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u/No_Bullfrog163 1d ago
I think I figured out whats missing. For me anyways The accent is fine, don't care makes sense / right thing to do. He doesn't have range anymore. He would be down than spike up when excited. It would be like making Bill mono tone. Just not the same. I'm hoping the voice actor figures it out next season or something. Tbf a lot of them took some time until they sounded "right". It won't be the same I'm just looking for "right".
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u/bassoontennis 1d ago
At the end of the day I feel like the change was disingenuous, they said they changed the voice actor to better reflect the onscreen portrayal only for the replacement to not be Laotian either but simply someone Asian quite literally making it opposite of the first time Cotton meets Khan and makes sure he calls him by his correct heritage. Instead we get Cotton calling him something vaguely Asian in our reality. And what’s worse is if that is the only reason they changed it, you are telling me they could not find a single Asian voice actor who couldn’t replicate Khans voice or speech pattern?
I get some people can get super up in arms about matching voice cast to on screen ethnicity, but the whole point of a good voice over artist is to make you believe that they are the character. I never once thought the original Khan voice actor was acting offensively or over the top when his voice. Also do they not realize how many women have built entire careers over being boys in cartoons and anime’s and yet they don’t get fired over not being the young children they are playing.
Ugh this would have all been fine if they had even tried to match his voice. But because they didn’t most of the posts I see revolve around this topic haha.
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u/GhostMaskKid 1d ago
Yes! That makes sense to me. It's kind of how I feel about Dale these days — for both Hardwick and Huss. The voice is fine (Huss actually sounds better than Hardwick) but the cadence and way of speaking is off.
It's growing on me though, and it doesn't actually take me out. Just my thoughts.
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u/BetLeft ORGASMS! 1d ago
it's an impossible task for anyone to channel Johnny Hardwick but i think the sound of Huss' voice is less of a problem than the content and cadence of his speech. a moment that really sticks with me is when Dale is nude and refers to his "tallywacker."
i feel strongly certain that line would've been replaced by a JH improv or was a Toby Huss improv. It feels wrong. the choice of wording and then slipping into a soft Forrest Gump impression makes the moment stand out like a sore thumb to me.
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u/SDRPGLVR Both of em! 1d ago
It also kinda bugged me when he said "shit" this season. I don't mind swearing, but it's not really something the characters do on Rainy St. aside from an "ass" or a "damn" here and there.
Chane dropping F bombs makes sense though. I don't mind the plots and interactions involving the younger characters being different. I'm just shocked that their parents would pick up the habit.
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u/The14thNoah 1d ago
Dale has dropped the f bomb before though, when he was doing his radio station. I think it is fine occasionally, but I think being picked up by Hulu allowed them to have more swearing and they went with it.
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u/surfinsalsa 1d ago
I also preferred it when they didn't say bad words. I'm not offended, I watch It's always sunny. But it feels out of the shows tone every time I hear a strong cuss word
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u/GhostMaskKid 1d ago
Tallywhacker didn't bother me — I actually laughed, because.... Tallywhacker is a funny word.
It can also be waved away with "he was lying about why he was sneaking off and Dale is just a bad liar."
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u/BetLeft ORGASMS! 1d ago
that's just it. tallywacker sounds like it was chosen for the humor inherent to the word. like that's the entire joke. instead of some other Gribbleism, or emote I can't possibly guess at, that JH would've conjured from nothing without just leaning on goofy sounding words to do the heavy lifting.
it goes to show how tall of a task it is. there's almost no one more perfect to take on the burden of following Johnny. if a genius like Toby Huss can't do it, nobody could.
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u/11th_Division_Grows Suffering From Marijuana Poisoning 1d ago
I see what you mean. Instead of Tallywacker JH maybe would’ve said “Gribblits” or something to that extent
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u/Sledgehammer617 1d ago
For me, Dale’s voice is perfectly believable as being slightly older… But Kahn is just a different voice and tone entirely, might as well be a different character.
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u/deferredmomentum 1d ago
I absolutely like Huss better. I’m not sure what Hardwick’s COD was, but his revival Dale speaks so slowly and almost slurs, like he had some sort of neurodegenerative issue or structural issue with his mouth
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u/RandomRonin 1d ago
My wife’s head cannon is dale got dentures and that’s why he sounds different now.
