By Melissa Antoinette Garza
In the last few years, one of the only highlights of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (1975) was a Halloween sketch about a haunted house and its strange host named David S. Pumpkins. This became so well-known that a cartoon special was created.
THE DAVID S PUMPKINS HALLOWEEN SPECIAL (2017) begins with a quick segment showing a live- action Hanks and his two dancing skeletons, (Bobby Moynihan and Mikey Day). It then shifts to animation where Kevin, a middle-aged man (Peter Dinklage) narrates a tale in a rhyming, Dr. Seuss, style. He talks about his childhood and meeting David S. Pumpkins.
When young Kevin (Joaquin Obradors) goes to a pumpkin patch with his little sister Dotty (Spencer Moss), she picks a gourd that releases Pumpkins and his skeletons. David breaks out into a song that explains nothing, but is hilarious.
Meanwhile, Kevin has a crush on Paige (Lexi Underwood) who is a girl from school. The bullies dress in the disguise of a ghost and steal candy from the neighborhood kids including Paige’s brother. Kevin wanting to impress Paige, enlists the help of David and the skeletons.
This is a kooky crazy parody of THE CAT IN THE HAT (1971). It’s entertaining and a perfect little 20 minutes special to throw on with the kids or at a party as all and any can find joy and amusement in it.
The animation is effective enough for the tale and the characters are reminiscent of those from the holiday specials of the 80s and 90s. There’s something both new and edgy about this yet still it brings upon nostalgic feelings as it pays homage to the Dr. Seuss, in a far better and more amusing way, than some of the recent adaptations of Suess’s work.
Currently it’s streaming on HULU. If you didn’t catch it last year, check it out; and if you did, watch it again.
Scared Stiff Rating: 6.5/10
Please enjoy the original sketch and a few more of my favorite SNL Halloween Moments:
