Tom Hanks Reprises ‘SNL’s David S. Pumpkins in Animated ‘Halloween Special’

NBC’s Saturday Night Live went viral last Halloween after host Tom Hanks played an enthusiastic horror show host known as David S. Pumpkins in the 2016 Halloween episode, and now Pumpkins is back in an all-new half-hour animated Halloween special coming to NBC in October.

Deadline reports that The David S. Pumpkins Halloween Special is based on the popular “Haunted Elevator” sketch from the October 22, 2016 SNL episode. The sketch featured a pumpkin-suited Hanks as mystery man David S. Pumpkins, on an elevator with two skeleton-dressed dancers played by Mikey Day and Bobby Moynihan.

Also voicing characters will be Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage and sketch creators Mikey Day, Bobby Moynihan and SNL writer Streeter Seidell.

“It’s scary how quickly the original SNLsketch caught on, and we’re thrilled that Tom Hanks is back to keep the fun going,” said George Cheeks, President, Business Operations and Late Night Programming, NBC Entertainment and Universal Television.

Hanks will appear on camera at the beginning of the half-hour, as well as voice the animated character.

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 premiere on NBC on Saturday, October 28 at 11:30pm.

You can watch the fun sketch that started it all below, in which a couple takes a ride on a haunted elevator Halloween-themed attraction called 100 Floors of Frights, but it is more “Pumpkins” than they bargained for.

See what else is on TV for Halloween 2017 here!

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'The David S. Pumpkins Halloween Special' is coming to NBC.
‘The David S. Pumpkins Halloween Special’ is coming to NBC.

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Matt Artz

Founded Halloween Daily News in 2012 and the Halloween International Film Festival in 2016. Professional writer/journalist/photographer since 2000.