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King of the Hill in the sense that they are presented as basically being "real" people living in the real world. The Simpsons is seen as having been "real" at first, but even its first three seasons: Homer Simpson was exhibited as a "Missing Link", Lisa Simpson brought down a Congressman, and Bart was hailed as a hero in France. That doesn't normally happen in families.
Except for ones like Bill dating former governor Ann Richards or Hank playing guitar with Willie Nelson the characters on King of the Hill pretty much live in the real world. Even in those episodes nothing both lasting and implausible happens. Hank does not ever meet or do anything with Mr. Nelson again and Bill only seems to know Ann Richards for that one episode. Hank never goes into space or wins a Grammy or whatever. Even when Peggy falls out of a plane and lives it's not like she's magically fine the next episode. Instead she had to go through several episodes worth of rehabilitation. Blue collar characters mostly talk like blue-collar characters and not like people who went to Dartmouth but have went "slumming." (An exception to this is that the characters, even the guy who threatened a sex-ed teacher, are universally pro-gay. I'm guessing they felt they couldn't portray the range of views among blue-collar Republican-leaning people without making the characters too hateful to some viewers) Also King of the Hill did a fair amount of research to make it like "real Texas" and not necessarily to make it "topical." In some ways, for what it's portraying, I think King of the Hill is more real than many/most live action sitcoms.
That said the culture King of the Hill cast is portraying is a sub-set and likely much more conservative (small-c) than is average. So two-parent homes are more common in it than I think is the case in average America. Also one-child families are way too common on "Rainey Street." So in cultural terms I might put The Simpsons as maybe a bit more normal in many respects. The kids are way too smart, but I think averaged out the family's outlook is maybe more moderate and their behaviors imperfect in a somewhat typical way. (I mean when you ignore the zaniest behaviors, I mean like the tenor/tone) Also the "Anytown" aspect mentioned, even if Portland is largely the basis.
The McFarlane shows, taking aside the fact I don't really like them, have in my mind always made it clear they are something of a fantasy or satire. Family Guy began with a talking dog, a baby who could invent a time machine, and an heiress who married a fat slob. American Dad began even further from reality with an extraterrestrial character and a Dad who's a government agent. Looked at the most positively I think they are about expressing himself and his writers, and what they find funny or valuable, rather than reflecting any kind of reality. They might incidentally portray some uniquely New England things you see nowhere else, but I don't think that's meant to mean they represent New England.
I love that show man. Have every episode of FG. I've just never been to RI before to say. I always thought FG was more of a blend with minor portrayal and a lot more shenanigans. But now that I think about it, they do reference "Rhode Island" so much from the way they talk to the way they life daily life. (Minus Peter's stupid schemes!)
That is the amazing city of Providence in the background of the Griffin's household.
-Peter is your satirized blue collar New England laborer-your average RIer [I went to college in the state-he's dead on]
-Lois is the Newport heiress
-Brian is your typical East Coast snob-educated, liberal elitist
The rest of the characters aren't specifically any stereotype pertaining to NE, but Americans in general.
But the are always drinking beer at a local pub. Stuff like that.
The most realistic show of the four listed is easily King of the Hill imho. It is also my favorite. I watch KOTH every night lol. I don't know why I like it so much but I do.
king of the hill is the most realistic of the four by FAR, and is a pretty good representative of middle america. in the episodes i've seen, i can't remember seeing any cultural traits that are unique to texas or the south for that matter
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