The Ultimate Guide to Dale Gribble: Unraveling His 13 Most Hilarious Episodes

Summary

Dale Gribble's outrageous conspiracy theories and ridiculous sayings make him the funniest character on King of the Hill.

Fans will have the opportunity to relish Voice actor Johnny Hardwick's iconic depiction of Dale one final time in the highly anticipated revival series. Dale's eccentric escapades, spanning from his eccentric self-employment as an exterminator to his obliviousness about his wife's unfaithfulness, have consistently captivated and delighted fans throughout the years.

The best episodes of King of the Hill that feature Dale Gribble showcase his hilarious character and the talent of voice actor Johnny Hardwick, who will be greatly missed. As a counterpart to Hank's serious demeanor, Dale becomes increasingly eccentric and outrageous as the show progresses. He is known for his comical conspiracy theories and unique perspective on everyday occurrences in Arlen.

Sadly, with Hardwick's passing, the upcoming revival of King of the Hill will serve as a final opportunity for fans to hear his memorable portrayal of Dale. Some of the most memorable King of the Hill episodes revolve around Dale, such as his amusing venture as a self-employed pest control agent and his amusing obliviousness to his wife's infidelity. These episodes have remained popular with fans.

13 Pilot (S1,E1)

The pilot episode of King of the Hill starts off with a well-known scene featuring Dale. Hank and his friends are puzzled by a mysterious problem with Dale's truck, leading Dale to joke, "I know why it's not working. It's a Ford. Do you know what Ford stands for? 'Fix it again, Tony'."

Later, Dale presents another theory, claiming that the pollution controls in Hank's vehicle are not functioning properly. He connects this to his belief that the U.N. is using environmental issues to control independent citizens like himself. He decides to take matters into his own hands and attempts to fix the truck himself, but ends up cutting the brake line and causing it to crash into the garage. From the very beginning of King of the Hill, this animated series establishes its unique and delightful tone, with Dale quickly becoming an eccentric character who promises to bring plenty of entertainment throughout the show's 13 seasons.

12 Loser: A Life's Manual (S12,E22)

In this season 12 episode, the focus is primarily on Luanne's father, who recently got released from prison. Unfortunately, he becomes a repeat offender and quickly gets sent back to prison for life. This situation forces the Hill family to come together and try to reconcile.

On a lighter note, the B-plot follows Dale's attempt to challenge local ordinances by constructing a guard tower without a foundation. Moreover, he ensures it is just under the regulated height of 40 feet. Dale's unwavering dedication to his mischievous plan gives these side stories a memorable touch. It is also worth noting how Dale's preoccupation with outsmarting the government overshadows his consideration for the safety of the structure, shedding light on his character.

11 Texas City Twister (S2,E2)

Dale's character is known for his talkative nature rather than taking action, which adds a humorous touch. When a dangerous tornado hits Arlen, Nancy sees it as an opportunity to advance her career as a news reporter. In contrast, Dale teams up with Boomhauer in the hopes of capturing footage of flying cows to provide Nancy with impressive material.

The situation culminates in a hilarious moment where Dale bravely prepares to face the storm, disregarding his own safety. However, as soon as the first raindrop hits his windshield, he panics and runs away, crying like a frightened child. This scene exemplifies how Dale can effortlessly steal an entire episode with just a brief moment.

10 Peggy's Gone To Pots (S11,E9)

Dale and Peggy are an underrated duo on King of the Hill. Peggy's blind enthusiasm sometimes leads her to get caught up in Dale's wild schemes. In this season-eleven episode, Peggy unknowingly gets involved in a pyramid scheme orchestrated by the Wassanasongs. Meanwhile, Dale finally faces consequences for using the Rusty Shackleford alias repeatedly.

The real Rusty Shackleford catches wind of Dale's actions and sets out to confront him. To deal with this, Peggy and Dale come up with a plan to fake their deaths. As Dale comes up with crazy scenarios for their fake deaths, Peggy supports the idea and shows why they should have collaborated more often.

9 Soldier of Misfortune (S6,E2)

A still from the season six King of the Hill episode Soldier of Misfortune.

Dale's position as president of the gun club is at risk when he accidentally shoots the club's cash register. Hank tries to boost Dale's morale by calling him anonymously and hiring him as a mercenary. However, Dale fails miserably at the task, leading both of them into serious trouble.

This episode not only showcases Dale's hilarious antics but also introduces his infamous "pocket sand" escape strategy, which has gained popularity as a meme. It highlights Dale's entertaining character and the more he becomes engrossed in the mission, the more entertaining it gets. This episode not only focuses on Dale but also ranks among the best episodes of King of the Hill.

8 MegaloDale (S7,E10)

A still from the King of the Hill episode Megalo Dale.

Dale, upset over a rival exterminator stealing his business, eagerly accepts the opportunity to clear out the rat problem at Mega-Lo Mart with Hank's reluctant recommendation. However, Dale's knack for exaggerated imagination leads him to suspect that instead of rats, the famous singer Chuck Mangione is hiding in the store. The idea of Dale hiding in the store after hours and creating his own comical version of "Die Hard" is highly entertaining. It showcases his tendency to make simple situations more extravagant. Ultimately, the hilarious twist unfolds as Dale's suspicion proves to be correct, with Mangione indeed hiding out in the store.

7 Now Who's The Dummy (S5,E12)

In this captivating episode of King of the Hill's fifth season, the focus lies on the intriguing dynamic between Hank, Bobby, and Dale. The narrative unfolds with Bobby adopting ventriloquism as a hobby, much to Hank's initial dismay. Surprisingly, Hank discovers a fondness for Bobby's sports-enthusiast dummy, Chip.

Unfortunately, an unexpected revelation uncovers Dale's deep-rooted fear of dummies, leading him to plot Chip's demise. Dale's comical escapades in planning the assassination yield numerous uproarious moments, including his quest for supplies like "gagging bandannas." Moreover, the episode showcases one of Dale's most memorable achievements, as he successfully destroys Chip and proceeds to chloroform himself, all while believing that Hank wouldn't harm an unconscious man.

6 Of Mice And Little Green Men (S6,E14)

The ongoing joke of Dale's inability to recognize that Joseph is not his biological son is humorously utilized in this episode. As Dale starts to realize the lack of similarities between him and Joseph, suspicion creeps in. Instead of concluding that his wife had an affair, Dale amusingly believes that Joseph may be an extraterrestrial.

The long-running question surrounding Joseph's paternity has been a hilarious background element, and it is satisfying to finally have an episode that delves into this topic, albeit in a comical way. Dale's fixation on conspiracy theories once again causes chaos, but it also reveals his genuine love for Joseph, showcasing his endearing side that is not always apparent.

5 Nine Pretty Darn Angry Men (S3,E07)

Even in a jam-packed episode, Dale proves to be a standout character. The episode cleverly draws inspiration from 12 Angry Men as King of the Hill characters participate in a focus group to evaluate an upgraded version of Hank's old mower.

While everyone else is enthusiastic about the new model, Hank takes it upon himself to convince them otherwise. Dale starts off by using his beloved alias, Rusty Shackleford, but quickly forgets his own name. However, the episode reaches its peak when Dale arrogantly challenges Hank, only to have Hank expose the true intentions of the focus group and their mission to delve into Dale's mindset.

4 Dale To The Chief (S9,E5)

A still from the King of the Hill episode Dale to the Chief.

Dale's eccentricity provided ample comedic material, but the show took a hilarious turn by portraying him as a regular person. After realizing that the government's version of the Kennedy assassination holds more credibility than his own conspiracy theories, Dale abandons his anti-government beliefs and becomes a patriotic citizen. Interestingly enough, he discovers that the 50 stars on the U.S. flag represent the 50 states.

However, Dale's finest moment occurs towards the end. Hank needs to update his license information but encounters obstacles at the DMV due to bureaucratic red tape. As a responsible taxpayer now, Dale boldly demands "thirty-six dollars worth of service" from the clerk. It's amusing to witness Dale, a traditionally unconventional character, struggling in his newfound role as a respectable citizen. This clever twist adds a fresh dimension to his personality, providing a delightful source of entertainment.

3 King Of The Ant Hill (S1,E11)

Another fun aspect of Dale is that the show occasionally portrays him as a villain. Hank is determined to have a perfect lawn for his upcoming Cinco de Mayo party, but Dale, upset that his neighbor declined his services as an exterminator, decides to introduce fire ants to the yard. The fire ants quickly take over and completely destroy Hank's lawn, leading to a dramatic confrontation between Hank and Dale upon discovery. Dale's mean-spirited and destructive nature adds excitement to the show, especially since the focus is not on making him likable despite being one of Hank's closest friends. Although things end well for the buddies by the end of the episode, it is entertaining to witness Dale's vengeful side.

2 Dog Dale Afternoon (S3,E20)

Dale borrows Hank's lawn mower but is caught driving it around town. In response, Dale decides to purchase a new, expensive mower and boasts about it, annoying his friends. Hank and his companions retaliate by stealing Dale's mower and lead him on a pursuit to retrieve it, resulting in a dramatic confrontation with the police. This incident showcases Dale's villainous and unstable persona, highlighting his need for guidance from his more responsible friends. As the King of the Hill revival approaches, it is desired that Dale's darker side remains prominent.

1 The Exterminator (S5,E14)

After being exposed to toxic gas while working, Dale believes he must quit his job as an exterminator to prioritize his health. He finds employment at Stik-Tek, an adhesive manufacturing company, but struggles to adjust to the oppressive atmosphere.

Nevertheless, Dale's hardened demeanor proves useful when he is tasked with terminating a colleague, leading to a promotion that solely focuses on firing people. As expected, the newfound power gets to his head, resulting in yet another demonstration of Dale Gribble's inability to handle even the smallest amount of authority. This episode also provides an intriguing glimpse into Dale's unusual nature as he navigates this unfamiliar environment.