The Commercial Break — TCB Infomercial: Jay Pharoah

Podcast Hosts: Bryan Green & Kristen Joy Hoadley
Guest: Jay Pharoah (Comedian, SNL alum, Game Show Host)
Release Date: September 24, 2024

Episode Overview

In this especially lively installment of "The Commercial Break," Bryan and Krissy welcome the multi-talented Jay Pharoah for a freewheeling, deeply funny, and sometimes unexpectedly sincere conversation. They riff on everything from Australia’s killer wildlife and the headaches of modern concert ticketing, to AI's infiltration of everyday life, the loneliness epidemic, Jay’s comedic beginnings, and his new projects: the stand-up special “Jared” and game show “Quiz With Balls.” As always, the duo mixes sharp banter with heartfelt moments, letting Jay’s insight—and his impressions—take center stage.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Welcome & Host Banter (01:01–09:49)

• Bryan and Krissy hype Jay’s appearance, reflecting on their excitement and the surreal joy of interviewing an SNL star.
• Brief sidebar about Justin Timberlake’s DUI (“Breaking news: Justin Timberlake suffers no consequences from driving drunk. There you go. It all just goes to show, you pay, you go. That’s it.” —Bryan Green, 01:49)
• Tangent on concert ticket frustration, TV on the Radio’s reunion, and Krissy plugging the Mempho Fest and TCB Live events.

Jay Pharoah Joins — Australian Adventures & Wild Life (09:49–13:58)

• Jay recounts his recent trip to Australia:
  • On kangaroos and other deadly animals: "Kangaroos can beat you up. … They're not fluffy and cute. … They’re weapon. They’re dangerous, OK? They're freaking dangerous." —Jay Pharoah, 10:09
  • Cassowaries, Tasmanian devils, and the reality of Australia’s outback dangers.
• Jay’s mother loved Australia, saying, "It's like America 25 years ago." (13:12)
• Cultural asides on differences between U.S. and Australia’s vibe and safety.

Music, Comedy, and SNL Experiences (14:14–18:21)

• Jay on his musical ambitions and surprise rap performance on Kevin Hart’s Olympic after-show.
  • "I started doing music before I started doing comedy, but comedy was just the thing that took off." —Jay Pharoah, 14:36
• Aspiring to be both SNL host and musical guest à la Timberlake and Drake:
  • "When I do SNL, I’m hoping to be the musical guest as well and the host. I would love to get to that point." —Jay Pharoah, 15:24
• Riff on celebrities who’ve pulled off the “double-double” (both hosting and musical guesting SNL).
• Easygoing, hilarious stories about hanging out with Drake and Rihanna (“Drake flew us out. We got flew out by Drake…So we all felt like bitches. It was fine.” —Jay Pharoah, 18:19)

Community, Parenting, and 'Kids These Days' (19:13–22:23)

• Jay and Bryan reminisce about the old days of neighborhood play:
  • “You’d get home from school, get a snack, they’d smack you on the ass and be like, be home at dark.” —Bryan Green, 19:20
  • Jay highlights the real reason: "Your parents would send you outside so they could do whatever the hell they wanted to." —Jay Pharoah, 19:45
  • Sly, adult humor about parents’ motivations and childhood innocence.
• Both lament modern distrust for neighbors and heightened parental anxiety.

AI, Loneliness, and Technology Overload (22:23–30:29)

• Extended riff on AI, deepfakes, and the confusion of digital identity:
  • “Just like when you get on Instagram now, you don’t know if the girl is real or not. … You don’t know if she came from the sack or if she came from imagination.” —Jay Pharoah, 22:41
• Bryan’s thought-provoking take on driverless cars and the moral choices coders must make (24:23).
• Social commentary on digital loneliness:
  • "Loneliness is a disease. It's a condition, and it affects many more people than we'll ever know about." —Bryan Green, 26:10

Memorable Moment — Jay on AI Girlfriends (27:45)

• Bryan’s story about an AI avatar app blowing up his phone:

  • "That avatar started calling me and texting me in the middle of the night. Where are you? I'm lonely. Where are you?" —Bryan Green, 27:19
  • Jay: "Delete the app. I would've just got rid of the phone. … You gotta have a new life after that." (27:45)

• The pandemic’s impact on socialization and the growing tendency toward disconnection:

  • “Disconnecting is the goal of the future for folks being totally reliant on artificial intelligence and advancements. That’s what the goal is. And unluckily, the aim is the children.” —Jay Pharoah, 29:39

Comedy Live Shows & Digital Etiquette (30:29–34:22)

• Clubs and big headliners increasingly confiscate or lock up phones at shows (shoutout to Dave Chappelle).
• Recalling the pleasure and focus of a show without distractions:
  • "This was one of the most enjoyable things I've done in a long time. Because my phone was not buzzing." —Bryan Green, 32:55
• Jay explains how a strong stage presence, honed since childhood ("I started impressions when I was six, theater when I was eight.” —Jay Pharoah, 34:22), captures the audience’s attention.

