Tom Hanks’ David S. Pumpkins gets his own animated special

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Last October, a pop culture sensation was spawned from a Tom Hanks-hosted episode of Saturday Night Live. In one skit, a couple boards an elevator in a haunted attraction offering "100 Floors of Frights" only to be dumbfounded rather than scared when they realize that most of the floors are inhabited by a fellow who introduces himself as David Pumpkins (played by Hanks, and sometimes referred to as David S. Pumpkins). While he claims that he's going to "scare the hell out of you", Pumpkins doesn't do much more than dance with his skeleton sidekicks (Mikey Day and Bobby Moynihan).

The absurdity of the skit and Hanks's performance and look as the character really caught on with viewers. The official YouTube upload of the skit has received more than 8 million views. So it makes total sense that Pumpkins is coming back this year. One might assume that he would be making his return in another skit, but NBC is aiming even higher: they are giving the character his own half-hour animated special.

Hanks is back to provide the voice of Pumpkins and is joined in the vocal cast by Day, Moynihan, Peter Dinklage, and Streeter Seidell.

The synopsis: 

Set in a small suburban town on All Hallows’ Eve, the special centers on David Pumpkins and his skeleton sidekicks who show a young boy and his sister the true meaning of Halloween, answering none of their questions along the way.

The David S. Pumpkins Halloween special will be airing on NBC on Saturday, October 28th at 11:30pm. The usual Saturday Night Live time slot.

This news is both exciting and concerning to me. I hope the Pumpkins character will be able to sustain an entire half-hour.