
Episode #605: We’re talking to SNL alum Jay Pharoah, and finding out who Jared really is! Justin Timberlake’s DUI Jay’s Special: Jared Mempho Gettin’ chomped by a kangaroo Death by turkey Jay’s Australian accent Getting flown out by Drake Not cock blocking your parents AI instagirls Disconnecting Recording at shows A tender story! Jared The Quiz With Balls Game Show hosting Steve Harvey SING Special Guest: Jay Pharoah Watch Jay’s Special “Jared” on September 22nd Watch “The Quiz With Balls” on Hulu Follow Jay on Instagram Jay on Tour Olympic Highlights w Becky G Text us or leave us a voicemail: +1 (212) 433-3TCB Follow Us: IG: @thecommercialbreak TikTok: @tcbpodcast YT: youtube.com/thecommercialbreak www.tcbpodcast.com Executive Producer: Bryan Green Hosts: Bryan Green & Krissy Hoadley Producer: Astrid B. Green Producer & Audio Editor: Christina Archer Christina’s Podcast: Apple Podcasts & Spotify To learn more about listener data and our privacy prac...
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Jay Pharoah
We are all in this thing together. We are all messed up. And no matter how messed up you think you are, there's always somebody more up than you. You understand? That's real talk. Real talk. On this episode of the commercial Break. It's like when you get on Instagram now, you don't know if the girl is real or not. You don't know if that's a artist. You don't know if she's artificial intelligence or if you don't know if she was born from the. From the sack. You don't know if she came from the sack or if she came from imagination. You don't know anymore from the quantum computer. I'm talking about the embryonic sack. That's what I'm talking about. I mean, I wasn't speaking on my sacks. I was speaking on the embryo sack. That's what I was talking about. The next episode of the commercial break starts now. Oh, yeah.
Brian Green
Cats and kittens, welcome back to the commercial break. I'm Brian Green. This is my dear friend and the co host of this show, Kristen Joy Hoadley. Best to you, Chris.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Best to you, Brian.
Brian Green
Best to you out there in the podcast universe. Thanks for joining us as we lead up into our live events next week.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Getting in.
Brian Green
Skippity doo dah bibbidi bobbidi boo.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
I'm picturing more like a skid.
Brian Green
Yeah, more like a slam into the back of the improv, stumble our way into an empty room, talk for a couple of hours, get drunk and pretend it never happened.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
That's right.
Brian Green
Just like Justin Timberlake. We're recording. As we're recording, we're finding out the breaking news that Justin Timberlake has avoided any responsibility in his drunk driving case. And his lawyer had big GE geographical challenges.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Yeah.
Brian Green
As he had to blocks down the street, he said that this message will go far and wide as if. Well, you know what? We'll break down the whole news conference on another episode. Maybe tomorrow's episode, we'll break down the whole news conference, but Justin Timberlake. 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. You pay, you go. It's a TCB infomercial Tuesday and we're super excited to have in Mr. Jay.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Farah and Jay Saturday Night Live alumni.
Brian Green
Six seasons, seven seasons on SNL. He's known as the impressionist. He's the impressionist. Who did Obama. I think he did Chris Rock. He did Kevin Hart. He did a lot of the Bill Cosby. He's done a lot of impressions on Saturday Night Live as long as well as one of my favorites, which is Principal, which was a funny one that he would show up in like random skits that they did. Like anytime they did a school skid. Principal Fry usually showed up in some way, shape or form, said something incoherent and then left. And one time he was, he was talking about the children in the cafeteria. He's like, children in the cafeteria. And I just can't get that out of my head. I don't know why years has been stuck in my head. But anyway, Jay is also the brand new host of the quiz show that is taking the world by storm. Quiz with balls.
Jay Pharoah
Yes.
Brian Green
Now available on Hulu. I think the season is over but the reruns are available on Hulu. So do yourself a favor, go watch that Jared special is out as of Sunday. Or excuse me, Jay's special Jared is now out as of Sunday. His real name is Jared. That special is called Jared and I think it's available if you go to jfaro.com you can go ahead and watch that special. So how, how much more exciting can life get? Chrissy, I know we're here.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
We're talking our dream. We, I never thought that we could come into contact.
Brian Green
I know if you would have said you're gonna Brian, you're gonna be talking to SNL alum someday. I would have been like, are they in jail? Are they also incarcerated? It's crazy. It really is. You know, I, I, I want to say this now we're talking about SNL New York. It got me thinking. Do you know the band TV on the Radio?
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Of course.
Brian Green
Oh my God.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
One of my TV on the favorite.
Brian Green
One of my favorite songs in the world is Young Liars. What's the other one? Wolf. Wolf like me. I just love, I love TV on the radio. So they've been broken up for not broken up. They've done on hiatus, quote unquote for like 10 years. And they announced a couple of weeks ago they're getting back together and they're going to do a short run, like a short tour and they're doing like six shows in New York. I think a couple shows in Toronto if I'm not mistaken, then a couple shows in LA, like two shows in LA. So it's like 10 shows altogether. I quickly run to their website because they say we're only going to send you a link to order tickets if you pre register on our website. And the tickets are not being sold through Ticketmaster. They're being sold through axs, which is another ticketing company. Smaller ticketing company. This probably. Yes. So I'm like, okay, I'm gonna do this. So I'm not. I'm sure I wasn't the first, but I think on the first day that they announced this could be done, I went and I registered. Because I. I thought to myself, if I can go see TV on the radio in New York at Webster Hall, I'm going to go. That would be amazeballs. I didn't get Oasis tickets. Okay, all right. I didn't get Puppy Dog pal tickets, and my kids are crying about that right now. But I'm going to get TV on the Radio tickets. I must be able to get at least one concert. I didn't get Pearl Jam ticket. I must be able to get at least one concert ticket this year due to these fucked up ticketing systems and crazy prices. And so they send me the link. I go there three minutes after the tickets went on sale, no tickets available. And the special code I had invalid. And they texted it to me. They texted me that fucking code. I am so pissed. So I Google it. I'm like, is anybody else having trouble with this? There's a Reddit post, I don't know, hundreds and hundreds of. Of comments deep about how no one else had the valid Cody.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Right?
