A couple of hours earlier than I used to be scheduled to reasonable the “King of the Hill” reunion/revival panel final Friday at Austin’s ATX TV Competition, I obtained to look at the primary two episodes of the sequence’ extremely anticipated upcoming return. A lot of the present’s foremost characters are again, however have aged since we final noticed them in 2009: Hank and Peggy are retired, and Bobby is now a profitable 21-year-old sushi chef.

Among the many supporting characters, in Episode 2 we see neighbor Nancy Gribble (voiced by Ashley Gardner) – in addition to the item of her not-so-secret love affair, John Redcorn (voiced by Jonathan Joss). Gardner and Joss weren’t included on the ATX panel, because it was meant to be a small gathering led by creators Mike Decide (additionally the voices of Hank Hill and Boomhauer) and Greg Daniels. Additionally on stage have been simply three further actors: Pamela Adlon (who performs Bobby Hill), Toby Huss (who’s taking up as Dale Gribble) and Lauren Tom (whose Connie has a distinguished function within the new season).

That’s why Joss wasn’t requested to be part of the panel — however apparently he was fairly miffed about it. About 37 minutes in, I started to debate the 2023 loss of life of author and star Johnny Hardwick, who had voiced the conspiracy theory-minded neighbor Dale because the present’s starting. Find a alternative for Hardwick, Decide and Daniels determined to maintain it within the household and faucet Huss (who voiced Khan and Cotton Hill within the present’s unique run) to take over as Dale.

“The truth that you guys trusted me to do his voice once more is actually humbling,” Huss stated. “It’s with a number of love and respect for that man, as a result of he laid down a extremely fantastic goofball character. The character was a nut, however he had a number of bizarre coronary heart to him, and that’s a credit score to Johnny. We love our man, Johnny, and so unhappy he’s not right here.”

At that second, Joss leapt up from the viewers and walked towards one of many microphones that had been arrange for viewers questions. These mics weren’t reside, nevertheless, as we hadn’t but began that portion of the panel.

“There’s Jonathan Joss, who performs John Redcorn,” Daniels stated, introducing him. And at first, it appeared that Joss had interrupted the panel to pay tribute to Hardwick.

“You have been speaking about Johnny, and I wish to say one thing about him,” Joss stated.

However then, Joss began to consult with what he was instructed as he had walked over to the mic. “This younger man stated I couldn’t stand over there,” he stated. “I suppose he didn’t know that my land’s already gone. He stated the mic wasn’t going for use. And I’m an actor. I see a mic, I exploit it. I see a fallacious, I make it proper. I wish to breathe.”

Joss referenced his San Antonio house burning down: “Our home burnt down three months in the past. [Adding to the unusual moment, at that point someone in the audience screamed out, in a Hank Hill voice, ‘Dammit Bobby!’] As a result of I’m homosexual.” He additionally quoted one in every of John Redcorn’s songs from “King of the Hill” (“There’s a gap in my pocket the place my cash ought to go!“) earlier than occurring just a few extra tangents.

At that time, the panel was frozen — and the gang was nervously laughing. Unsure the best way to proceed, one of many panelists set free an “Uh…” — to which Joss responded, “What? You’re doing the identical factor, sir. The thoughts’s filled with emotion. And actual.”

He then lastly made his level about Hardwick: “Johnny, he gave you guys a personality, as a result of he’s that character. He’s that individual.”

There was one other pause, and Decide reintroduced Joss to the gang: “That is Jonathan Joss, the voice of John Redcorn.” At that time, Joss left the microphone and walked previous the stage. It’s unclear what occurred after that, however Joss wasn’t lower off by safety or taken away at that second — he walked away on his personal accord.

We returned to speaking in regards to the present, and the way the return of “King of the Hill” would additionally acknowledge the deaths of two extra stars, Brittany Murphy (who performed Luanne) and Tom Petty (Fortunate). Exec producer Saladin Patterson didn’t elaborate on how they might be addressed, however stated, “we discovered alternatives to allow them to be referenced within the present, I really feel, in a really respectful approach.”

Given the awkwardness of Joss’ interruption, the viewers Q&A was then scrapped — and as an alternative of ending with fan questions, we wrapped after I requested Decide and Adlon to advertise the sequence’ return within the voices of Hank and Bobby. We confirmed another preview clip and left the stage.

Backstage after the panel, the celebs and creators mentioned Joss’ interruption, and it was agreed that letting him communicate — and never involving safety — was the correct selection.

The second was jarring for everybody on stage. That made the information that he had been killed, simply two days later, much more surprising.

“Jonathan Joss introduced King of the Hill’s ‘John Redcorn’ to life for over a dozen seasons, together with within the upcoming revival,” Decide, Daniels and Patterson stated in a press release launched late Monday. “His voice will probably be missed at ‘King of the Hill,’ and we prolong our deepest condolences to Jonathan’s family and friends.”

Some press experiences incorrectly reported that Joss was upset as a result of he wasn’t in Season 14 of “King of the Hill,” which isn’t true. (His beef was with not being on the panel.) Others advised that he was stopped from talking by safety, which can be not true.

However the circumstances of his loss of life and Joss’ ongoing feud together with his neighbor — together with whether or not it was a hate crime, as alleged by Joss’ husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales — are nonetheless unclear. San Antonio police arrested one of many couple’s neighbors, Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, in connection to Joss’ killing.

In keeping with NBC Information, “police have been referred to as to answer incidents at their house greater than 4 dozen occasions, with many of the calls labeled as ‘disturbances.’” NBC Information additionally reported that police had been “mediating a dispute between Ceja and Joss for over a 12 months.”

“King of the Hill” is planning on operating an on-screen tribute to Hardwick in Episode 6 (the final episode that includes his voice; Huss takes over after that). Selection is ready to listen to if “King of the Hill” will now be including an identical acknowledgement of Joss’ loss of life.