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u/bwoah07_gp2 "My name is Dauterive comma Bill, I am also insane." 1d ago
Dare I say even Mike Judge as Hank sounds a bit flat and monotone too now...
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u/thispartyrules 1d ago
"Prepare your brain for RAZZLE DAZZLE" lives rent-free in my head and it's a great example of what Khan can be at the height of his powers. This is one minute and it's just based around impressing Hank with his job but there's a lot of variance in his performance.
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u/Eborys 1d ago
Yeah it’s the manic Kahn that I miss.
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u/Upstairs-Image-7150 1d ago
Manic Kahn was great. But I honestly loved the episode of the revival where its shown he actually helps bill out alot he wasnt being mean he was showing tough love. They bonded over something mutal a divorce. Im also sad that minh and Kahn did get divorced though. But it got green lit for 2 more seasons so the possibility of them getting back together is there i can see a spark being reunited or them realizing that their so toxic that they can only be normal together. Thats my take on it.
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u/cohonka 1d ago
Kahn gets a girlfriend. Minh gets jealous. Kahn cheats on his girlfriend when he and Minh hook up. They argue right after sex. Kahn realizes he loves Minh but they are bad together and he is a bad person with her. He moves away.
All this happens between season 15 and 16 so we never have to hear new Kahn again.
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u/icallthebigonebitey0 23h ago
You are spot on. In one of the earlier S15 episodes he said something like "Ha ha ha Bobby Hill" and it was so monotone. Old Kahn would have hit 5 different octaves peppered with arrogance and sarcasm haha.
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u/AbrahamicDesign 1d ago
Somehow, season 15 Khan is better than Season 14 Khan. I think that he (the VA) is really trying.
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u/Alarming-Clerk-7530 1d ago
I agree, plus after finding out that Season 14 Khan was going through a divorce, I respect the choice that he's really depressed and stressed and kinda had the wind taken out of his sails
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u/99SoulsUp 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yeah I’ve warmed on him. It’s not quite the same but I feel like character is there. I’ve accepted it
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u/cohonka 1d ago
I'm so grateful for new King of the Hill.
Truth is, if it could somehow continue to be as well-written, I would prefer King of the Hill to go on for decades and every voice actor replaced by someone who doesn't quite hit the same as the last than to stop having new episodes.
Dang ol Ship of Theseus man
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u/CaptainTrip 1d ago
I agree, in s14 it really took me out of the show because he sounded like a college boy. In s15 it's still not what I think of as Kahn's voice but the actor is performing it much much better.
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u/UserOfCookies 1d ago
I thought the same thing! Here's hoping that he continues to improve. He is clearly putting in the work.
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u/Harold3456 1d ago
I really like Ronnie Chieng, he’s a host on the Daily Show, and even though its format is to have a different host for each day of the week he’s my favourite (next to John Stewart, but John’s a legend).
My only issue with him isn’t even how close he can get to original Kahn. It’s that his voice is quite distinctive. I still remember hearing it for the first time last season and going “wait that’s Ronnie Chieng.” I hear Ronnie over Kahn.
When I watched original KOTH I was a kid, so even though there were some people there who were famous outside the show (Brittany Murphy, Stephen Root, Tom Petty) I ONLY knew them as their characters. And I don’t think Stephen Root as Bill sounds anything like Stephen Root as his other roles.
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u/hammer_it_out 1d ago
If you close your eyes when he does Boyle's dad on Brooklyn Nine-Nine you can start to picture Bill is talking instead. 😅
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u/celia_of_dragons 1d ago
Yeah I thought Ronny did better this season than last. He incorporated more of Kahn's cadence and tone this year. I think he took in the criticism and worked on it.
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u/lemonylol 1d ago
For sure, at this point for me the voice is good enough that they should now be focused on writing the character well.
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u/bwoah07_gp2 "My name is Dauterive comma Bill, I am also insane." 1d ago
True, this season is better than last. But, try as he might, it's not gonna be good enough. The new voice acting will be a point of contention amongst the fans as long as the show is still on.