Brian Green
And it was just insane. They can't get this, right? How can they not get this? I say go back to the days where you had to stand in line or somebody that answered the phone and got you the tickets to you available.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Well, you know what? Concert ticket you can always get TCB Live. Well, that and Mempho.
Brian Green
Oh, Minfo. Okay, all right. Well, I didn't. Wasn't thinking that far.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
It's been like four weeks.
Brian Green
I. Well, I know, but TCV Live is in like a week, so there you go.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
I'm just saying, if you ever need a hookup, Brian, I'm your girl.
Brian Green
Well, thank you, Chrissy. I really appreciate it. I really enjoyed my one MENO experience. And I would like to go back if my children will let me.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
No, no. I don't know if they're going to allow it.
Brian Green
Who's playing at Mempho this year? Are tickets still available?
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Yes, tickets are still available. Well, the headliners, Jack White on Sunday.
Brian Green
Unbelievable.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Yeah. Cody Jenkins on Friday. And Saturday is a little Goose and Trey Anastasio.
Brian Green
Can you believe it? Goose and Trey playing together. Fish and Goose, they're all in. It's an all animal Saturday at the Mempho Fest. Mempho Fest.com you can get your tickets. Is MemphoFest.com right?
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Yes.
Brian Green
Mempho Fest.comyou can get your tickets. You're going to be in the Memphis area. This is like one of those festivals that doesn't get like headline news like, you know, Bonnaroo or, you know, Burning man or any of that. But it is a fantastic getting there.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
It's getting there. 7th year.
Brian Green
Congratulations to Jeff. That's Chrissy's husband, Jizzy Jazz. Jizzy Jazz Jeff.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Yeah. The Roots are going to be there. I'm excited.
Brian Green
Unbelievable. All right, so you can get your tickets if you want to. That's when that is.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
October. Is that second? Well, the first full weekend in October.
Brian Green
First full weekend in October, whatever that is. You can go. Yeah, something like that. You can go and get tickets.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
I'm also only thinking about our TCB Live.
Brian Green
I know. That's all I can think about, quite frankly. Yeah.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Like, let me just get through that.
Brian Green
I know.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Then I can think about everything.
Brian Green
I'm just trying to figure out exactly what we're going to say. I'm still trying to figure out what we're going to say. TCB Live tickets are available, but in the show notes. But let us not talk all about that because more importantly, we should really shine the light on Jay Pharoah, who's here today. Jfaroh.com watch quiz with balls on Hulu. Get his new special in your brain by going to his website, clicking on that link. It's free, I think. I think. Yeah, that's what I read. Anyway, we're recording this a couple days before the special comes out, so. But I think it's free. So go ahead and tell us. Jay can tell us. We'll ask him when he gets here. So let's do this. Chrissy. Wait one second. There's a lot of buttons I have to press in order to get this right. Here we go. Awkward transition phase.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Transition phase.
Brian Green
Why don't we do this, Chrissy? Let's go ahead and take a break so that we can pay a few bills. And after we get back from that break, through the magic of telepodcasting, Jay Farrow, SNL alum, impressionist extraordinaire, stand up comic who's selling out theaters all across the United States and elsewhere, is going to be with us and we'll have the opportunity to have a short discussion. What do you think?
Kristen Joy Hoadley
I think let's do it.
Brian Green
All right. We'll Be back.
Christina (Producer)
Calling all pretty, pretty princesses. Yeah, that means you. I've got a favor to ask, if you wouldn't mind. Could you just please follow us on Instagram at the commercial break and on TikTok @TCB podcast, not on social media. Text us instead at 212-4333, TCB. And if you find yourself wanting any more content from this already content saturated show, check out our website@tcbpodcast.com while you're contemplating what hilarious meme to send us, let's listen to our sponsors and get back to the show.
Brian Green
And Jay's with us now. Thanks, Jay. We really appreciate your time today. How are you?
Jay Pharoah
Hey. I'm good. How about you guys?
Brian Green
We're doing good. I woke up this morning, I've been following you on Instagram on my personal account for a hot minute and I saw you did a clip about how you were in Australia and you were talking about the kangaroos can bite your balls off because they have the strength of alligator.
Jay Pharoah
Well, well, not the. Not the king. Not the kangaroos biting. The Tasmanian Devil has the psi is not to be messed with. That's what I'm saying. It's like getting ripped a. Like a rottweiler, but like five of them. That's how it would be. So I would stay. Kangaroos can beat you up. They all, they try to make them look all fluffy and cute. They're not fluffy and cute. They're weapon. They're dangerous, okay? They're freaking dangerous. All right. Also, 6 foot 5 turkeys can kill you out there. Called the cassowary. Yes.
Brian Green
Oh, Cassoways. I've seen those things. Those are ugly little.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Chlamydia.
Brian Green
Oh, yeah, the koalas can get.
Jay Pharoah
I know.
Brian Green
Yeah.
Jay Pharoah
So, you know, for all the bestiality folks, they. They're not even going to enjoy their time out there. Look, you can't even bang a koala. Look at you.
Brian Green
Alabama's out. Alabama and Australia, they don't work together. Hey, have you. So you've obviously been to Australia, so. I've never been to Australia, but I had a friend, a good friend that actually moved there. And, you know, we would always laugh about everything in Australia can kill you. And so I was texting with him, I don't know, a couple months ago, and I said, so, how's Australia? You know, can everything kill you? He goes, brian, literally everything can kill you. He's like, you have to defend your home from spiders, from random animals, from, you know. And he goes. He's like, brian, it's the craziest shit. Australians are not afraid of shit because everything can kill them. They box kangaroos. He's like, I went to a boxing match with a fucking kangaroo. And I was like, you got to be kidding me. Is that even legal? He goes, in Australia, it's legal because they hate kangaroos. You.
