Dale to the Chief
Encyclopedia
"Dale to the Chief" is the 176th episode in the Fox animated
situation comedy
series King of the Hill
and was the 5th episode of the 9th season. The episode's title refers to the American presidential anthem "Hail to the Chief
".
's rambling conspiracy theories
while waiting on his renewed driver's license. When it arrives, he is angered to discover that they have mistakenly listed him as a female. Later that evening, Joseph has a bad dream, and Dale reads him a "bedtime story" - the Warren Commission
report on John F. Kennedy
's assassination
. Joseph asks questions which prompt Dale to double-check some facts in the appendix, and his own miniature recreation leads him to the stunning conclusion that the government might have actually been telling the truth.
While Bill
and Boomhauer
tease Hank about his license, Dale begins having a breakdown over the threat to his conspiracy theories. Hank goes to the Department of Public Safety
to get his license changed, but they give him the runaround, citing their complicated procedures and involvement with the Department of Homeland Security. Dale goes to Dealey Plaza
in Dallas
and is overwhelmed by the volume of crackpots espousing their own JFK theories, until a friendly policeman helps him out, and the officer's American flag pin renews Dale's faith in the government. Dale returns to the alley filled with fanatical patriotism
, and defends the post office
when Hank complains that they lost his application to fix his license.
Dale begins doing a number of patriotic activities, including filing a real tax return for the first time. Hank tries to get his license changed again, but they claim they need medical proof of his gender, and his doctor requires a battery of tests to verify his gender, furthering his wait. In the meantime, Dale paints a huge American flag on his roof, and Hank's angry venting about the government's screw-up prompts Dale to call Homeland Security and report Hank as a possible terrorist. Although the agent dismisses the idea, the call finally prompts Hank to break off his friendship with Dale.
Hank reaches his breaking point when the gender
issue affects his mail from the Texas Propane Association, and vows to go down to the DPS and get the matter resolved by any means necessary. Dale gloats to Nancy about calling the police to catch Hank threatening a public official, but she reminds him of Hank's steadfast friendship over the years. At the DPS office, Hank prepares to threaten them to change his license, but Dale shows up at the last minute and uses his vast knowledge of government officials to intimidate them into fixing the mistake. Hank and Dale make up, and Dale must now reconcile his new beliefs with the fact that the government was in fact wrong.
situation comedy
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
series 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 was the 5th episode of the 9th season. The episode's title refers to the American presidential anthem "Hail to the Chief
Hail to the Chief
"Hail to the Chief" is a march primarily associated with the President of the United States. Its playing accompanies the appearance of the President at many public appearances. For major official occasions, the United States Marine Band and other military ensembles generally are the performers, so...
".
Plot
Hank dismisses another of DaleDale 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...
's rambling conspiracy theories
Conspiracy theory
A conspiracy theory explains an event as being the result of an alleged plot by a covert group or organization or, more broadly, the idea that important political, social or economic events are the products of secret plots that are largely unknown to the general public.-Usage:The term "conspiracy...
while waiting on his renewed driver's license. When it arrives, he is angered to discover that they have mistakenly listed him as a female. Later that evening, Joseph has a bad dream, and Dale reads him a "bedtime story" - the Warren Commission
Warren Commission
The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, known unofficially as the Warren Commission, was established on November 27, 1963, by Lyndon B. Johnson to investigate the assassination of United States President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963...
report on John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
's assassination
John F. Kennedy assassination
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, was assassinated at 12:30 p.m. Central Standard Time on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas...
. Joseph asks questions which prompt Dale to double-check some facts in the appendix, and his own miniature recreation leads him to the stunning conclusion that the government might have actually been telling the truth.
While Bill
Bill Dauterive
Bill Dauterive, born Gillaume Fontaine de la Tour D'Haute Rive is a fictional character on the Fox animated series King of the Hill...
and Boomhauer
Boomhauer
Jeff Dexter Boomhauer III, almost always referred to as simply Boomhauer, is a fictional character in the animated series King of the Hill. The character is voiced by series creator Mike Judge, and is known for his nearly incomprehensible speech....
tease Hank about his license, Dale begins having a breakdown over the threat to his conspiracy theories. Hank goes to the Department of Public Safety
Texas Department of Public Safety
The Texas Department of Public Safety is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The DPS is responsible for statewide law enforcement and vehicle regulation. The Public Safety Commission oversees the DPS. Its five members are appointed by the Governor of Texas and confirmed by the...
to get his license changed, but they give him the runaround, citing their complicated procedures and involvement with the Department of Homeland Security. Dale goes to Dealey Plaza
Dealey Plaza
Dealey Plaza , in the historic West End district of downtown Dallas, Texas , is the location of the assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963...
in Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
and is overwhelmed by the volume of crackpots espousing their own JFK theories, until a friendly policeman helps him out, and the officer's American flag pin renews Dale's faith in the government. Dale returns to the alley filled with fanatical patriotism
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
, and defends the post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
when Hank complains that they lost his application to fix his license.
Dale begins doing a number of patriotic activities, including filing a real tax return for the first time. Hank tries to get his license changed again, but they claim they need medical proof of his gender, and his doctor requires a battery of tests to verify his gender, furthering his wait. In the meantime, Dale paints a huge American flag on his roof, and Hank's angry venting about the government's screw-up prompts Dale to call Homeland Security and report Hank as a possible terrorist. Although the agent dismisses the idea, the call finally prompts Hank to break off his friendship with Dale.
Hank reaches his breaking point when the gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
issue affects his mail from the Texas Propane Association, and vows to go down to the DPS and get the matter resolved by any means necessary. Dale gloats to Nancy about calling the police to catch Hank threatening a public official, but she reminds him of Hank's steadfast friendship over the years. At the DPS office, Hank prepares to threaten them to change his license, but Dale shows up at the last minute and uses his vast knowledge of government officials to intimidate them into fixing the mistake. Hank and Dale make up, and Dale must now reconcile his new beliefs with the fact that the government was in fact wrong.
Quotes
- Dale (as a DHS agent pulls up in a green Ford TaurusFord TaurusThe Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...
): Whoa! A black SuburbanChevrolet SuburbanChevrolet offered a station wagon body, built on the 1/2 ton truck frame. This model was specifically built for National Guard units and Civilian Conservation Corps units. Much of the body was constructed from wood, and could seat up to eight occupants....
! The new models are much smaller and greener than last year's.
- Dale: Why should I do that? He's a threat to the government! The one that makes sure my air is clean and that my food has only an acceptable amount of rat feces in it.
- Dale: I'm your worst nightmare: I have a three-line phone and nothing at all to do with my time!