Fox announced Friday that Hank, Peggy and Bobby will be continuing on as always now that King of the Hill has been renewed for a 13th season. For now, the network has ordered 13 episodes.
There had been some doubt as to whether the stalwart sitcom, the second-longest-running animated show ever in prime time, had enough oomph left for another go-round but, hey, if ER can do it…
King of the Hill, created by Greg Daniels and Beavis and Butt-head mastermind Mike Judge, premiered in 1997 and took home the Emmy for Outstanding Animated Series in 1999 (not exactly matching the nine wins racked up by The Simpsons over the years, but still one more triumph in that category than Family Guy).
Although there's been no official word yet, King of the Hill's renewal seemingly will keep Fox's existing Sunday-night animation block intact, assuming The Simpsons returns for a record 20th season and that Family Guy, which marked its 100th episode in November, and American Dad are invited back, as well.
"I honestly don't see any end in sight," Simpsons creator Matt Groening said in 2006 after his show was picked up for a 19th season, one shy of Gunsmoke's all-time record.
"I think it's possible that the show will become too financially cumbersome. but right now, the show is creatively, I think, as good or better than it's ever been. The animation is incredibly detailed and imaginative, and the stories do things that we haven't done before. So creatively there's no reason to quit."
Fox is also putting together a spinoff revolving around Peter Griffin's dopey and sweet-natured (yet surprisingly forceful at times) pal Cleveland, but hasn't given a timeframe for its premiere.