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?
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.
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?
Even the David S. Pumpkins Halloween Special?
I never found it funny but it was always entertaining anyway. Watch the monkey dance vibes.
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 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.
I prefer it in the original Stewart Lee
That doesn’t sound like genius.
I have five words for you:
Not to be crass, but it almost seems like he’s gotten even more like that since his accident. Nowadays he says the most absurd shit, but just the way he says it and commits to it is funny.
!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’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
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.
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?!?
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 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
Very little of SNL is actually funny. Celebrity jeopardy comes to mind
It’s funny because it’s bigger than a normal hat
Turd Ferguson is a funny name.
As a Brit, I have to agree. So many of the skits that have been shared over the years are terrible, and I have to wonder if it’s a cultural divide.
On the other hand, the weekend update where the guys swap jokes is some of the best comedy I’ve seen.
SNL is very much a combination of both humor from two years ago and next years mainstream. So many of the skits are built in the gap of “what have I seen lately that’s funny so I can quickly write” and “this will be twice as hilarious in a few years.”
So, SNL is usually pretty meh because you either like current humor and the ‘future’ stuff doesn’t hit or you don’t like current humor and that doesn’t hit.
The thing about it is to remember that it’s generally one of 5 skits they have had to write and rehearse as much as possible in the course of 6 days at most.
SNL is more about having a good reason to workshop their skills than it is about how good the show is. But in the context of what they are actually accomplishing, it’s generally a pretty good live show. But of course, it will never be as funny on average as a pre-written and pre-recorded show that can be edited and fixed up.
Sort of the same thing as going to any live theater shows. They are not as good as recorded and edited stuff, but you have to appreciate the effort given the context. And adjust your expectations of the quality of the results. They might occasionally still make something that happens to compete favourably with other media, but it shouldn’t be expected.
I don’t find it particularly funny, but I certainly enjoyed the vibe of the entire skit.
I’ve never even heard of it but now I’m intrigued.
but am I just a buzz kill
Nah, I’m a longtime fan of absurd shit like Tim and Eric that is rooted heavily in a public television vibe of “doing things wrong and cheaply.”
I was never sure if this was trying for a similar vibe or what, but I’m definitely one of the people who firmly never understood it.
Me as well. I crack up at nonsense type comedy like the eric andre show, and imo this snl skit is just plain unfunny
If you like that public access TV feel, I highly recommend checking out the (earlier) episodes of the Chris Getherd show that literally aired on NYC public access TV.
It eventually got popular enough to get a deal with TruTV, which unfortunately ruined the aesthetic of the show and it was never the same (made me feel bad for Getherd. The show ended up failing because it was good enough to get on cable).
Those early public access episodes are gold. I imagine you can find them online.