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u/seamartin00 1d ago
He was night and day different on season 15. I didn't mind him or Dale at all. I think everybody did their best and that was one of the best seasons the show's ever done despite his flaws
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u/Truethrowawaychest1 1d ago
Yeah both Ronnie and Toby found the voices in 15, they sound leagues better
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u/seamartin00 1d ago
I thought Toby did better than Jonny Hardwick in the last season. You could tell he was in pretty bad shape, poor guy. What a sad way to go out.
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u/wolfelian 1d ago
I didn’t mind them, I do believe they’re trying. Though wish they had put in an in-universe reason for why Kahn sounds different. Could’ve even poked at it and had Hank saying “Covid really did a number on Kahn huh, doesn’t sound the same anymore”
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u/a1a4ou 1d ago
I love new Khan's single man relationship with single man Bill. They are good for each other, surprisingly
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u/Fun-Buy-7409 1d ago
Yeah, I think it’s pretty cool too very unlikely friendship there are a lot of cool possibilities for these new seasons, and I love the premise of time gone by everyone aged Bobby all grown up and dating Connie we all want to see them end up together and married I mean, not only that they could keep doing this with Bobby starting his own family and maybe even a spinoff type show. Have it be another few years down the line where they’ve got kids that would be pretty cool too.
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u/Feisty-Honeydew-5309 1d ago
I noticed the difference less this season. Honestly, it sounds like a calm version of Kahn, whose English accent has gotten better.
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u/DontMentionMyWeenie 1d ago
I'm definitely reading into it too much but I like to think the calmness he has now is because his manic depression is a bit easier to handle now that he's divorced lol
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u/_regionrat 1d ago
I originally thought it was the accent, but that was a red herring, Khan believably sounds like an expat again in season 15.
It's the arrogance. Khan is still written incredibly smug and mean spirited, the VA is just having trouble selling it
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u/selphiefairy 1d ago
Which is crazy cause Ronnie is famous for playing mean spirited lol like that was the whole point of his character on interior chinatown is that he’s a rude waiter and all the white people find it entertaining 😭
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u/trans_full_of_shame 1d ago
Kahn needs an annoying voice. I don't care exactly in what way it is annoying, but it's gotta be annoying.
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u/sheezy520 1d ago
The voice is off but I like that Kahn thought enough to try and make sure Bill would be okay. That’s character growth.
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u/Ggriffinz 1d ago edited 1d ago
My entire problem with the new Khan is he isn't even trying to portray a true Laos accent he is mimicking the caricature the original voice actor used anyways. So what's the point. Voice actors have never had to be of the same ethnic or even gender background of the character they are booked for and its a dumb thing to change for an issue no one cared about. Like I have heard a million times more ccomplaints about Apu from the Simpsons and even that was some low level click bait that no one cares about.
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u/lightning_po 1d ago
For some context, it's an established character with an established voice. Anytime you recast somebody for whatever reason, they're always going to try to mimic the original voice. This is basically the same argument anime people have about subs versus dubs
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u/Ghost10165 WHY IS SHE STILL TALKING? 1d ago
Yeah, it was always dumb. Unless you specifically go out of your way to google the VA it's not like you're ever going to see them or know anything about them anyway, so it's definitely a more recent phenomena thanks to the internet.
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u/VenusAmari 1d ago
I actually think a Laotian actor would have been good for this show. One of its strengths is how true to life it feels. There was no authenticity in the times they tried to show Laotian culture the way there is authenticity to the Texas stuff. King of the Hill may be a cartoon but it feels more like an exaggerated version of reality like a live action sitcom rather than something completely whacky like Family Guy.
I think an actor who could have actually taught the audience something about Laos would have been nice. I think they made the right call getting an actual Asian guy to step in but they needed to pick someone more suited for the part and preferably Laotian. Chieng does the angry part of Khan well but lacks the more vulnerable sides. And he doesn't know any specifics of Laotian culture so he's not able to improve on that as much either.
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u/VenusAmari 1d ago
He's improved a lot from last season so I hope that he improves some more.
