King of the Hill

"King of the Hill" is the twenty-third episode of Season 9.
==Synopsis==
After embarrassing Bart during a game of Capture the Flag at a church picnic, Homer decides to get in shape (despite everyone else saying that Homer can't commit to a diet and exercise regimen), and his newly-sculpted muscles from an energy bar and exercise makes him the perfect candidate for a publicity stunt, in which he climbs the tallest mountain in Springfield, The Murderhorn.
== Full Story ==
The family goes to a church picnic. When the kids start a game of capture the flag, Bart chooses Homer to be on his team. Soon, Bart realizes Homer is not physically fit. Moments later, Homer collapses, with the kids deciding to pelt him with eggs, with Homer being so exhausted from his exerting himself that he could barely even roll over, let alone defend himself from the children, causing Bart to become disappointed in his father. That night, Homer thinks about how ashamed Bart was in him and, at midnight, he sneaks out to exercise. A later night, Homer is running and chooses to stop at the Kwik-E-Mart, where he discovers an energy bar called "Powersauce", which he starts to eat regularly.
During another one of his late-night runs, he finds a 24-hour gym. There, he meets Rainier Wolfcastle who becomes his fitness coach. Wolfcastle is successful in training Homer and, in two months, Homer is slimmer and has defined muscles. Homer then reveals to the family that he has been secretly working out. The family is impressed at Homer's improved shape, including Bart. He goes with Homer to the gym one day, where Rainier is being asked by two "Powersauce" representatives to climb the tallest mountain in Springfield as a publicity stunt. When Rainier refuses, Bart informs them that Homer will climb it, and when he is asked, Homer agrees to do the climb.
When he finds out that Homer is climbing the mountain, Grampa convinces Homer not to do it, as he attempted to when he was younger, and was betrayed by his friend C. W. McAllister. Homer ignores him and publicly begins his climbing. He is aided by two Sherpas as guides, who were instructed to drag Homer up the mountain as he slept. During one of these nights, Homer wakes up to discover that he was being secretly dragged, and fires the two Sherpas. After a loss of communication with Homer, many, including the "Powersauce" representatives, predict Homer's death. Homer continues to climb, and when he believes he has reached the top, only sees that he has made it to a plateau of the mountain and that there is at least another 2000 feet to the top, and he does not have enough resources to reach that height. Homer enters a small cave on the side of the mountain and discovers the frozen corpse of McAllister and his diary. Homer reads that it was actually his father that betrayed McAllister by stealing his oxygen, and he even attempted to eat him. Ashamed of himself and his father, Homer climbs out and sticks his flag on the plateau, causing mountain's peak to break off, therefore making the plateau Homer was standing on the peak. Proud of his work, Homer uses McAllister's body as a sled to go down the mountain, where he is greeted by a crowd. Upon seeing the body of the man he tried to cannibalize, as well the entire crowd exchanging knowing looks at Grampa, Grampa runs away after his dentures slip out and are a perfect match for the bite mark.
Homer shows Bart the flag atop the peak and Bart sees only a pole indicating the flag fell off, but the pole shows Homer still reached the top and once again, causes Bart to be proud of him making Homer happy...that is, until Marge observes his wallet on the peak.
==Broadcast History==
===United States===
Broadcast date(s)	Channel aired
*May 3, 1998
*August 30, 1998	
*December 27, 2020	
==Behind the Laughter==
=== Production ===
The episode was pitched and written by John Swartzwelder. The writing staff had to find a new angle for Homer's weight problems, as the idea had been used several times before. This was emphasized in this episode when Marge does not seem to care that Homer is going to try to lose weight again.
In the scenes when the Sherpas were speaking, the show staff went to great lengths to find translations. Originally, the producers of the movie adaption of the book Into Thin Air were contacted to help. They were shocked at the trouble the staff was going to, as they replied that they had simply made up translations in the movie. The staff then had to consult various experts by telephone.
=== Reception ===
The authors of the book I Can't Believe it's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide, Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, thought well of the episode, calling it, "A quite charming little adventure in which, in an effort to impress Bart, Homer undertakes a dangerous adventure and comes through successfully. It's nice because just for once, to all intents and purposes, Homer actually succeeds in something."
== Citations ==
fr:L'Abominable Homer des neiges
pl:King of the Hill
pt:O rei da montanha
Category:Homer episodes
Category:Episodes featuring guest stars
Category:Sport-themed Episodes
Category:Rainier Wolfcastle Episodes
Category:Bart episodes
Category:Grampa Episodes
Category:Parodies
Category:Written by John Swartzwelder
Category:Directed by Steven Dean Moore
Category:Highly Rated Episodes
Category:Death Episodes
Category:Unusual episodes
Category:History
Category:Film Roman