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?
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
The skit is absurd, the pacing works well, and everyone involved is clearly having fun as there are multiple close calls on breaking character. It is funny because of how it doesn’t make sense, a couple of characters are also aware of it not making sense, and then they get runaround answers when they try to figure it out.
No comedy bit lands for everyone though.
Yeah, I know it doesn’t. I just genuinely don’t find it funny. I do appreciate the breakdown though, makes sense why people aside from me would like it.
Pretty sure Tom Hanks himself has mentioned he doesn’t understand why it’s so popular.
This was the perfect explanation. Thank you.
OP, says something to me that’s very clear about your sense of humor that you didn’t see any of this. There is an entire layer of humanity that you’re missing in your day to day life. That makes me sad.
Seek help.
It’s a well-constructed skit – unabashedly silly, with just the right amount of ironic detachment. I love how after Pumpkins shows up, the couple just coolly analyzes the regular monsters that were making them scream moments before. The music is ridiculous, Tom Hanks demeanor is ridiculous, the dancing is ridiculous (with a dash of sexual weirness at the end). And it comes full circle with him genuinely scaring them in the end.
I do think that them doing sequels and trying to spin a mini-franchise out of it was stupid though.
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.
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.
I don’t get Tracy Morgan. His jokes don’t seem that funny to me. He’s extremely repetitive. I don’t understand him. Then, one day I heard a comedian on a podcast describe him as a complete genius. He said Tracy’s trick is he tells a joke that may be funny, maybe not funny, and you’ll give him a little laugh. Then he repeats the joke ten times. It’s no longer funny. You’re just tired of hearing it. Then he repeats the joke ten more times, and somehow through the power of alchemy, it’s now run full circle and is the funniest thing you’ve ever heard every time he says it. I think this skit has that same energy.
That doesn’t sound like genius.
I’ve actually tired to explain how Donald trump is the complete opposite of Tracy Morgan for these reasons. Trump is dumb as hell trying to sound smart. The first time you hear what he says it’s funny because it’s so unbelievable; then reality sets in and it stops being funny. Sorry for bringing him up, but this is too coincidental to not mention
!Wade Boggs’ Carpet World!<
!Wade Boggs’ Carpet World!<
!Wade Boggs’ Carpet World!<
!Wade Boggs’ Carpet World!<
And one last piece of advice, Liz Lemon, from someone who’s been on this side of the business for a long time:
!Wade Boggs’ Carpet World!<
I have five words for you:
I prefer it in the original Stewart Lee
I’m so glad I never have any idea what is viral on the internet
Everything Tom Hanks does is gold
The skit where he is a creepy animatronic robot on the love ride is fantastic.
Everybody knows him as Tom Hanks, but what people don’t know is his real name is actually Hank Toms!
Otm Shank
Tim Honks
Him Tonks?
Sometimes humor is hard to explain. This sketch probably struck some chord with a fad for “random” things at the time, and maybe hasn’t aged very well.
While the internet was of course influential in 2016, my recollection is that people weren’t nearly as jaded and cynical as they are now in the post-truth, post-pandemic world.
We’re constantly bombarded with memes, jokes, and other distractions…so perhaps people are not so easily amused now as they were almost a decade ago.
However, I do remember some folks being confused, annoyed, and unimpressed with it back then, too. But enough people were tickled by it to want to share it with everyone. And I do think Hanks brings a certain bizarre charm to it that not many comedians can pull off.
2016 is well after 9/11/2001… People where already very I jaded on the Internet.
I suspect you where just too young to be jaded yourself yet.
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.
I never found it funny but it was always entertaining anyway. Watch the monkey dance vibes.
It’s basically just what my humor is like
