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Brick Wall Comedy
Brick Wall Comedy
Cover image credit: Thumbnail: YouTube · Jay Pharoah

Jared

Jay Pharoah

YouTube · 2024 · 75 min

An impressionist steps out from behind his famous characters.

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Jay Pharoah has spent most of his public life hiding behind other people. Best known for a six-year run on Saturday Night Live where he became the default voice for Barack Obama, Kanye West, and Denzel Washington, he uses his sophomore stand-up special to introduce himself by his real first name. Filmed at The Den Theatre in Chicago, the hour-long set focuses on the tension between his public persona and his real life as Jared Farrow.\n\nPharoah uses his shape-shifting vocal talent to anchor the show, but he channels it into personal stories rather than isolated sketches. He jokes about using his birth name to get better treatment on dinner reservations because it sounds white, and he addresses a terrifying 2020 encounter where the Los Angeles Police Department wrongfully detained him at gunpoint. The police eventually released him, though not before confusing him with his former Saturday Night Live colleague Michael Che.\n\nReleased on YouTube in late 2024, the special arrived during a busy year for Pharoah, who also hosted the Fox game show The Quiz with Balls and voiced a character in Netflix’s Good Times revival. While he still delivers his celebrated Denzel Washington and Will Smith impressions, they serve as comic relief within a broader narrative of personal survival.

The set list

3 bits

  1. 2020 LAPD encounter

    Recounts being held at gunpoint by police officers, balancing trauma and vulnerability with humor to address systemic issues with grace.

  2. Suburban upbringing and growing up in Virginia

    Reflects on his early childhood, family dynamics, and the guidance of his grandparents.

  3. Pop culture and celebrity impressions

    Integrates his trademark uncanny vocal mimicry and pop culture commentary into a broader autobiographical narrative.

How it plays

Tone
Vulnerable, reflective, energetic, and witty.
On stage
Master impressionist and energetic performer embracing personal vulnerability, introspection, and storytelling alongside character work.
Pace
Fully charged, quick-witted, moving smoothly between punchy jokes and heartfelt moments.
About
pop culture, suburban upbringing in Virginia, 2020 run-in with law enforcement / LAPD, experience as a Black man, family and grandparents, self-discovery and resilience

What the critics said

Praised as a compelling evolution in Pharoah's standup, providing a nuanced balance of his signature impressions with emotional depth, personal trauma, and sharp social commentary.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: deadline.com, humormilltv.com, themoviedb.org, standupd.com, cracked.com, thelifeofcomedy.com, weownthelaughs.com, en.wikipedia.org, wesoundcrazy.com.

Backstory

Titled after Pharoah's real first name (Jared), the special addresses his personal life, being raised in Virginia, and his experience being held at gunpoint during a 2020 encounter with the LAPD.

Details

Released
Taped
The Den Theatre, Chicago
Runtime
75 min
Where
YouTube
Director
Shaina Farrow
Topics
Before
Can I Be Me? (2015)

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