Jay Pharoah
You know. You know you're in a dangerous place when the safest. The safest beings are the humans. Yeah.
Brian Green
Yeah. Usually we're. Usually we're the alpha animal, right, that kills everything else. Not in Australia. I think that's the universe's funny little joke. I'm gonna make this beautiful, huge island that everyone can go to, you know, enjoy. It's wonderful. And then I'm just gonna put everything that can kill you on that island.
Jay Pharoah
Enjoy it. But if you get caught slipping you a lunch meat, literally, you are cold cuts, like, literally.
Brian Green
So where. But where in Australia did you go?
Jay Pharoah
I was in Melbourne. I was in Melbourne. As they like to say. Hello. They like to say Melbourne over the Melbourne. I was chilling out there and shooting the show, and it was a great show. And, you know, lots of. Lots of fun. Like, lots of fun, Mike. Like, so much fun, Mike. So hopefully I'll get a chance to go back out there, and I would love to go back to Melbourne, probably Sydney. I'd love to go to Sydney as well. Brisbane. I've been to all those places, though, so it's just. I love traveling, but not to. Not to discourage anybody from going to Australia. It is a beautiful place. My mother. My mother was there with me when I was recording the show.
Brian Green
Oh, that's.
Jay Pharoah
And she said she would love to move there. Like, it's really. That. It's really that nice. It's like. It's like America 25 years ago. Yeah, that's. That's what I can. That's what I can. It's like. It's like America, when things were. It's not too bad.
Brian Green
You know, you could say it out loud. It's like America before this shit show started in 2013.
Jay Pharoah
Yeah. Hey.
Brian Green
Hey.
Jay Pharoah
What? What? In 16. What? Oh, my gosh. You could even go.
Brian Green
You could go back further than that, but don't even.
Jay Pharoah
It's just. It's just. It's. It's a lovely place to go. So I encourage anybody if you want to. Don't let the. Don't let the animals fool you. Of course, they. They're in the outback. Okay. It's not like a. Yeah, yeah.
Brian Green
Into Melbourne. Yeah. You're not gonna see A koala hanging out on the roof of the Melbourne House.
Jay Pharoah
There's not going to be a Tasmanian devil that's going to knock on your door and be like, I'm hungry. Guess what I'm eating. Like, it's not. Not gonna happen. So, yeah, you.
Brian Green
You know what, man? I was watching the wrap up show on the Olympics, which I was obsessed with. I think everybody obsessed with the Olympics. Totally obsessed with the Paris Olympics. And I was watching the Ratchet wrap up show and I was watching you spit lyrics and I was super impressed. You're good and you sound good. Have you. Are you, like, musically inclined? You must be.
Jay Pharoah
Oh, yes, sir. That's something else I've been working on. I've always. I started doing music before I started doing comedy, but comedy was just the thing that took off. However, recently I have been back in the lab and working, working on some material. So really I'm, I'm happy. I'm happy for the world to hear it because, you know, like you're saying, you can tell I'm lyrically inclined musically.
Brian Green
Thank you. But it's just a link in the show notes for anybody that wants to watch that clip of him on Kevin Hart's after show. Yeah. Because it was brilliant. I was like, oh, here he comes. He's gonna do some comedy number. Right. But it, it was not. It was so good musically. It was so good. I was impressed.
Jay Pharoah
When, When I do snl, I'm hoping to be the musical guest as well and the host. I would love to. I would love to get to that point. I've just got to drop this thing. Yep. I just got to drop it. And then I have a feeling that there's. There's a chance that that could happen. I'm just saying.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Oh, yeah.
Brian Green
Jay's giving us. I have a feeling that after. What was it, six seasons, Seven seasons on snl, I think. Six seasons. I think you'll get the invite back. And if you're the double double, you'll be in a rare category of human beings. Who has done the double double?
Jay Pharoah
Be the double. Be the double double. Like Justin Timberlake, like, who else did it? Did Taylor Swift do it?
Brian Green
I think Taylor Swift did it.
Jay Pharoah
Miley Cyrus.
Brian Green
Did Lady Gaga do it. Am I right about that?
Jay Pharoah
Yes or no? Yes. Lady Gaga did do a Drake, of course.
Brian Green
Get it? Yep.
Jay Pharoah
Everybody loves. We all love Drake. You know what I'm saying? There's still love for Drake here. I don't know what the problem is. I. I've only heard. I've Only heard the diss track once. I ain't even listening to it again. I heard it one time.
Brian Green
It was played seven times in one concert. How could you have missed it?
Jay Pharoah
Well, that's the thing. I didn't. Everybody saw the concert. I was not down for the Drake disrespect. I said, nope, I shalln't watch it.
Brian Green
Nah, good.
Jay Pharoah
Drake is my friend. He follows me. No, I'm just. What I don't want to happen is I know Drake got a lot of access, so he probably got security camera access, so I don't want him to be. He probably got some stuff on my phone and some shit he could just look at and be like, yeah, I saw you. I saw you checking out a Kendrick. I saw you checking out the Kendrick concert. I got. I gotta unfollow you now. And I'm like, no, you don't. It's a song, man.
Brian Green
Please don't go, Drake. I just like the song. I just like the song.
Jay Pharoah
And I only heard it once. I only heard it one time.
Brian Green
Are you. And have you. Have you. Are you, like, actual friends with Drake? Do you guys. Have you guys hung out?
Jay Pharoah
We. Yeah, we. We used to, but it was. That was. Phone numbers were probably different back then. I don't have to talk to him. I haven't talked to him in a long time. But every time I see him, though, it's. It's all. It's all love. We did hang out in England when I went out there with my friends, and him and Rihanna happened to be out there, and he was like. He was like, bro, what are you doing here, man? What are you doing? I was like, well, I'm just. I'm out here on break. Like, we don't have SNL this week. Yo, bro, what are you doing tomorrow? I'm like, I'm. I'm gonna be in London. He's like, no, no, bro, I have a show in Manchester, bro. Like, you've gotta come out. Like, you and your friends, bro. Like, everybody's gotta come. I'm like, well, you know, we don't have. We're supposed to be in London. I. I'll fly you over, bro. I'll get you plane tickets and everything. Drake flew us out. We got flew out by Drake.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
That's incredible.
