How the hell did the character get so viral? I’ve tried watching the skits several times to see if maybe I’m missing something, but for the life of me, I can’t seem to see it. Is everyone just biased because it’s Tom Hanks? Or is it actually hilarious, and I’m just struggling to understand the humor? Fall/Spooky season is my absolute favorite time of year, but am I just a buzz kill?
You are not a buzzkill, I think. This skit had a couple of things going for it:
- Halloween can always use more “mascots” and this is one.
- I admit that I originally didn’t like this skit, but my brother-in-law did, and I like him, so after watching it I always think of him until eventually it became something I genuinely liked.
- I quote lines from this skit to my SO all the time, so it’s become kind of embedded into my life.
- SNL during this time wasn’t very funny to me. I think that since SNL sucked during this time, even moderately funny skits ended up exploding in popularity just because they weren’t the usual onslaught of comedians stumbling over their lines and ruining jokes. Weekend Update was pretty funny, though.
So in short, my friend, it’s not really funny. It was a moment, and you may have missed it. But let me say this, I think you’re cool for kicking off Spooky season…
… Almost as cool as DaViD ESS pUmKiNs!
Both absurdity and repetition can be funny and the sketch has both in uncomfortable number.
I find it a bit grating, but I think that’s the point. And the sketch writers were clearly aware there was something (deliberately?) off about the whole thing which is why they make overt with DSP’s catchphrase.
I’m so glad I never have any idea what is viral on the internet
Is this why I am out of the loop? Is this a thing of American culture, or is it internet culture? Or both?
In any case, I watched the video, found it funny. Harmless absurdity is fun.
It’s not funny. We hate this in my house. We all groan audibly when they do it, and turn SNL off.
I never found it funny but it was always entertaining anyway. Watch the monkey dance vibes.
I don’t find it particularly funny, but I certainly enjoyed the vibe of the entire skit.
I personally really enjoy how David and the skeletons either can’t out won’t elaborate on the parts of their whole thing that the people are confused about. There’s just something funny to me about how it doesn’t seem like they’re intentionally being obtuse. They’ll gladly answer the vague question of “and the skeletons are…?” with the equally vague “part of it!” with a big smile, as though it was a perfectly fine and helpful answer.
I’m going to say because it’s short, stupid catchy. Sometimes your brain goes to random places and then logic sets in. Ignoring typical reason is what makes absurdist comedy work. We obviously have a character playing it straight trying to figure it out getting more and more upset by the illogical which makes the bit work. The music is silly and not eerie at all and then getting scared freeze frame when they continue to point out the character is not scary is the kicker and sort of makes it worth it. This was probably just a random skit they threw in last minute and thought, just have fun. A lot of hit songs are simple, obvious, stupid and catchy. Rick James thought Superfreak was a throw away song too dumb to be on the album and it’s his most recognized song.
My wife and I watched it when it aired, and we found it hilarious. It’s the absurdity of it. Should I know who this guy is?
“Any questions?” “Yes! Several! I mean, he has a middle initial now?”
I think part of what made it initially a sensation was how self-aware it was in how incredibly stupid and not actually funny it is.
This is exactly it. It’s not Tom Hanks, it’s the idea that it’s so stupid and they went all in. The viral part is beyond me. But I chuckle every time I see it because it represents some terrible idea shoved down your throat. And maybe it’s just me but it reminds me of the nonsense in Idiocracy. Just laughing at garbage. They’re laughing at themselves in the skit. 73 floors of David s Pumpkins? I’m surprised they found that many non-pumkins floors
I’ve never even heard of it but now I’m intrigued.
Didn’t know what this was so looked up the video
That went viral?
It’s about as funny as most SNL, which is pretty much not at all. You’d think they’d get teleprompters that were a little closer to the camera at some point so it wasn’t so fucking obvious that someone can’t remember a line like “Any questions”.
They don’t use prompters but paper cards and their reasoning is that the script changes up until the last minute but that doesn’t make any sense as it’s easier to update text on a computer than to rewrite a bunch of cards.
They are superstitiously stuck in their ways at SNL, now Lorne says he’s not going to retire so I don’t expect it to get any better.
Let’s see you do better.
Jesus Christ it’s actually hilarious 🤣
It’s because it’s absolutely absurd and has nothing to do with Halloween. You have seen the whole skit and not just the memes, right? It’s basically a parody of Disney’s Tower of Terror ride but instead of spooky Halloween stuff, they got this dude just dancing around.
It’s a kinda funny joke. But the problem with American comedy in general is that they just can’t let something go. They milk that joke until there’s nothing left.
It really varies on the comic. Some drag shit out some don’t. I can’t stand most of Jim Gaffigan’s stuff because he does that shit ad nauseum.
Yeah I hate it so much
It feels so real in how disappointing the experience becomes for the straight characters. That would be my reaction if I went into that thing to be frightened, and I get David S. Pumpkins instead. By the way, you’re not alone as I read years ago that Tom Hanks doesn’t get it either.
It feels so real in how disappointing the experience becomes for the straight characters.
This hits the nail on the head. It’s funny because of the point of view of the actual participants.
The funny thing about this thread is that there are so many comments essentially agreeing with the central premise of the sketch, that it’s relatable and disorienting when you stumble onto some kind of established fandom and can’t seem to keep up with why it’s popular or what is or isn’t “part of it.” The popularity is confusing in itself, and the need to dissect the lore (as OP is doing, perhaps even unintentionally following the sketch itself) distracts from the original purpose of going there to be entertained.
In other words, the sketch is funny and relatable exactly for the same reasons why much of the audience doesn’t find it funny and relatable.
This is a perfect analysis that was thoroughly ruined by not ending it with:
aNy qUeStIoNs?!?
