Kahn Souphanousinphone
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Kahn Souphanousinphone (voiced by Toby Huss) is a fictional character on the animated series King of the Hill. He and his wife Minh and daughter Connie live next door to the Hills. Kahn works in the Information Technology industry as a system analyst.
An immigrant from Laos, Kahn represents the new American trying to blend into the melting pot of Arlen, Texas. Like many immigrants, Kahn is preoccupied with achieving "the American dream." In his case, this means succeeding financially, having his daughter excel academically, and keeping up with the Joneses (or the Hills, as the case may be). Kahn brags about his material possessions and puts down his neighbors, calling them names like "hillbilly" and "redneck." He also has an affinity for '80s pop music. Kahn idolizes Ted Wassanasong, a Laotian-American even more affluent than Kahn. Kahn's greatest fear is that his daughter might marry Bobby Hill, who embodies everything Kahn dislikes about Caucasians.
Kahn quietly respects Hank, and is aware that Hank is in many ways his equal, which makes Kahn respect him even more. Although Kahn frequently disparages Hank's blue-collar values and tastes, and almost never socializes with him, in one episode Kahn confesses that Hank is his best friend.
Kahn is a non-practicing Buddhist.
[edit] Trivia
- Kahn is an anagram of Hank and plays off a common Laotian name, Kham. His last name is a distortion of the word sousaphone, made to look Laotian.
- Kahn's widowed mother, professional domestic Laoma Souphanousinphone, briefly dated Bill Dauterive. Kahn was horrified enough to learn she desired to work in Bill's house (or as Kahn called it "that filthy cracker shack!"), but when he discovered the two were a couple, he fainted.
- Series creator Mike Judge says the only inspiration for Kahn was his own Asian friend (although he came from the Philippines), however he wasn't racist like Kahn. [citation needed]
- Much to the dismay of Hank, Kahn uses mesquite and/or charcoal to barbecue with instead of "clean-burning, energy-efficient" propane.
- He escaped from Laos by stealing government license plates and driving to Thailand.
- Kahn's license plate reads "KINGKAHN"
- In the episode, "Bobby Goes Nuts," Kahn exclaims "Finish Him!" This can be viewed as a nod towards Mortal Kombat.
- Kahn is referred to as a banana in a recent episode by Ted Wassanasong because he has abandoned some of his Laotian traditions for a more Western lifestyle.
- The first Souphanousinphone family car was a blue Toyota Previa, and it was replaced with a large, Ford Excursion-style SUV, despite being crushed by Bill Dauterive's stolen tank.
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| Hills and Platter: | Hank | Peggy | Bobby | Luanne Platter | Cotton | Tilly | Ladybird |
| Gribbles: | Dale | Joseph | Nancy |
| Souphanousinphones: | Kahn | Minh | Connie |
| Other characters: | Boomhauer | Bill | John Redcorn | M. F. Thatherton | Chuck Mangione | Monsignor Martinez |
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| Miscellaneous: | Alamo Beer | Manger Babies | Mega Lo Mart | Strickland Propane |
| Media: | King of the Hill DVDs | List of King of the Hill episodes |
