Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Saturday, Jun 21, 2025

Video: Tom Hanks Hosted “SNL” From Home And Joked He’s “More Like America’s Dad Than Ever” Since His Coronavirus Diagnosis

Video: Tom Hanks Hosted “SNL” From Home And Joked He’s “More Like America’s Dad Than Ever” Since His Coronavirus Diagnosis

"Ever since being diagnosed, I have been more like America’s dad than ever before since no one wants to be around me anymore and I make people uncomfortable."

Saturday Night Live aired its first episode Saturday since it suspended production in mid-March because of the coronavirus outbreak in New York City, featuring cast members performing sketches from home and hosted by none other than Tom Hanks.

Hanks was one of the first celebrities to test positive for COVID-19, and he documented his quarantine and recovery for fans.

“It’s good to be here, though it’s also very weird to be here, hosting Saturday Night Live from home,” said Hanks from the comfort of his kitchen/living room.



 He joked about how life has changed since his diagnosis.

“I have been the celebrity canary in the coal mine for the coronavirus and ever since being diagnosed, I have been more like America’s dad than ever before since no one wants to be around me anymore and I make people uncomfortable,” he said.

Hanks contracted the coronavirus while filming an untitled Baz Luhrman project about Elvis Presley in Australia. In Instagram posts as he recovered with his wife, Rita Wilson, in isolation, he often urged people to do their part in doing their part to stop the spread of the virus.

On Saturday, he provided an update on how he and Wilson were doing.

“Now my wife and I, we’re doing great. We’re doing fine. We’re hunkered down like all of us should be. In fact, this suit is the first time I’ve worn anything that’s not sweatpants since March 11. My wife had to help me put it on because I forgot how buttons work,” he said. “There are these little disks that slide into these slots.”

In his opening monologue, the actor balanced making light of the situation and acknowledging its seriousness.

“It is a strange time to try and be funny, but trying to be funny is SNL’s whole thing,” he said.

“Now I was diagnosed back in March with the coronavirus down in Australia. Now the folks in Australia are great in every way, but they use Celsius instead of Fahrenheit when they take your temperature. So when they come in and say ‘you’re 36!’ which seemed bad to me, but 36 is fine. Thirty-eight is bad - so basically it’s how Hollywood treats female actors,” he said.

He also weighed in on how life has changed across the world due to stay-at-home orders.

“Also, there’s no such thing as Saturdays anymore. It’s just, every day is today. And we’re not really live, but we are doing everything we can to make this the SNL you really love. I am even using cue cards, see?”
Advertisement

And in typical Hanksian fashion, he also gave some encouraging words.

“We’re in this for the duration, and we will get through this together. We are going to thank our hospital workers, our first responders, and all our helpers. The supermarket stockers. The people who deliver our food. The people who are making the takeout for us. The men and women who are keeping this country running at a time when we need them more than ever before,” he said. “We’re going to take care of them and we’re going to take care of each other, so let’s try to now just enjoy the show.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Black Box Recovered from Air India Crash Site
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
×