Jay Pharoah
Yep. All of us. So we. We all felt like bitches. It was fine.
Brian Green
Jesus, Jones, it must be nice to have friends like Rihanna and Drake.
Jay Pharoah
Yeah.
Brian Green
Hey, I got my neighbor Dale, and he hasn't flown me fucking anywhere. I'm gonna tell you Right now, Dale's a useless piece of shit.
Jay Pharoah
Dale is a useless. Dale is a useless piece of shit.
Brian Green
He'll bring in my garbage cans occasionally.
Jay Pharoah
The only neighbor that I know is Ms. Jill. And I don't even know if she's still here. So I don't. It's just me against my whole cul de sac. And you know, it's. You know what's crazy though? I like being in the cut, but also, you know, if I ever need something, it's. It's just. It's just me, dog. You know?
Brian Green
Yeah. You know, where did you. You grew up in Virginia?
Jay Pharoah
Chesapeake. Virginia, yes.
Brian Green
You know, I don't know, you're. I think you're much. Probably younger than Chrissy and I are. But I remember a time when your parents would like, send you out. You know, you get home from school, they give you a snack and then they'd smack you on the ass and be like, be home at dark. And you would go out and actually communicate with other human beings outside your own house. Now I have children and I understand why we don't communicate with people because people are insane. Yeah, there's a lot of people in this world, Jay, and most of them aren't well.
Jay Pharoah
And yeah, you are absolutely right about that. And to even break down that situation more articulately, your parents would send you outside so they could do whatever the hell they wanted to.
Brian Green
Correct.
Jay Pharoah
That's what they set you outside for. You'd be like, wait a minute, it's like subway in here when you get back in the house. Because they. That's what they would. That's what they would do. I realize now that 90 of my childhood was my parents trying to sneak around and probably fool with each other, meanwhile leaving us to our own devices and things like toys or whatever. Yeah. You know why your mama and your mama, your daddy didn't want you to have a nightmare because you were cock blocking. That's why. That's why. Because if you. If you have a nightmare, well, now he can't get his rocks off that night. He gotta wait. Now he's frustrated and he wanted. He already want to kill everybody at his job, but he don't do it because he looks and says, I got a family and they're much more valuable than prison time. You know what I mean? So he's already on the edge. But I realized that a lot of my childhood was my parents not wanting me to cog block. That was crazy. That's crazy to think about.
Brian Green
But you know why I think that parenting now, and I'm a parent now of young children. That's why I think parenting now is so much more difficult because there is not a lot of away time with the children. I cannot let them out of the front of the house and tell them to go hang out with the neighbors because, you know, Dale's flying flag I don't care for. And the guy across the street has, like, literal blackout curtains and aluminum foil on his windows. And I'm a little nervous about what the fuck is gonna go on out there.
Jay Pharoah
Dale. Dale's. Dale's flying the Confederate flag. Yeah, Scott's over there. Scott sniffs toes and looks at children.
Brian Green
You just.
Jay Pharoah
You're screwed. You just gotta trust. You gotta trust your own. You gotta trust your own bunk bunker. You gotta trust your own bunk. You can't go nowhere else. You know.
Brian Green
You know what it is, Jay? Scott's got one too many security cameras. I don't think that, like, you need five security cameras at your front door. You know what I'm saying? It just makes me a little nervous. Why is so many security cameras?
Jay Pharoah
He created only fans for all of his neighbors. Feet. He's got his feet up there. He's making. That's how he's staying in the house. Y' all don't even know y' all are paying his mortgage. You don't even realize that. Insane.
Brian Green
Hey, Jay, tell me about. So were. Obviously you were in Paris. What, did you attend Olympics? Did you tend.
Jay Pharoah
No, I wasn't. I didn't do that in Paris. I did that at Kevin Hart Studios down the street.
Brian Green
Oh, man, that's right. Oh, they had me tricked.
Jay Pharoah
Listen, that's what's messed up about the world. See, you don't even see. You didn't even know if I was here or I was there. Just like when you get on. Just like when you get on Instagram now. You don't know if the girl is real or not. You don't know if that's a. You don't know if she's artificial intelligence or if. You don't know if she was born from the. From the sack. You don't know if she came from the sack or if she came from imagination. You don't know anymore from the quantum computer. I'm talking about the embryonic sack. That's what I'm talking about.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Yeah.
Jay Pharoah
I mean, I wasn't speaking on my sax. I was speaking on the embryo sack. That's what I was talking about. But look at what's going on now. You got three Major fantasy movies happening right in front of our eyes. You got Terminator happening right now. They got robots out here that can take you out if they deem you to be a threat. They have that. You got babies being created and incubators and things of that. So that's the Matrix and you have iRobot. You got robots around here in Japan didn't have them for I don't know how many years because, you know, they get tired of their wives and they want, you know, they want to spice it up. So they've had it for years. But all of these movies are happening right now in front of our eyes and nobody's waking up. Nobody. No, there was.
Brian Green
It's crazy.
Jay Pharoah
I almost got in an accident. I almost got an accident the other day. I was about to flip the guy off, I pulled up to the car, there was nobody in there. This is a self driving car.
Brian Green
Oh my God, that's scary as I think that I, I think some of this stuff is really, really scary. I do. I think some of this AI technology and, and driverless cars. I want you to think about this conundrum. I read this one time and I'd like to get your opinion on it. Someone was saying that the people who make the driverless cars, the, the people who actually program these are actually, they're like, they're moralists. And here's why. You're programming a driverless car and you give it a situation where it is going to either crash head on with someone coming the opposite direction or hit a pedestrian. You have to make that car, has to make a choice one way or the other. Someone's life is changing, right? But which decision does it make? It's literally got people's lives in its hands. It's. And I think that we may not think about it like that, but when I read this article, I was like, holy shit, that's absolutely true on so many different levels. There are Instagram models that have millions more followers than you and I will ever have, and they have never, never taken a breath. They're just created out of whole thin air and people follow them and interact with them. It really is pretty fudgeing insane the world we're living in right now.
