How Tom Hanks’ SNL Halloween Character Became So Iconic

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As a devoted fan of Saturday Night Live, I must say that David S. Pumpkins has truly become an unforgettable character in the show’s illustrious history. Ever since his first appearance in the “Haunted Elevator” sketch, Tom Hanks‘ portrayal of this pumpkin-clad enigma has left audiences in fits of laughter and wonderment.

In October 2016, Tom Hanks appeared as the host of Saturday Night Live. With a budget-friendly Halloween costume, a short four-and-a-half minutes on stage, and his captivating personality, he brought a fresh iconic character to life – David S. Pumpkins. The skit “Haunted Elevator” unveiled this enigmatic figure, who left guests baffled with his peculiar appearances, resulting in amusing interrogations during the ride.

The comedy sketch became one of the best of that decade and even the show (which started its 50th season this year) in general. Tom Hanks’s character has made many more appearances, inspired Halloween costumes, and received his own merchandise. Here’s a look back at the character’s creation and what’s happened since the original sketch aired.

The Birth of David S. Pumpkins

In this rendition, it was Michael Day and Bobby Moynihan who portrayed the dancing skeletons alongside Tom Hanks’ character, David S. Pumpkins. Meanwhile, Streeter Seidell and Mikey Day, known for their collaborative writing efforts, also penned a sketch with a similar style during the same year.

In one of Larry David’s comedy sketches during season 41, Larry portrays a character named Kevin Roberts, who frequently pops up in an FBI training simulation that leaves the trainees puzzled about Roberts’ role within the simulation. This scenario is reminiscent of the popular David S. Pumpkins sketch from Halloween. Much like David S. Pumpkins, Kevin Roberts dons a cheap orange suit, blurts out nonsensical phrases, and boogies around. Bobby Moynihan is also featured in this skit.

Mikey Day’s humor often involves characters wearing peculiar suits, which is a key element of his comedy style. In an interview, when discussing the creation of a sketch, Day mentioned, “Characters with ordinary names in bizarre situations and funny suits are amusing.” When designing the David S. Pumpkins character, Day and Seidell visualized how he would look, and then collaborated with SNL’s costume team to find a suit that matched their vision.

The dance moves in the sketch were influenced by a YouTube clip titled “Little Superstar,” which featured an actor breakdancing to a remix of Madonna’s “Holiday” from the movie Adhisaya Piravi, uploaded in 2006. This tune served as the basis for the music in “Haunted Elevator.” Before this, Saturday Night Live had already drawn inspiration from the viral video, with Fred Armisen portraying the breakdancer during the Scarlett Johansson episode in 2007.

In the initial plan, Seidell and Day had envisioned David S. Pumpkins performing breakdance moves, however, Tom Hanks expressed his lack of knowledge in this area. Additionally, the writers intended for Lady Gaga, the episode’s musical guest, to appear as Mrs. David S. Pumpkins; unfortunately, she was already committed to her nightly performances.

How the Sketch Became Iconic

To make a lasting impression in the vast sea of sketches aired each season, a comedy bit needs to be funny, visually appealing, and include memorable phrases or catchphrases. The “Haunted Elevator” sketch succeeded in this by being humorous, striking, and leaving an indelible mark on its audience’s memory, making it less likely to be forgotten before the next episode aired.

In the illustration, Beck Bennett and Kate McKinnon are depicted boarding a ride called “Tower of Terror,” which is meant to display terrifying characters. However, what they encounter instead is David S. Pumpkins and his two dancing skeletons. The humor primarily stems from their bewilderment about his presence there. As Kenan Thompson’s elevator operator explains, “The most unsettling thing for the mind is the unknown.

Throughout the sketch, Tom Hanks says many iconic lines. He first introduces himself, saying, “I’m David Pumpkins, and I’m going to scare the hell out of you” (which could also be a reference to this classic Stephen King trailer). When Beck Bennett and Kate McKinnon ask if David S. Pumpkins is from something, he replies that he’s “his own thing.” The majority of his appearances also end with him frustrating the confused riders by asking his classic line, “Any questions?” Even more infectious than any of these lines, however, is the image of Tom Hanks in a pumpkin suit with finger guns out and arms crossed, smiling as two skeletons dance to the sketch’s silly song.

What Has David S. Pumpkins Been Up To?

Following the airing of “Haunted Elevator”, David S. Pumpkins has popped up in a few more places. In the Season 42 finale’s digital short “Rap Song,” Tom Hanks made a quick appearance. This short humorously introduced him as “David S. Pimpkins.” In this appearance, his character wore an orange furry hat and coat, and carried two guns.

A year following “Haunted Elevator,” NBC broadcasted an animated Halloween special starring David S. Pumpkins. This special was penned by Mikey Day, Streeter Seidell, and Bobby Moynihan, with the trio reprising their roles from the initial sketch and Seidell lending his voice to one of the villains in the special. The special humorously draws upon traditional elements of holiday specials, presenting David S. Pumpkins as a magical figure attempting to enlighten children about the essence of Halloween. Peter Dinklage provided the rhyming narration for the story, and an original song was also included.

In 2021, a follow-up to the “Haunted Elevator” sketch called “David Pumpkins Returns” was released, with Jack Harlow serving as the host. Following classic Saturday Night Live style, the sequel sketch maintains a similar plotline to the original, featuring Tom Hanks, Mikey Day, Bobby Moynihan, and Kenan Thompson reprising their roles with similar jokes, while Jack Harlow, Ego Nwodim, and Andrew Dismukes take on the roles of elevator attendants this time around.

Outside of his TV appearances, David S. Pumpkins is a popular figure at Universal Studios during their Halloween Horror Nights events in 2023. You can find merchandise featuring him, such as T-shirts, mugs, and Funko Pops. For those looking for an unusual costume, novelty stores like Spirit Halloween offer replica suits so you can emulate this famous character. To catch his skits, don’t forget to tune in to SNL on Peacock.

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2024-10-30 00:01