Video taking off 22x its usual first day

Bobby Moynihan shares Tom Hanks's advice for freezing on SNL

Mashable's interview reveals a last-minute cross-country return, an extra Drunk Uncle appearance and the practicalities of becoming David S. Pumpkins's skeleton again.

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Mashable Story of November 6, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? The video opened at a pace of 37,915 views a day, 22 times a normal first day on this channel (1,758).

Bobby Moynihan on Reuniting with Tom Hanks for David S. Pumpkins & Returning to SNL

Things we can learn from the video

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0:19Moynihan had flown home to Los Angeles when a stage manager's text hinted he was expected back at SNL.
1:10The last-minute return to New York included both the cold open and Drunk Uncle on Weekend Update.
1:52Drunk Uncle was added to accommodate an appearance by Milwaukee Brewers players.
2:43Hanks realized that keeping arms down and mouths closed would make the prolonged frozen poses easier.
4:06Moynihan embraces the fact that David S. Pumpkins's appeal remains difficult to explain.

Bobby Moynihan got a welcoming text from SNL's stage manager before he knew he was coming back. He had just flown home to Los Angeles when Chris Kelly sent a message: "Can't wait to see you this weekend."

The invitation meant turning around and heading back to New York, reuniting with Tom Hanks and Mikey Day for David S. Pumpkins's tenth anniversary. In his Mashable interview with Belen Edwards, Moynihan explains how that hurried return became two appearances, with Drunk Uncle joining the schedule on Weekend Update to accommodate guests from the Milwaukee Brewers.

But returning to a familiar costume brought an unfamiliar practical problem: how do you hold completely still while the sketch continues around you?

Hanks spotted the difficulty during rehearsal. An exaggerated pose might look funny at first, but keeping it up for seven minutes was another matter. Moynihan recalls his advice: "Tom Hanks is a good actor. He knew, he was like, keep your mouth shut, keep your arms down."

The interview has drawn about 24,000 views in its first 11 hours, already far beyond Mashable's usual full-day audience for regular videos. In the comments, viewers are doing anniversary arithmetic, pointing out the importance of Moynihan and Day's skeleton sidekicks, and making requests for Moynihan to host.

For all the logistics, Moynihan doesn't offer a neat explanation for why the pumpkin-suited character endures. That seems to be part of the pleasure. As he tells Edwards: "I kind of love that no one really understands why it works."

Published on Trari

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What viewers say

HOW!!! HOW is David PUMPKINS 10 years old???????
@Brian_BuckleySee it on YouTube
Bobbi and Mikey are part of the reason the David Pumpkins skit is loved. Yes, Tom Hanks is David S. Pumpkins but he needs his Skeleton Bois.
@ToddWilliams-o2rSee it on YouTube
His lorne impression is great
@alex0589See it on YouTube

5 more comments

Thanks for being a trooper, Bobby! I loved the reprised performance of both DSP and the bonus Drunk Uncle.
@BooksForeverSee it on YouTube
Drunk Uncle is one of my favorite SNL characters
@Quixer-1See it on YouTube
I think it's high time Bobby hosted the show!
@itsonlykotsySee it on YouTube
Release the David Pumpkins cut of Home Alone.
@TheRealHamboneSee it on YouTube
I still have to say, deep in my bones…I still don’t really get it. But the fact that neither do the very guys in the sketch really understand why the sketch worked, makes me appreciate THAT it somehow worked.
@NevrSilentSee it on YouTube