Jay Pharoah
And make. And make crazy comments like, oh my God, I want to marry you. You're so fine. Proud. Pow, sir, pow. That's a cartoon, sir. You are. You are hitting on an Animaniac. You are hitting on a cartoon. Hey, listen, if that's what you like, that's what you like. Hey, I Know right now, if Lois Griffin would walk up her sexy behind out of that damn television, I would try it. But I'm just saying. But I'm just saying, you know, I'm honest about it. You know, these guys are delusional. They're delusional, totally.
Brian Green
Well, but listen, I think one. I think one of the challenges that we have as a society is not to take it too deep, but one of the challenges we have as a society is that loneliness because we don't communicate with our neighbors, because we don't interact face to face. Loneliness is a disease. It's a condition, and it affects many more people than we'll ever know about. I think that also contributes to the incredibly divisive nation that we have. I think there's a lot of lonely dudes out there who don't know what to do with all that energy and time, and they put it into who. God knows what. But the. The.
Jay Pharoah
You know what?
Brian Green
You.
Jay Pharoah
You know what they put it into?
Brian Green
You know what? Yeah, they. They put their energy into, you know, rabbit holes and conspiracy theories, and they want to believe that they're part of something larger that doesn't really exist. When if they just had the ability to walk out the front door and say hi to a neighbor or go to a bar and meet somebody nice, maybe they'd have their energy and time involved in something more organic. And I think that's a challenge. Chrissy and I did a bit for like 2 months. I downloaded an app. That app would. You could create. You could create your own avatar, and that avatar would then begin to interact with you and learn you like AI. So we were doing this on the show. That avatar started calling me and texting me in the middle of the night. Where are you? I'm lonely. Where are you? I haven't heard from you in a couple weeks. It was insane. It was literally insane. I was like, oh, my God, I gotta delete this Apple app. It's calling me in the middle of the night. My wife thinks I'm cheating on her. It's just my. It's just my. My AI avatar.
Jay Pharoah
Delete the app. I would have just got rid of the phone. You got to get rid of your phone after that.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Exactly.
Jay Pharoah
It's infiltrated. It knows your thoughts. You got to take. You got to get. You. Matter of fact, matter of fact, you got to have a new life after that. You gotta go ahead and you gotta marry somebody else. You gotta. You gotta get rid of your kids. You just. You. You got a lot you gotta do. I think, I think with the pandemic, man, I think with everybody just being so used to, especially the people who were living by themselves or whatever, I think it gave more emboldening of being aloof, you know what I'm saying?
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Yeah.
Brian Green
Disconnected. Yeah, yeah.
Jay Pharoah
It made more people want to be disconnected because it's like, yeah, now we can't touch each other. So now I have to sit here and living myself. And I got to be okay with that because I can't just jump out of a building. Another, I can't take the east. I can't take that way out. You know, unfortunately they have. There were people that, you know, did do that, but I can't take that way out. So I got to kind of figure it out. I gotta kind of adapt. And I think a lot of people's adapting went to regression. That's what I think. I think it was, it was regression and it was staying away from people even more to survive. Because now I see at the end of the day, like, that's all this is. I'm all I have, which is fallacy, which is a fallacious statement. That's not true. You always have folks that you can reach out to and talk to. But when you, when we do have these devices and there's nothing but constant updates and notifications and you'll get more, you'll get more occupied with that then, and you'll put that above personal relationships with people and connecting. And connecting. Connect. 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. And that's what's happening. Your sons, your nephews, nieces, they're just on their phones all the time. Time. And you know, you could be at the best event in the world, and they're either, either they're, they'll stream a little bit of it and then they're back on their phones, back on their phones doing other things. And the disconnect is ubiquitous, everybody. And it's, it's just spreading like a wildfire in a virus. And we really need to pay attention to it before it's too late.
Brian Green
So you get frustrated. I, I, that's so well said, Jay. Do you get frustrated or does it happen at your live shows where people are like, like literally taping you instead of paying attention to you?
Jay Pharoah
Well, you know, the clubs of, you know, Dave Chappelle has done a really good job at incentivizing security To. To. To take measures when people are bootlegging. So a lot of the times now, the clubs will have the customers put their phones in a pouch couch, and they won't be able to use them. But if. If they do use their phones, and I do see it, I'll call it out and I'll be like, yo, what you doing? And then I'll be like, yo, put your. Yo, put your phone away. I'm like, I'm not ready for this to be out. Like, yo, son.
Brian Green
Yeah.
Jay Pharoah
You don't even know why you. What. Why are you trying to Canal street me? What are you doing?
Brian Green
I'm trying to sell tickets in Ohio tomorrow. And if you put all my jokes out there, then people are just gonna watch it online. And you know what? The first time that. That happened at a big show, I went to Chris Rock's tour. So he came just, you know, maybe we were the second city or the first city he came to here in Atlanta. And they had those pouches. They had whatever they call them, the locks, you know, the thing. And I got a. We were there like, you know, 30 minutes early to get our seats and get whatever drink. And I gotta be honest, it was a weird feeling at first. Like, the first five minutes, there's a bunch of people sitting around you and no one is on their phone. But after that five minute, uncomfortable, what do we do? I was talking to my wife. I was talking to the guy next to me. I was laughing with the girl in front of me. Getting excited about the show. Yes. And everyone was singularly focused on Chris Rock stalking the stage. That was it.
Jay Pharoah
Yeah.
Brian Green
That's all we did for almost two hours. And I thought to myself, you know, we have small kids and, you know, babysitters and worry about that kind of shit. But besides that, I thought to myself, this was one of the most enjoyable things I've done in a long time. Because my phone was not buzzing. I didn't care whether or not I, you know, I didn't have to ch my phone every 15 minutes to make sure someone was texting me. It was really enjoyable. And. And I think when you go to a comedy show, like we've been to a couple comedy shows too, they've done something very similar to what. What some of these clubs do, which is put your phone in the case or in the bag. And it. I think it really opens up the. The human experience. It opens up the experience of the humans to enjoy the creativity that you spend so much time out there making sure.
