Tom Hanks delivered an unexpected dose of humor during a live appearance on MS NOW, taking a playful jab at the network’s ratings while chatting with reporter Jacob Soboroff, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
The exchange happened Thursday at the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, where many major political and entertainment figures had gathered to celebrate the launch of former President Barack Obama’s new library and museum.
Soboroff spotted the Oscar-winning actor mingling among the crowd and managed to secure a quick on-air moment. Hanks, never missing a comedic beat, immediately set a lighthearted tone.
“What can I do for the 800 people watching MSNOW?” Hanks asked with a grin when Soboroff greeted him.
He didn’t stop there, adding with a smirk, “Alright, add a zero if you need to.”
Soboroff handled the roast smoothly, replying, “I would say millions now that you’re on our air.” The two shared a laugh before turning their focus to the event itself.
After briefly discussing the new presidential center, Soboroff thanked Hanks for “adding the zero to our ratings today,” embracing the joke in stride.
“I gotta tell ya, I can hear the clicks happening before my very eyes,” Hanks replied, keeping the playful energy going before walking off camera.
Back in the studio, MS NOW anchor Katy Tur reacted with good humor, smiling as she thanked Hanks for the moment.
“He has been very supportive of the press, at least in the past,” Tur said wryly, before recalling Hanks’ 2017 gesture of donating a coffee machine to White House reporters.
While the network declined to issue a formal comment afterward, the viral-worthy moment underscored Hanks’s quick wit and long-standing ability to turn any appearance into a memorable one.
The star’s teasing numbers were slightly below reality. MS NOW averaged 691,000 total day viewers and 1.1 million in primetime during the first quarter of 2026.
Those figures still placed the liberal-leaning network behind Fox News Channel, which drew 1.7 million total day viewers and 2.6 million during primetime in the same period.
For many watching, Hanks’s remarks captured exactly why the actor remains beloved — the sort of spontaneous humor that lands without offense and lightens the tone of a live broadcast.
It was another in a long line of viral moments from Hanks, whose mix of self-awareness and showbiz charm consistently earns him both headlines and laughter.