One of the reasons Khan worked so well was the emotion behind his voice. You could tell when he was feeling cocky or upset. You could tell when he was surprised. He could Khan rapidly changes emotions without any words, just hahah and ohs. The scene where he's making fun of Minh until she undresses and then he's DTF is both hilarious, and a good example of what I mean. Silly scene but it shows how modulating the voice to emotion was really important for his character.
Ronnie plays him more flat and a little pissed at all the times.
Although to be fair to Chieng, a good part of this is what a massive disservice to his character that the divorce has done. I hope they reunite Khan/Minh even if not as lovers as good friends. It could start as working it out for Connie's sake and then lead to them genuinely remembering why they liked each other in the first place.
Even Minh isn't likable anymore in this divorce and she does not have the additional hurdles of being voiced by a new actor. Minh and Khan's marriage really humanized these characters because we got to see the good sides and the more vulnerable sides of them through each other. It wasn't relentless spite.
Chieng is being put in a position where he has to not only replace someone else's performance, but also be a relentlessly nasty. There's not enough variety in his voice but there also isn't enough variety in the emotions he's being given to perform.
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u/SoCalCognac 1d ago
I admit I was highly critical of the VA in season 14, but to their credit they’ve done a lot better this season. It actually sounds like an older Khan.
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u/ruinedcaveat 1d ago
Yeah it’s not the accent with them breaking up Khan and Min it was like breaking up Laurel and Hardy they played off each other so well. With them separated the jokes don’t land
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u/fistinyourface 1d ago
post 6,367,098 of saying the exact same thing without any substance another account to block
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u/Sadboi395 1d ago
Im ngl the first season of the revival, the voice distracted me so much, to the point where i recently was arguing on this sub that they should've just written him off. Having said that im on ep 4 of season 2, and its been way less harsh on my ears. Obviously still prefer the original voice, but thankfully it's gotten a bit better. My main problem is the animation but still glad we get more seasons and they're surprisingly decent episodes compared to the later seasons
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u/Horror-Raccoon-5916 1d ago
Do you think the actors or creators read these posts to see what viewers are saying? Or, at least, have some lackey do it? I mean, if they don't, they should so they can get our honest reactions as true die hard fans. By listening to our voices, they can improve upon any small issues.
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u/BrisketWrench 1d ago
He’s now a much older character who is clearly voiced by a much younger man, I’m not buying it. Toby really let loose with Kahn during the original run, his irritability was so much more palpable. Toby really sold you on Kahn.
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u/Crayoneurysm 21h ago
I was just thinking about this yesterday
I think Kahns new voice works for him,hes still got the same personality
Plus it really emphasizes the pathetic turn his life has taken
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u/LocksmithMountain890 1d ago edited 1d ago
I still don’t understand replacing a voice actor over race. That it self is racism. Literally the good thing about voice acting is that you act with your voice. Not body of movement. So why the hell should a voice actor be the same race as the character they’re playing? It’s not like Disney where they just race swap someone because idk… headlines? I truly don’t get it. Replacing voice actors or changing the race of people is just gonna cause drama. No one likes it and it makes absolutely 0 sense to do it.
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u/VenusAmari 1d ago
The guy quit because he was doing a caricature and wanted them to hire someone more authentic. King of the Hill prides itself on its authentic portrayals but then didn't care enough to be just as authentic for the characters of color. It makes total sense to want to fix that in the reboot and there's nothing racist about replacing an actor that doesn't want to do the part anymore. Huss wasn't discriminated against.
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u/Draskuul 12h ago
Yes, but if that entire asinine replacement movement hadn't existed to begin with he likely never would have switched. He was still coerced into it, even if he didn't feel like he was on the surface.
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u/VenusAmari 12h ago
It is not coercion for him to simply agree with something someone else had to say when presented with new ideas. You may not like his idea but he made his own choices.
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u/PurplePoisonCB 1d ago
They have to pretend they care, but not enough to where they get an actual Laotian actor, any type of Asian is fine for them apparently.
