- Tom Hanks reprised his iconic character David S. Pumpkins during the Saturday Night Live Halloween cold open alongside Mikey Day and Bobby Moynihan.
- James Austin Johnson’s Donald Trump hijacked the haunted ride sketch to talk about the upcoming midterm elections, Texas politics, and Tom Hanks’ physique.
- The cold open also featured comedic appearances by Saidah Belo-Osagie as Nicki Minaj and Veronika Slowikowska as Katie Zacharia.
Tom Hanks Resurrects David S. Pumpkins for Halloween Cold Open
Halloween arrived early on Saturday Night Live with the surprise return of one of the show’s most beloved viral creations. Tom Hanks returned to Studio 8H to reprise his role as David S. Pumpkins during the Oct. 31 cold open. Flanked by his signature dancing skeleton sidekicks, played once again by Mikey Day and Bobby Moynihan, Hanks brought his zany, pumpkin-patterned energy back to the stage. The episode was hosted by Obsession star Inde Navarrette, accompanied by musical guest Gracie Abrams.
The sketch began as a haunted theme-park attraction where a couple boarded an elevator ride operated by ride attendant Kenan Thompson. When the doors opened to reveal David S. Pumpkins and his gyrating companions, the baffled riders began to question his presence. However, before Hanks could deliver his usual puzzling catchphrases, another notoriously orange pop-culture fixture abruptly derailed the haunted experience.
James Austin Johnson’s Trump Hijacks the Haunted Ride
Stepping in to hijack the proceedings was James Austin Johnson, reprising his signature impersonation of Donald Trump. Interrupting the scene with a sudden shout of Midterms,
Trump immediately dismissed the traditional structure of the viral sketch. Aw, are you sad you don’t get to see your third David Pumpkins scene?
he asked the audience. I’ll save you four minutes: he keeps popping up and confusing people on the ride. The end.
With Hanks, Day, and Moynihan frozen mid-dance behind him, Johnson’s Trump drew parallels between himself and the sketch’s mascot. We both appeared in 2016, we’re both very loud, very orange, and very, frankly, annoying!
he observed. He then offered an unexpected critique of the Academy Award-winning actor behind the character, remarking, Great ass! A great ass on Hanks.
The comment referenced recent campaign trail appearances where Trump repeatedly commented on the physique of Ohio Republican Sen. Jon Husted, famously describing the politician’s backside as a pile of muscle.
On SNL, that fixation was expanded to include both Hanks and Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. Holding up a bruised hand to the audience, Trump compared its hue to the possibility of Texas shifting its political allegiance, noting that if the state turned blue, he would leave it behind. When Thompson’s operator character chose to abandon the ride altogether, Trump thanked him for a supposed financial contribution, prompting Thompson to fire back: Yeah, you wish, bitch.
Surprise Cameos Cap Off the Cold Open
The election-focused monologue continued to bring in additional impressions. Saidah Belo-Osagie appeared as rapper Nicki Minaj, whom Trump presented as a prospective White House press secretary. Reacting to her recent controversies, Belo-Osagie’s Minaj quipped, I’m out here killing it,
adding, And by it, I mean my career.
The cold open wrapped up as Veronika Slowikowska stepped into the sketch as Katie Zacharia. After she flubbed the timing for the program’s signature sign-off, Tom Hanks and his dancing skeleton crew took over to shout the iconic kickoff line: Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!
Why This Matters
Saturday Night Live has long used its cold open format to blend holiday traditions with sharp political satire, particularly in the final stretch leading up to pivotal election cycles. By merging a legendary original character like David S. Pumpkins—who first became a viral sensation during the 2016 election season—with James Austin Johnson’s hyper-topical Trump impression, the show seamlessly bridged nostalgic fan-favorite comedy with running commentary on the midterm elections and ongoing political rhetoric.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who played the dancing skeletons alongside Tom Hanks?
Mikey Day and Bobby Moynihan reprised their original roles as the dancing skeleton sidekicks backing up Tom Hanks’ David S. Pumpkins.
Who hosted and performed as musical guest on the episode?
The Oct. 31 episode of Saturday Night Live was hosted by Obsession actress Inde Navarrette, with Gracie Abrams serving as the evening’s musical guest.
What real-world event was Trump’s dialogue parodying?
The monologue poked fun at Donald Trump’s midterm campaign trail speeches, including his public remarks admiring the physical build of Ohio Republican Sen. Jon Husted, as well as the broader political battlegrounds surrounding Texas.