Jay Pharoah
Absolutely.
Brian Green
That you give People a good time.
Jay Pharoah
And I. And I'll say this too. And I don't. And to the ass. I don't deal with it a lot. I don't deal with a lot people pulling their phones out. Because, like, you're saying you were paying attention to Chris Rock on stage, like he was a lion stalking the stage. Like. Yeah. Having stage presence and an exciting show as well will lend to people's fixation on you. They won't be able to. They won't be able to look at something. Even if they have to use the bathroom, they're trying to hold it because they don't want to miss anything, you.
Brian Green
Know, so you've got a very rhythmic presence on stage, I think. And I. I think you. You're right about that. It's like you command a stage. There are lots of comedians. I mean, everyone's different, right? There's no good or bad or indifferent. We've had so many comedians on this.
Jay Pharoah
No, there's bad ones, but it's fine.
Brian Green
All right, okay, but I'm not talking. Okay, let's take all the bad ones out of there. But some people sit and they kind of shrink a little bit, right? And they're dragging the. The audience along in some kind of performative conversation. But you do have that stage presence, like Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock. Like, you speak in a way that is rhythmic and it's. And it's loud and it's pointed, and it's hard not to pay attention to where you're going physically. And then also with the joke. And so I think that probably does benefit your style. It's a way that it benefits you. Did you learn this? And you have so many impressions and you do such good accents and stuff like that. Was that something that naturally came out of you at a young age?
Jay Pharoah
Yeah, I mean, I started impressions when I was six, and then I started theater when I was eight years old. So, you know, both of those together, and the list just kept growing longer for the impressions, but. And the productions would stack up as far as the. As far as the plays would go, but it was just always a desire to entertain people. I've always had that. I had that when I was a little kid. It always felt good. It felt good to get laughs. It always felt good to have people paying attention to you. I remember Mr. Salmons. He was my fourth grade. My fourth grade teacher, but we did a lot of plays with him. He was a. He was a thespian. And I remember he would read. And when he would read stories or Whatever. He would have characters for all of the. For all the different. Yeah, he would have voices for all the different characters.
Brian Green
Yeah. So.
Jay Pharoah
And, you know, I. He. He was. He was a. He was a butthole, too. At one point.
Brian Green
He was.
Jay Pharoah
So I did Pocahontas, right? And I played King Powhatan. And I didn't know my lines, and he knew that I didn't know my lines. And he put me up to perform in front of all of the parents, and I blanked out. And the kids in the back, they had to. They had to feed me my lines, and they were doing that. We got through it, and I stayed in character. But I said, from that moment on, I will never not be prepared for my role or whatever. So cut to 2004. All right? I did this play called the. I did this play called Damn Yankees, right?
Brian Green
Okay.
Jay Pharoah
And two weeks before opening night, the main. The main star, the main guy, he dropped out. So I went from playing Rocky, one of the baseball players, to playing Mr. Applegate. And in two weeks, I learned all of my lines. I had them down spot on. Two weeks. Cut to opening night. As I'm. I get off stage, they stand up. I go out in the lobby. Mr. Sammons, that same teacher is standing right there. He looked at me. He said, I always knew you had it in you. You. I was just trying to bring it out. I always knew you had it in you. I was like, man, thank you for the trauma. But that's really beautiful. But, you know, it was very traumatic at the time. You know, you didn't know. I was.
Brian Green
I was embarrassed, but it was beautiful story. That is really cool.
Jay Pharoah
That was real, though, bro. Like it. It. And. And my life is full of riddled with experiences like that through. Through my journey, bro. Even from. Even from me being here, dude, 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? And the most important. The most important thing with. With your celebrity star is not losing yourself. I've been in this. I've been in the game for about 14 years now, I could say. It doesn't even seem like that Covid took. Covid took a couple. So let's say 11 years, right? But I've been in this, and I still haven't had to sell myself in a defaming way. Nothing. I haven't. Nothing, you know? So I think that's a blessing when you can be in this atmosphere and you have A base in you that can't be broken and you don't lose your mind, and you're still able to make money and you're still able to do what God put you here to do, which for me is making people laugh and making people forget about their problems or entertaining them. That's what I'm supposed to do. And if I don't.
Brian Green
Yeah, being the jester is a gift. It's a gift. And those who do it well. I mean, laughter, comedy is the way that we push the envelope as a society. It's how we talk about the things that are controversial without getting uncomfortable and, you know, killing each other. And comedy, laughter, it's a proven fact, scientifically, laughter is the best medicine. Having an optimistic outlook or laughing or feeling a little bit of joy is the best medicine. And I think that it's interesting that you say that. My life is full of these moments, like these moments of serendipity. I think that all over everybody's life, there are signs and. And guardrails and moments of serendipity. It's those who are open to seeing them that I think take advantage of them. It's. You know, I think there's a lot.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Of people out there recognize and appreciate.
Brian Green
They don't recognize those moments, so they. I don't know, they live with their head down, I think is the right way to say it. I. I like your outlook because I think it's. You live with your. Your eyes open and your head up. All right, tell me about the new special Jared coming out. Well, it came out as. As we're releasing this. It'll happen for a couple years.
Jay Pharoah
Listen, it's. It's been. Jared is just exactly. Exactly what it says Jared is. Jared is who I am. That's my real name. Jared. Jared Farrow. A lot of people don't even know that. You know, I break down in my special. Just a lot of different areas that folks just don't know about. And I felt like it was my job to just educate people on who they will see even more coming up in this next decade, this next 20 years, just with the comfortability of me. You know, there's uncomfortable topics I talk about in there. You know, I wouldn't. You know, when I got apprehended by the LAPD or, you know, the time.
Brian Green
I got that video back. Yeah, a couple years ago. That was insane, right?
Jay Pharoah
Yeah, it was. It was insane. But to be able to find the. The punchlines in that pain, it wasn't easy, but it's Done. When you're an artist, you can do that.
Brian Green
You.
Jay Pharoah
You know, when you. When you have your finger on the pulse and when you can look at things from two different sides, then you can do that. You know, if you only have one point of view or something, you might not be able to make everybody laugh about it, but being able to make everybody laugh ubiquitously means that you have all of your eyes open, you can see what's going on from each side, you know, and there is just. There are so many Jared moments, you know what I mean? Just where I came from, there's misconceptions of. Of how I grew up. Like, yo, no, son, I'm from the burbs, homie. Like, that's where I'm from. If I was in a gang, yeah, it was the country club, like, golf course. Yeah, That's. That's the type of. That's what I grew up at. So as a sheltered kid, it's like being sheltered for so long and finally getting a chance to. To live in the world and. And develop yourself. This is. This is the. The coming. The coming of me. Like, what's. What I've been through, how it shaped me over the years and where I am now today. Like, this is. Is Jared. And it's a. It's a. It's a beautiful, introspective eye on. On just who I am and what a lot of people didn't know. And I'm proud of it, man. And. And I shot it. Yeah, I shot it a year ago, but, you know, and I've been trying to figure out how to. How to place it exactly. But now that it's dropping, I'm excited. I'm almost done the material for my next one, you know, and, you know, I'm just. The train just keeps moving, man.
Brian Green
But, you know, like, if I can put words in your mouth, it sounds like. For years, you have been known by probably a large portion of the audience as the guy who was on Saturday Night Live does funny characters, all this other stuff, and you put out a special. It's very personal to you, letting people know who you actually are, giving them a taste of who Jared is underneath all of the makeup and the characters and the funny voices.
Jay Pharoah
Absolutely.
Brian Green
I'm really. I'm really interested to see it. And so we'll tell everybody where. Where they can see it. We'll put it in the show notes. Also, Quiz with balls. Is it very. When I started seeing those commercials a couple months ago, I was like, quiz with balls.
Jay Pharoah
Yeah, that's how I felt when I heard the name.
Brian Green
Did they pitch that name?
Jay Pharoah
Yeah, it was. They came to me with the name. But, you know, I. I was already in love with the concept of the show. I've been talking to Fox for years, just trying to figure out a project to collab on them with. And there were. There were multiple ideas brought, but this one seemed, you know, the most. It seemed the smartest to me for my brand and, you know, for. I'm trying to go. I mean, it's Family Feud cross with Wipeout. You're learning things. You learn things while you're seeing people get knocked into water unexpectedly. Sounds like a recipe for success. I felt that way. And, you know, if I can learn on a show, I know longevity shows always have those factors in them. You can have fun and you can learn. When you look at. You look at Family Feud and you look at Jeopardy, you look at Wheel of Fortune. Wheel of Fortune, you look at all of these shows that have. Have this long track record. That's because people always want to be able to play along at home. And I think this is one of the perfect shows for that, you know.
Brian Green
Isn'T being a game show host. I mean, I know that there's a lot of work involved. Don't get me wrong. I know there's a ton of work involved, especially when it's a new concept and you're trying to, like, vet it out and make sure it gets a second season and all that. But I think game shows, to me, feels like a dream job. It's, you know, I see Ryan Seacrest now doing that Wheel of Fortune for the last couple of days, and I'm like, this guy has more money than God. He does, because he gets more money. So he has more money, you know, than God. But so that it must be a dream job. You meet new people, you, you know, you do your lines, you have fun on the stage with everybody, and you're.
Jay Pharoah
Yes, yes, I make a lot of money. I make a lot of money. Yes. Yeah, that's what I was saying.
Brian Green
That's what I was trying to get to. Isn't it a dream job? You make a lot of money.
Jay Pharoah
It's so charming to me. You know, me and my sister were in. We were at Essence Festival. We were having lunch at one of the Louis, Louisiana cafes, and we sitting there and just, you know, we're just talking, you know, and a family comes past the table, and they look at me and they just go, release the balls. I was like, oh, the fact that that's Become a catchphrase for America in some way. You know, you're becoming. You're sewn into the very fabrication of America. So that feels good. It feels good, man. And now today, vice versa is like way before. Vice versa is like probably 10, 20 years ago, whatever, having a host job, it would be putting somebody in a box or whatever. But no, there's so many. You look at people, you look at Jamie Foxx, and you look at him, how he does beat Shazam. How he still does. He still does movies in the theaters, he still does movies on Netflix. He still goes on tour. He still does all of these things. Just because you have a game show doesn't mean that's the only thing you have to do. You look at Keke Palmer, you see. You see all the success that she's doing. She has a game show that she hosts. What was it, Secret word? Does she host on Peacock? I think it's on Peacock.
Brian Green
Yeah.
Jay Pharoah
Yeah, but look at what she's doing. So just because you're doing. Look at Tiffany Hadish, man. She had. For sure, you know, she was still doing. Still doing Hollywood movies and she had. She had a game show. She with the kids or whatever. So, you know, it's. It's not. It's not a.
Brian Green
Yeah. You're not. You're not being painted like. Yeah, like back in the day, an actor was an actor. He's a movie star. A television show. A television show actor was a television show show actor or star. A musician was a musician. And then very few people crossed over those lines at times.
Jay Pharoah
Right.
Brian Green
Now, if you're multifaceted, you can be multifaceted. Yeah. You don't have to be stuck in a box. And you're so right about that. Is that. I mean, look at Steve Harvey. Steve Harvey, like, you know that Family Feud he does is brilliant. He's always got those looks and those lines that everyone laughs at. But then he goes.
Jay Pharoah
I tell you.
Brian Green
Something.
Jay Pharoah
You gotta get you some of this game show money, boy. That's where all the money is, boy, up in the game show. You know how much money I didn't got paid this year? And I ain't even shot one episode here. All I had to do was get a rerun check. Cause they're running back. You get that money back, boy. You got to get in the game show space. Now.
