Bystand Me
Encyclopedia
"Bystand Me" is the 188th episode of the Fox
comedy King of the Hill
, and the 2nd episode of the 10th season, although originally produced for the shortened 9th season. The episode's title is a reference to either the song or film Stand by Me
.
makes Bobby
take a paper route when the new owners of the Arlen Bystander fire the homeless who previously delivered for them. Bobby, not wanting to wake up early or do the work, agrees to let Dale
do it. Dale does a poor job, ending up with extra papers, papers on roofs, and papers disassembling in his face.
Peggy
, learning about the new management change, goes to the Bystander to pitch a new column. On her way there, she spills coffee on herself. Minh dismisses this, saying the solution is to soak it in Lime Juice. Peggy, in a hurry, simply changes clothes.
When she gets to the Bystander, she finds out that the new management is looking for a columnist to write a household hints column. Since Peggy knows nothing about the subject, she provides crossword puzzle
answers to Minh in exchange for hints from Kahn's mother Laoma. After Minh and Laoma get into an argument, Peggy is left with no more hints. Unable to think of any new hints, she comes up with the idea to mix ammonia
and bleach
to create a brand-new cleaner. Hank is horrified since he knows that mixing ammonia and bleach is the recipe for mustard gas (see "Goofs"), something Cotton
taught him. But the Arlen Bystander is already being printed for the next morning, when Peggy's deadly column will be revealed. Hank and Peggy set out to stop the newspapers from being delivered, with the help of the former delivery man, "Ol' Harve", and his buddies. They complete their mission, although Hank learns that Dale is delivering Bobby's newspapers.
(though the IMDB page for this episode says chloramine, which is incorrect), which is also highly toxic, but not in the same way as mustard gas .
At the end of the episode as the camera pans out of the Arlen Bystander window, a Texas flag is shown flying upside down. This may have been intentional to allude to the previous conversation about fact-checking.
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
comedy King of the Hill
King of the Hill
King of the Hill is an American animated dramedy series created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, that ran from January 12, 1997, to May 6, 2010, on Fox network. It centers on the Hills, a working-class Methodist family in the fictional small town of Arlen, Texas...
, and the 2nd episode of the 10th season, although originally produced for the shortened 9th season. The episode's title is a reference to either the song or film Stand by Me
Stand by Me
Stand by Me may refer to:*Stand by Me , a 1986 film directed by Rob Reiner*Stand by Me , a 1998 Chinese drama TV series*Stand by Me, a 2002 album by Ernie Haase & Signature Sound*Stand by Me, a 2003 musical by Ya-ya-yah...
.
Plot
HankHank Hill
Henry Rutherford "Hank" Hill Age 50 animated series King of the Hill. Hank lives in Arlen, Texas and works at the fictional Strickland Propane selling propane and propane accessories. Hank's voice is provided by series creator Mike Judge. The Economist named Hank Hill as one of the wisest people...
makes Bobby
Bobby Hill (King of the Hill)
Robert Jeffrey "Bobby" Hill is a character on the animated series King of the Hill and is voiced by Pamela Adlon. Bobby is the only child of Hank and Peggy Hill.- Biography :...
take a paper route when the new owners of the Arlen Bystander fire the homeless who previously delivered for them. Bobby, not wanting to wake up early or do the work, agrees to let Dale
Dale Gribble
Dale Alvin Gribble is a fictional character in the animated series King of the Hill. and is voiced by Johnny Hardwick . He is an exterminator, bounty hunter, smoker, gun fanatic, and paranoid believer of almost all conspiracy theories and urban legends...
do it. Dale does a poor job, ending up with extra papers, papers on roofs, and papers disassembling in his face.
Peggy
Peggy Hill
Margaret J. "Peggy" Hill is a fictional character in the American animated series King of the Hill.-Biography:Peggy is the matriarch of the Hill family, and the wife of series protagonist Hank Hill. She wears rimless glasses and is generally seen wearing cut-off blouses and culottes...
, learning about the new management change, goes to the Bystander to pitch a new column. On her way there, she spills coffee on herself. Minh dismisses this, saying the solution is to soak it in Lime Juice. Peggy, in a hurry, simply changes clothes.
When she gets to the Bystander, she finds out that the new management is looking for a columnist to write a household hints column. Since Peggy knows nothing about the subject, she provides crossword puzzle
Crossword Puzzle
For the common puzzle, see CrosswordCrossword Puzzle was the second to last album made by The Partridge Family and was not one of the most popular albums. It was released in 1973 and did not produce a U.S. single. This album was finally released on CD in 2003 on Arista's BMG Heritage label...
answers to Minh in exchange for hints from Kahn's mother Laoma. After Minh and Laoma get into an argument, Peggy is left with no more hints. Unable to think of any new hints, she comes up with the idea to mix ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
and bleach
Bleach
Bleach refers to a number of chemicals that remove color, whiten, or disinfect, often via oxidation. Common chemical bleaches include household chlorine bleach , lye, oxygen bleach , and bleaching powder...
to create a brand-new cleaner. Hank is horrified since he knows that mixing ammonia and bleach is the recipe for mustard gas (see "Goofs"), something Cotton
Cotton Hill
Colonel Cotton Lyndal Hill was an American fictional character in the animated series King of the Hill. He is the father of Hank Hill, Good Hank Hill or "G.H.", and Junichiro . He is also a World War II veteran who had his shins "blowed off by a Japanman's machine gun" in combat, and later had his...
taught him. But the Arlen Bystander is already being printed for the next morning, when Peggy's deadly column will be revealed. Hank and Peggy set out to stop the newspapers from being delivered, with the help of the former delivery man, "Ol' Harve", and his buddies. They complete their mission, although Hank learns that Dale is delivering Bobby's newspapers.
Goofs
Despite what Hank says, mixing ammonia and bleach does not actually create mustard gas. However, the combination of ammonia and bleach does create HydrazineHydrazine
Hydrazine is an inorganic compound with the formula N2H4. It is a colourless flammable liquid with an ammonia-like odor. Hydrazine is highly toxic and dangerously unstable unless handled in solution. Approximately 260,000 tons are manufactured annually...
(though the IMDB page for this episode says chloramine, which is incorrect), which is also highly toxic, but not in the same way as mustard gas .
At the end of the episode as the camera pans out of the Arlen Bystander window, a Texas flag is shown flying upside down. This may have been intentional to allude to the previous conversation about fact-checking.