Tom Hanks ROASTS MS NOW at Obama Center opening: 'What can I do for the 800 people watching?’

Actor Tom Hanks roasted MS NOW, formerly known as MSNBC, while attending the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on Thursday, telling correspondent Jacob Soboroff there were mere hundreds of people watching the show.

"It’s great to see you," Soboroff said to Hanks.

Hanks replied, "What can I do for the 800 people watching?" After a moment, he said, "alright, add a zero to it if you need to."

Soboroff said, "I’d say millions now that you’re on our air." After the two discussed the opening of the center, Roboroff thanked Hanks for "adding the zero to our ratings today."

Hanks replied before walking away, "I gotta tell ya, I can hear the clicks happening before my very eyes."

MSNBC became MS Now in November following its spinoff from Comcast's NBCUniversal. Per the New York Post, MS NOW averaged 691-000 total-day viewers and 1.1 million primetime viewers in the first quarter of 2026.

Hanks is a prominent Democrat, vocally endorsing Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden in their presidential campaigns. Hanks is also friends with Obama, with the former president awarding Hanks with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016. Also attending Thursday’s event were former presidents Joe Biden, George W Bush, and Bill Clinton, as well as former Vice President Kamala Harris. Celebrities that attended included Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder, Tyler Perry, Bruce Springsteen and Oprah Winfrey.