Cartoon Mastermind

Ten years ago this month, three sleep-deprived SNL writers accidentally created one of the most beloved Halloween characters in television history. And apparently, Tom Hanks thought the whole thing was ridiculous. The story behind David S. Pumpkins is almost as funny as the sketch itself. In October 2016, SNL writers Mikey Day, Bobby Moynihan, and Streeter Seidell were working late into the night on a Halloween sketch about a haunted elevator. The premise was simple. Every floor would reveal something terrifying. But around 4 or 5 in the morning, someone suggested a character named David Pumpkins. Moynihan added the middle initial. Nobody knew what the S stood for. Nobody knew who David Pumpkins was supposed to be. And that was basically the entire joke. They found a cheap pumpkin-covered suit, gave him two dancing skeletons, and decided this completely ordinary-looking middle-aged man would act like he was a legendary Halloween character everyone should recognize. Tom Hanks reportedly thought the sketch was so bizarre that he suggested saving it for Chris Hemsworth, who was scheduled to host the following week. But Hanks eventually committed to the bit. The ridiculous grin. The awkward dancing. The absolute confidence. And, of course, the immortal question: “Any questions?” The genius of the sketch is that nothing ever gets explained. The people riding the elevator are just as confused as the audience. And every time David S. Pumpkins returns, it somehow gets funnier. The sketch became an instant hit. NBC eventually made an animated Halloween special around the character, and Hanks brought him back to SNL in 2022. Ten years later, people still dress up as David S. Pumpkins every Halloween. Three writers came up with a completely nonsensical idea at 4 a.m. Tom Hanks wasn’t sure it would work. Nobody bothered to explain the joke. And somehow they created a Halloween icon. Oh, and years later, the writers revealed what the S stands for. Simon. Why Simon? Absolutely no reason whatsoever. Which, honestly, makes the whole thing even funnier. Happy Halloween. 🎃 ANY QUESTIONS?