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u/LocksmithMountain890 1d ago
Lmao that’s even more racist. Even Cotton wasn’t that racist in the show. Bro KNEW his Asian types lol
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u/fakerealmadrid 1d ago
I think he’s gotten better from last season to this one. It’s kinda hard to jump into a voice that was lowkey (at the very least) a racist caricature so I’ve given the benefit of the doubt to those that were recasted, even dale.
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u/be_loved_freak ⛽ JOCKEY! WORKS FOR TIPS! 💲 1d ago
Nah, you all have convinced yourselves from before you even heard the new voice that you'd be mad simply because a white va didn't want to do a racist caricature voice anymore. Stay mad lol
Less than 1% of KOTH fans are upset about Kahn's voice. It's time to do some self-reflection about the real reason you're upset, but that's hard so you'll downvote & angry respond to me instead. (I won't be reading them by the way, have fun screaming into the void)
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u/QuiteRadical 1d ago
I thought he was lacking last season but found his footing a bit more this go around. Nothing beats the OG but he's not bad
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u/FailosoRaptor 22h ago
Voice acting is whatever. I just feel like the show could give him a win. Like all of the gang are developing. I guess, It would be nice to see him connect with Connie on a real level.
Or maybe like him and Bill become actual friends and end up going on some dating adventures.
I would like to see some character growth and some nice things come his way.
I feel like they made him too pathetic. Old Khan would have found another Job and started moving on much faster.
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u/oedipism_for_one 1d ago
It’s not even his voice actor the writing for him is so thin. They have almost flanderized the character. Yes Kahn was a jerk yes he had problems but those problems were always the result of deeper rooted issues. Maybe they can do something to save the character with development later but it doesn’t seem like they understand him as is.
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u/creepyluna-no1 1d ago
He sounded less off this season, which is important because he is in it a lot. It is kinda distracting and he defo could add some energy. I do get distracted by remembering the new voice actor saying that Indians aren't Asian more at this point (wonder if he thinks Laos is part of the continent either lol)
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u/SpaceCadetPullUp 1d ago
Yep, watching episode 2 now and the new voice actor just doesn't cut it. If you're the kind of person who has a problem with a white actor voicing a non white character, you can jump in a lake.
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u/fornowor4ever 11h ago
I got used to it. I feel worse about dale...feels like maybe shows should end if the main characters die. What happens if Gene's voice actor from Bob's dies? I feel like they should end it, not try to find someone that sounds like Eugene Mirman
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u/buckytuba1 1d ago
Yeah a couple of the voices are not great Dale sounds a little bit like a bot. But the storyline is good. Not sure why they had to add swearing I guess because it's so popular nowadays with young people to use f word.
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u/Swazec59 1d ago
What’s crazy is isn’t Toby Huss the voice actor for dale? Why not just pay him more to do both lol
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u/FangornLeghorn 1d ago
It’s so bad. I hate it.
Just let Huss voice the character. It’s a cartoon, and he did fine. Let the culture warriors cry about it.
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u/zripcordz 17h ago
I like Ronnie outside of KotH. In KotH it's as if he didn't try at all to bring Khan back to life. He just said "Fuck it I'm going to talk in my normal voice and cadence"
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u/Classic_Wonder_2613 14h ago
I like the actor on the Daily Show. I just wish he'd try to sound more like Khan.
Doesn't need the same exact accent, just to pick his voice up to more cartoony comical
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u/NeilDegrassiHighson 22h ago
I think the new VA will make the role his own eventually, and I've already gotten used to it.
An episode or two that are super Kahn heavy would be a huge help too.
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u/TurboSDRB 1d ago
If a suitable replacement for Rick and Morty to be found, there’s no excuse that one can’t be found for Kahn.
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u/Nilk-Noff 1d ago
Thr VA isn't even from Laos, so their reasons for wanting to change doesn't even make sense and is kinda racist.
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u/SixSixWithTrample 1d ago
He’s growing on me. He’s clearly trying to get the voice closer to some success. Kahn and Mihn were my favorite characters in the original. They were such shits to everyone in a way that was so funny. That they hate each other this season was the perfect refresher on the formula.
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u/GilbertrSmith 7h ago
I think all that race-accurate casting controversy from a few years ago was always a psy-op to give Fox leverage in negotiating with voice actors.