Jay’s Comedy Origin Story & Life Lessons (34:22–39:25)

• Childhood stories: being inspired by a teacher, early theater mishap, and determination to always be prepared, leading to a pivotal performance in Damn Yankees.
• “I was a premature baby that nobody thought, you know, hey, he might not make it. Hey. Now I’m six foot two, and as you can see, I’m pretty healthy, you know?” —Jay Pharoah, 37:14
• Staying grounded in showbiz:
  • "I still haven’t had to sell myself in a defaming way. … You have a base in you that can’t be broken and you don’t lose your mind." —Jay Pharoah, 38:15

“Jared” – Jay’s New Comedy Special (39:25–43:16)

• The new special "Jared" is deeply personal, confronting both public misconceptions and private struggles.
  • "Jared is who I am. That’s my real name, Jared. Jared Pharoah. … There are so many Jared moments, you know what I mean? … It’s a beautiful, introspective eye on just who I am and what a lot of people didn’t know." —Jay Pharoah, 40:46
• Journey from a “sheltered” suburb kid to self-discovery in comedy.
• The craft of turning pain into laughter:
  • “To be able to find the punchlines in that pain, it wasn't easy, but it's done. When you're an artist, you can do that.” —Jay Pharoah, 40:35

“Quiz With Balls” – The Game Show Hosting Life (43:16–47:51)

• Jay on the show’s wacky title: “When I started seeing those commercials a couple months ago, I was like, quiz with balls.” (43:16)

• He loves the balance of learning and physical comedy – “Family Feud crossed with Wipeout.”

• Reflections on the modern “multi-hyphenate” entertainer (i.e., you’re not boxed in as just a comedian or just a host).

  • “Just because you have a game show doesn’t mean that’s the only thing you have to do.” —Jay Pharoah, 45:21
  • Unfiltered take: “Yes, yes, I make a lot of money. I make a lot of money. Yes.” —Jay Pharoah, 45:15

• Bryan: “Isn’t it a dream job? You make a lot of money.” (45:21)

• The joy of being recognized for a catchphrase: “Release the balls!” —Jay Pharoah on his new cultural cachet, 45:25

Impressions & Animated Roles (48:20–50:11)

• Jay’s SNL “Principal Fry” impressions are a TCB favorite (impromptu character demo, 49:01)
• Reveals his “Sing 2” character voice was inspired by his grandfather, charming both hosts (49:41).

Notable Quotes

• “Kangaroos can beat you up. … They're not fluffy and cute. … They’re weapon. They’re dangerous, OK?” —Jay Pharoah (10:09)
• “You know you’re in a dangerous place when the safest beings are the humans.” —Jay Pharoah (11:47)
• “Disconnecting is the goal of the future for folks being totally reliant on artificial intelligence and advancements. … And unluckily, the aim is the children.” —Jay Pharoah (29:39)
• “To be able to find the punchlines in that pain, it wasn't easy, but it's done. When you're an artist, you can do that.” —Jay Pharoah (40:35)
• “I started doing music before I started doing comedy, but comedy was just the thing that took off.” —Jay Pharoah (14:36)
• “Family Feud crossed with Wipeout. You’re learning things while you’re seeing people get knocked into water unexpectedly.” —Jay Pharoah (44:10)
• “I was a premature baby that nobody thought, you know, hey, he might not make it. … And the most important thing with your celebrity star is not losing yourself.” —Jay Pharoah (37:14)
• “You gotta get you some of this game show money, boy. That’s where all the money is, boy, up in the game show.” —Jay Pharoah as Steve Harvey (47:55)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Welcome & Ticket Frustrations: 01:01–06:13
• Concert/Festival Talk: 06:13–09:49
• Jay Pharoah Joins – Australia: 09:49–13:58
• Jay’s Music, Comedy, and SNL: 14:14–18:21
• Drake Hangout Story: 17:25–18:29
• Neighborhood & Parenting: 19:13–22:23
• AI & Digital Life Riff: 22:23–30:29
• Live Comedy & Phones: 30:29–34:22
• Impressions/Origin Story: 34:22–39:25
• On "Jared" Special: 39:25–43:16
• Quiz With Balls/Game Shows: 43:16–47:51
• SNL Characters & Sing 2: 48:20–50:11

Tone & Vibe

• Fast, irreverent, self-aware, and improvisational; Jay matches hosts' playfulness with sharp observational humor, occasional sentimentality, and signature impressions.
• Frequent off-the-cuff taglines and callbacks, especially about modern absurdities.
• Fluid blend of random tangents, sincere social commentary, and showbiz anecdotes.

For New Listeners

This episode is a must for fans of pop culture, comedy insiders, and anyone curious about Jay Pharoah’s evolution—from class clown to SNL standout, and now, charming game show host. You’ll get classic TCB meandering but also thoughtful candor about technology, celebrity, and the emotional side of being funny for a living.

Key Takeaways:

• Jay is both goofy and earnest, excited to share his “real self” in his new special—and not above doing on-demand SNL voices.
• The group finds common ground in nostalgia for more connected, less digital childhoods—and calls for balancing tech’s conveniences with real human connection.
• If you want to laugh while reflecting on where the world—and comedy—is headed, this is your episode.

Links and more in the show notes/at TCBPodcast.com.
Check out Jay Pharoah’s “Jared” special and “Quiz With Balls” on Hulu.