Richardson’s central place in King of the Hill lore is “something we’ve quietly taken pride in over the years,” the city’s mayor, Amir Omar, tells me, noting that Arlen reflects “Richardson’s landscape, values, and even our civic culture.” Still, even Omar concedes that Arlen is only partly based on his town.

Showrunner Saladin K. Patterson, known for "The Wonder Years" and "The Big Bang Theory," talks about bringing the stoic Texas icon Hank Hill into the present day.