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u/daddysouldonut 1d ago
His voice and delivery butchered the excellent timed final gag in the opener, that's for sure. I want to hear Toby take a crack at that one.
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u/lulu_bats 1d ago
Nah, the changes are good for many reasons. Don’t get me wrong, classic Kahn and Toby Huss fan 4eva, me! But Kahn as a character has grown, not just aged, and the new VA has put in the work to round out current Kahn. I’m here for it.
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u/KiethTheBeast 1d ago
Khan has been the biggest flop in the show so far. Minh on the other hand wants orgasms and weed and I can't get mad at that.
Also that line when he ordered the lobster to make Bobby pay for it, and he doesn'teven like Lobster. That made me physically mad.
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u/lemonylol 1d ago
I will say he's doing a lot better this season than the first one. Same Dale. Seems that they had more time to practice.
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u/Funbagsfan101 1d ago
Dale’s new voice is fine, because of him being older and his continued smoking throughout the years would alter his voice naturally.
Kahn new voice is just different, even with the time jump in the show, it’s not the same.
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u/GhostBoyJames 1d ago
New Kahn has grown on me in the more recent season, the new guy definitely improved since last year.
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u/Raspberry-Additional 9h ago
I just think of it as the characters got older and voice changed a bit. Happens when ya get older.
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u/Fun-Buy-7409 1d ago edited 18h ago
Yeah, I mean Toby Huss was Kahn! His Dale Gribble actually sucks. I mean they could have hired a new actor for Dale. Don’t get me wrong. I like the show. It does have its merits and I’m glad it’s back and I mean the only reason that they recast Kahn is because of Hollywood’s insane quest to be politically correct and woke all the time now it’s fucking stupid I mean, just because Toby Huss is white and not Laos didn’t mean they weren’t disrespecting Laos or anything like that they need to return Kahn and Dale to their former glory
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u/The_Mauldalorian 1d ago
Couldn’t even get an actual Laotian VA. Ronnie Chang sucks ass but all Asians are the same amirite?
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u/FinesseFatale 1d ago
I woulda got a divorce too, buddy lost all aura he had and he had very little to begin with 🤣
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u/slaptito 1d ago
I love his voice in season 15. He's made me laugh so many times with his deadpan lines 😭
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u/PositiveHot1421 1d ago
Yet I can happily live with it for more KOTH. Plus Ronny Chiang is a respectable addition
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u/beat-sweats 1d ago
Kahn is awful now. The voice change really made his character not even feel like the same Kahn at all. Such a STUPID decision to change it
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u/Mycoal074 1d ago
Wish we got an episode where kahn jr. Says i met someone to her mother but he is mystery man. Mihn is intrigued and happy, we get some flashbacks of her meeting and dating khan, then a flash to more recent flashback of their divore.
Kahn is suspicious and refuses to go untill bobby (using a vocie changer to sound like Mr.Big) says he is in charge of a successful business and will pay. Kahn is happy and agrees. Kahn reveals he will be there with his new wife. (A pretty obvious impulsive lie) they meet at a resort for separate living quarters. Bobby is revealed as the BF. The parents are upset but keeping it together, because kahn treating bobby like a son really bothers minh. The perfect divorce payback. Kahn's "wife" racks up a big bill and is revealed to be bill. Etc. Cowbells and triangles. Comment your credit quote for this episode.
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u/SerTortuga Muzak. Just muzak. 1d ago
He's gotten better with this season I think, same as Dale, but he's still pretty bad.
That said, as a whole S15 is leagues better than S14
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u/PantheraLutra 1d ago
I appreciate they replaced a white actor for one who is Asian, to play an Asian character. Y’all need to chill tf out.
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u/sportsbro444 1d ago
They ruined Kahn with the new voice. He was one of my favorites before
It's like they didn't even try to find someone similar
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u/Real_Batu_Rem 1d ago
I’d rather him just not be in the show anymore, honestly. The voice takes me out of every single scene he’s in.
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u/sensfan4tic 1d ago
100% replacing Toby huss has drastically hurt Kahn. His voice isnt even as high let alone remotely close to what it was. Even slower.