Hank finds out his back problems are caused by "diminished gluteal syndrome" (a condition that has worn down Hank's hindquarters and put pressure on his spine), and attempts to come to terms with wearing a prosthetic posterior while preparing to compete in a lawn-mower race.
Tropes:
- An Aesop:
- Medical conditions are not a laughing matter, and belittling someone for them is cruel.
- If something is wrong with you, see a doctor immediately. While Hank is Afraid of Doctors, the one he sees gives him proper medical advice and a prothesis that helps him with his problem.
- Armor-Piercing Response: When Hank incredulously questions his doctor prescribing him a "fake hiney", the doctor asks him if his shoes are fake feet. Hank goes from apalled to chastened in an instant.
- Bavarian Fire Drill: At the doctor's office, the doctor prescribes Hank some glute implants, as well as recommends that he go to a support group, Hank hesitantly accepts the former, but absolutely refuses the latter. Several days later, Peggy tells Hank that there is a propane emergency McMaynerbury. When Hank gets to the location, he sees it's the support group, when he tries to go back to the truck to tell Peggy to take him home, she drives off, leaving him stranded and forcing him to stay at the meeting.
- I Have This Friend: A man approaches Hank at the end of the episode about his prothesis, saying that his friend could use one. The man's uneasy approach to the subject makes it obvious he was asking on his own behalf. Though it's somewhat subverted in the Hank actually does believe him.
- Tropaholics Anonymous: Peggy tricks Hank into going a support group for men who have reduced glutes, and who also had to put up with mockery and bullying from friends and coworkers. Hank at first felt uncomfortable, but eventually learned to open up.
- With Friends Like These...:
- After Hank gets his new glute implants, Dale, Bill, Boomhauer, Kahn, and even Cotton, who happened to be in town, take pleasure in playing "keep away" with Hank's implants and point and laugh at him when he tries to get them down when they get stuck on a light post. And then they laugh even more when his towel falls off, revealing his diminished posterior for everyone to see.
- At the support group, one of the other guys shares a story of how his employees got a hold of his implants and played used them to play several games of "hot potato."
