Actor Tom Hanks took a shot at MS NOW’s audience size Thursday while attending the grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
Hanks, who is set to star in Toy Story 5, was approached by a reporter from the network formerly known as MSNBC, which rebranded as MS NOW last summer. As the reporter began to ask a question, Hanks joked about the network’s dwindling audience.
Hanks: What can I do for the 800 people watching MSNOW? pic.twitter.com/ae9NmMmYzY
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 18, 2026
“What can I do for the 800 people watching MS NOW?” Hanks said.
When the reporter appeared taken aback by the remark, Hanks quickly softened the jab.
“Alright, add a zero to it if you need to,” he added.
Even with the adjustment, the joke brought the network’s viewership struggles front and center. MS NOW has continued to face scrutiny following its rebrand, especially as critics have argued that the new name has done little to change the network’s political identity or improve its reach.
The exchange occurred as Hanks joined other high-profile guests for the opening of the long-awaited Obama Presidential Center, a project that has itself faced controversy in Chicago.
The center has been promoted by supporters as a major civic and cultural addition to the city’s South Side, honoring former President Barack Obama’s legacy while providing community programming, museum space and public amenities.
However, the project has also drawn criticism over delays, cost overruns and reports that some contractors and small businesses remain unpaid. Several construction firms, including black-owned businesses and tradesmen involved in the project, have said they are still owed payments ranging from tens of thousands to millions of dollars.
For some of those businesses, the unpaid bills have created serious financial strain, with owners warning that they could face bankruptcy if the debts are not resolved.
The controversy has complicated the center’s opening. Supporters continue to frame the project as a landmark investment in Chicago and a tribute to the nation’s first black president, while critics argue that the financial disputes undercut the center’s stated mission of uplifting local communities and minority-owned businesses.
Hanks’ brief exchange with MS NOW added levity while inadvertently highlighting the decline of a progressive institution while celebrating the opening of another, already mired in scandal and legal troubles. The actor has long been associated with Democratic causes and has been a supporter of Obama, making his joke at the expense of a left-leaning cable network especially notable.
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