King of the Hill (The Simpsons)

Brendan Fraser as Brad
Steven Weber as Neil

"King of the Hill" is the twenty-third episode in the ninth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on May 3, 1998. It was written by John Swartzwelder and directed by Steven Dean Moore, and guest stars Brendan Fraser and Steven Weber. The episode sees Homer trying to climb a large mountain to impress Bart after he humiliates him at a church picnic with his lack of fitness.

After his obesity embarrasses Bart at a church picnic, Homer attempts to lose weight. He soon discovers Power Sauce, an energy bar which he starts to eat regularly.

At a gym, Homer meets Rainier Wolfcastle who becomes his fitness coach. In two months, Homer is healthier and reveals what he has been doing to his family. At the gym, Rainier is being asked by two Power Sauce representatives to climb the tallest mountain in Springfield, "The Murderhorn", as a publicity stunt. When Rainier refuses, Homer takes on the challenge.

He is aided by two Sherpas as guides, who were instructed to drag Homer up the mountain as he sleeps. During one of these nights, Homer wakes up to discover that he is being secretly dragged, and fires the two Sherpas. Homer soon makes it to the summit and plants a flagpole. Rejoining the crowd, Bart is proud of Homer.

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.