I’ll tell you whut, we know perfectly well that King of the Hill is coming back thanks to Hulu. Hear me out — the timing couldn’t be more perfect. We need to remember that our discourse is dominated by an extreme, and visiting Arlen reminds us that most people are just people, trying to get by and stumbling through right and wrong no matter how old they are.
But this is about Comic-Con, and Hulu always knocks it out of the park with their animation installations outside the convention center. They’re pushing the King of the Hill revival hard, and this activation looks fun. My only small disappointment is that it looks seems the rest of their animated series won’t be represented. What I’ve loved in the past is discovering one I’m not watching and becoming hooked. (Cheers to Krapopolis and Grimsburg.)
Still this has everything you could ask — games, prizes (they don’t skimp, people), photo ops, food (possibly authentic Texas BBQ cooked over a propane-fueled fire), and hydration.
Here’s what’s happening outside the convention center, located at the Bayfront’s Parking Lot (Fifth Ave Landing – Lot A1) – 600 Convention Way, San Diego, CA 92101 starting July 24 at 11:30am – 7pm, July 25-26 from 9:30am-7pm daily, and July 27 from 9:30am–5pm.
Alamo Pong: Guests will get a chance to partake in a game of ‘Alamo Pong’, participating in some friendly competition in hopes of winning a prize and claiming Alamo Pong championship. Large-scale 2D cutouts of the King of the Hill’s beloved characters will be stationed throughout the space for special photo opportunities.
Lawn Mower Photo Op: Guests have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to picture themselves in the world of King of the Hill. The Lawn Mower photo opportunity moment features the iconic Hill residence, where guests can pose on the front lawn with large-scale 2D cutouts of the beloved Hill family, ride the family lawn mower, and ‘drive’ through Arlen, Texas.
Mega Lo Mart Customization Hat Station: Visit the Mega Lo Mart, an Arlen staple, to customize your own Trucker hat with special patches, unique to King of the Hill. With an array of hats and colors to choose from, guests will be fitting in with the citizens of Arlen in no time! (Editor’s note: As I almost always forget to wear a hat in the sun, this may be what I look forward to most.)
Water Tower: Quench your thirst with a crisp can of Alamo water under the Arlen water tower. Not only does the water tower serve as a beacon of Arlen, Texas – it will also be a rehydration point for attendees. Guests will receive cold-canned water in Alamo branded aluminum cans. You can choose to drink it to quench your thirst or take it home as a souvenir.
Rhinestein’s Cowboy Boot Toss: Visit Rhinestein’s Cowboy storefront for a game of boot toss. Guests will be given 2 pairs of oversized, animated-style boots with the goal of tossing the open side of the boot over a stake in front of the store. The lucky winners will receive prizes exclusive to the activation.
Backyard Cookout: Unwind in the Hill’s Backyard with a backyard cookout. Guests can refuel and rest at umbrellas and picnic tables with the Hill family. Texas-inspired BBQ bites will be served all day, keeping guests in the world of Arlen. Guests will be invited to participate in lawn games such as cornhole, and pose with photo opportunities from the show, like Dale’s Dead Bug van and more! There will be a large grill playing clips from the previous and new season of the show, for guests to enjoy while relaxing.
My wife and I will be taking a stroll through next week, and we’ll report back from the other side.
