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Tom Hanks: Cleveland Indians fan.

(Great Lakes Theater Festival)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The world outside Northeast Ohio might be pulling for the Chicago Cubs in the World Series, but at least one nationally known celebrity threw his weight behind the Tribe early Sunday, about two hours after the National League Championship Series ended.

Tom Hanks, host of "Saturday Night Live," rode out the notes of the finishing music on the NBC comedy show Saturday night, Oct. 22, thanking musical guest Lady Gaga and guest Alec Baldwin before yelling "Go Tribe!" The show ended at 1 a.m. Sunday. The Cubs defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in Wrigley Field, 5-0, in a decisive Game 6. Early Las Vegas odds favor Chicago over Cleveland.

Cleveland theater gave Hanks' acting career an early boost. He was an intern at the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival in 1977 and 1978. He is scheduled to return to Cleveland on Friday, Dec. 2, for Greater Cleveland Film Commission's fundraiser, "Behind the Camera." That would be exactly one month after a possible Game 7 in the series.

In Saturday's show, Hanks played an assortment of characters, from Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger being bumped to co-pilot on a flight to a Donald Trump supporter who earns kudos from his fellow contestants and game-show host on an episode of "Black Jeopardy."

The World Series pits the Cubs and its mega fan base against the AL pennant-winning Cleveland Indians in what figures to be a championship for the ages: The Cubs haven't been to the series since 1945 and they haven't won since 1908. The Indians last won in 1948 and last went to the series in 1997.

The World Series starts Tuesday night in Progressive Field in Cleveland.