David S. Pumpkins returned to Saturday Night Live during this week’s Halloween cold open, with Tom Hanks reprising the role in a haunted-ride sketch modeled on the character’s two previous appearances on the show.
The comeback was soon interrupted by James Austin Johnson’s Donald Trump, who took over the remainder of the sketch. The appearance shifted attention away from Pumpkins and made Trump the central figure in the bit.
The sketch’s use of Trump prompted criticism over what some viewed as an unnecessary insertion into a beloved recurring segment. At the same time, the character’s abrupt presence can be read as part of the joke, reflecting the idea that Trump has become difficult to avoid across American culture.
The segment also referenced the approaching Election Day, with the source suggesting that the results could affect Trump’s continued cultural prominence. It closed with an appeal to vote in honor of Bobby Moynihan, whose next cameo should not be overshadowed.
Sources: Consequence.