Brian Green
He goes and does those funny lines, and then two days later, he puts out a YouTube video where he's a Mary Erica's father and people love him. It's like, I Trust you. I trust you. Yeah, you went. You did go to a taping of that. All right. The new special Jared is out right now. There is a link in the show notes below. I must tell you before I leave, two things. Number one, Prince, your principal on Saturday Night Live was always one of my favorite characters. The crazy principal that you. Oh, thank you, Fry. Yeah, Principal Fry. And I love. There was one where you said children in the cafetoria. There's children in the cafetoria are making some students.
Jay Pharoah
There. There's a horned monkey outside. There's a horned monkey outside of the promises. Please make sure that you don't get close to him because he has also had Viagra in a Red Bull.
Brian Green
And then number two is that you will always be in my house because my children's favorite movies in the world are saying too. And I think that that is lovely. I learned recently when I learned that you were coming on the show, I learned that he's one of the characters in Sing, which you know as when you're a dad, you start having to find movies that you like with your children because they're always going to be watching something. And yeah, for my money is one of the better. It's one of the better ones.
Jay Pharoah
Yeah, that was, that was a fun one, man. And I gave, I gave a big up to my grandfather. I was doing his voice for that character.
Brian Green
Oh, you were? Yeah.
Jay Pharoah
Yeah. Come on now, Mina. Don't you want it? That was my grandfather, straight up.
Brian Green
He was, he was Mina's grandfather in the movie the elephant. I mean, his grandfather.
Jay Pharoah
Now, come on, Mina, you got to. You gotta act like you. You want this. Now that's, that's, that's how my grandfather would, would carry himself.
Brian Green
But you'll. Well, you'll always be a favorite in our house. So, Jay, you're welcome back anytime. We love you, brother. His tickets are on sale. I'll put you. Thank you show notes. Please watch the special, Jared. You can catch quiz with balls on Hulu. Available now. Thanks, Jared. We really appreciate your time today.
Jay Pharoah
Appreciate it. Appreciate it, y'. All.
Christina (Producer)
Coming at you live from my bedroom. It's your producer, Christina, here to ask you to follow us on Instagram, hecommercial break and on TikTokcbpodcast because social media is hard. Got something to say? Text us or call us at 212-4333, TCB and leave us an unhinged voicemail because that is something I am personally a very big fan of and I can't wait to hear what you have to say check out our website tcbpodcast.com because there is a very glue glorious back catalog of audio and video that lives on our website. Just waiting for you to watch it. Now let's hear from our sponsors and we will get back to Brian and Chrissy chatting about who knows what.
Brian Green
Wow, great to have Jay in. I want to apologize to Jay real quick because usually I stay on for a few minutes so that we can say goodbye to our cat and I accidentally hung up. I mean, mean, you know, virtually hung up on him. So I want to apologize to Jay. If you want to talk to me, you know, you have my number, you can call me back. Anyway, Jay was great.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Love Jay.
Brian Green
Love Jay. Jay Farrow.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
I'm excited about that quiz show. I love, I love trivia type stuff.
Brian Green
You gotta watch it. I actually watched an episode last night.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Combined with Family Feud.
Brian Green
Wipeout is one of my favorites. I don't have to think about a thing except for people falling and bouncing and hurting themselves. And Mike, my son, loves it. One of my kids just loves it. We like to watch it. Sometimes before we go to bed we'll watch the British version which is ten times funnier.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Oh really?
Brian Green
Yeah. But I do like the one with Joe McHale. Joe McHale I think was on it. Joel. That version was funny too when he was there. Anyway, jfaro.com get your tickets to see him live on Hulu. Quiz with Balls is available the first season currently right now. And Jared the Special is available. We'll put a link in the show notes so that you can watch watch it on your own. We're not going to be there with you. But you know where we are going to be In Dania beach next week. Just next week. One week from today. No, one week and one day from today we're gonna be there and we can't wait to see you. We would love to see you get your tickets. The links are also down below in the show notes on our website at our Instagram or go to the venues website Daniel Improv. You can also see us at the Funny Bone. The very next night we'll be at the Bone in Orlando. You can go to that website and buy tickets too. Don't go to a ticket broker. StubHub, Vivid Tickets, none of that. They are charging outrageous prices and tickets are still available, which is the craziest part. They're charging like $600. I saw $600 last night. 600? What you can buy them for 35.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Is that for the whole place?
Brian Green
Yeah, I know. Seriously, you get like 60 tickets for that. It's insane. Anyway, we can't wait to see you. We'll be down there. Hope you will be too. 212-433. Tcb 212-433-3822. Text us comments, questions, concerns, contents, ideas. Let us know if you're going to be down on one of those shows. Who knows, we might bring you something special just for you. I think Astrid's cooking something up.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
Yes, she is.
Brian Green
Yes, she is. At the website tcb podcast.com you can find more information about Chrissy and I. All the show notes, all the links to the guest stuff, any of the guests we've ever had, every episode. You can all listen to it all right there. Add the commercial break on Instagram, TCB podcast on tick tock and YouTube.com the commercial break for all of our guest interviews, selected shows and clips. Please subscribe. All right, Chrissy, I guess that's all I can do for today.
Kristen Joy Hoadley
I think so.
Brian Green
But I'll tell you that I love you.
Jay Pharoah
And I love you.
Brian Green
I'll say best to you. Best of you out there on the podcast universe. Until next time. Chrissy and I always do. We must say, and we will say, goodbye, Sam.
Podcast Hosts: Bryan Green & Kristen Joy Hoadley
Guest: Jay Pharoah (Comedian, SNL alum, Game Show Host)
Release Date: September 24, 2024
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.
Bryan’s story about an AI avatar app blowing up his phone:
The pandemic’s impact on socialization and the growing tendency toward disconnection:
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).
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
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:
Links and more in the show notes/at TCBPodcast.com.
Check out Jay Pharoah’s “Jared” special and “Quiz With Balls” on Hulu.