin, plus a show called "Austin Stories" which was pretty bad. They also held their first annual extreme sporting event here, I don't recall what it was named though. They built a gigantic ski slope in Zilker Park in Austin, it was so weird! Complete with fake snow. It was a fun event, they had a lot of good music.

As for accents and other stereotypes, there are definitely pervasive accents in small towns and rural areas and more among "blue collar" workers. The accent varies from east to west and north to south, it's a huge state with a lot of subcultures.

One of the lame stereotypes about Texas is the cowboy thing. When CNBC did a live broadcast from downtown Austin a few years ago, the anchor (Jim Kramer? Can't recall who it was) was embarrassed because the CNBC honks made him wear cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. He was the only person in central Austin dressed like that. We don't herd cattle in the cities here, and most cowboys wear baseball-style caps anyway. But there is the occasional guy in new tight-fitting Wrangler jeans, a well-worn cowboy hat, custom boots, walking bow-legged... they're fun characters to see and you always know they're visiting from one of the small towns cuz nobody in Austin dresses like that.

[OntheMoveAGAIN]

Originally Posted by ITChick

Oh, I remember that quote, but please refresh my memory as to what episode that was from!

Hank was left minding Connie on his own one day and she started menstruating and he had to take her down aisle 8 G to get products for her. Apparently he had never gone down as far as Aisle 8G ever before in his life and he was frightened

[ITChick]

Originally Posted by TheHarvester

ACL is a PBS show, but MTV did a Real World series in Austin, plus a show called "Austin Stories" which was pretty bad.

My Bad! It's been a while since I've seen the show, but you're right, it was "Austin Stories". Why I got it confused with ACL, well I'll blame it on lack of sleep.

Originally Posted by TheHarvester

One of the lame stereotypes about Texas is the cowboy thing. When CNBC did a live broadcast from downtown Austin a few years ago, the anchor (Jim Kramer? Can't recall who it was) was embarrassed because the CNBC honks made him wear cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. He was the only person in central Austin dressed like that. We don't herd cattle in the cities here, and most cowboys wear baseball-style caps anyway. But there is the occasional guy in new tight-fitting Wrangler jeans, a well-worn cowboy hat, custom boots, walking bow-legged... they're fun characters to see and you always know they're visiting from one of the small towns cuz nobody in Austin dresses like that.

I had always thought that because on my previous trips to Dallas/Ft. Worth and Houston, I've never met or seen anyone with the hat or boots in any city place I visited. Media honchos can be so stupid sometimes with their clueless stereotypes.

[TexasGirl@Heart]

Originally Posted by ITChick

I had always thought that because on my previous trips to Dallas/Ft. Worth and Houston, I've never met or seen anyone with the hat or boots in any city place I visited. Media honchos can be so stupid sometimes with their clueless stereotypes.

I disagree...Every time I visit Fort Worth...I feel like I stepped into a western movie scene. There are men wearing wranglers, boots and hats. There are many men riding their horses right down the main drag near the stockyards. It is a real cowboy town.

[love roses]

Yeah, fort worth is more cowtown. Houston, you won't see anyone dressed like that either, unless they are at a western themed event or out dancing. I love the variety of accents you can find in Texas. The northern Gulf coast, Southern Gulf coast, Valley, West Texas, Central Texas, North Texas/Dallas area.