Sam Jay

{{Infobox person

| name = Sam Jay

| image = Sam Jay, 2025 (cropped).png

| alt = Sam Jay

| caption = Sam Jay in 2025

| birth_name = Samaria Johnson

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|01|13}}

| birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

| other_names =

| occupation = Comedian, writer

| years_active = 2012–present

| spouse = Yanise Monet

}}

Samaria Johnson (born January 13, 1982), better known as Sam Jay, is an American comedian and writer. She is best known as a writer for Saturday Night Live (2017–2020), her Netflix comedy special 3 in the Morning (2020), and as the co-creator and co-star of the HBO comedy series Pause with Sam Jay (2021–2022) and the Peacock comedy series Bust Down (2022).

Early life

Jay was born Samaria Johnson{{cite news|title=Boston native and comedy powerhouse, Sam Jay joins the Pinsky cast!|url=http://www.pinskythemovie.com/blog/samjay|work=Pinsky|date=11 April 2015}} in Atlanta on January 13, 1982.{{Cite web | title= Netflix: Sam Jay: 3 in the morning | url= https://www.netflix.com/Title/81078802 | access-date=2020-08-13| website= Netflix.com| language= en }} She grew up in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston,{{Cite web|last=Bendix|first=Trish|date=31 January 2018|title=INTO: A Digital Magazine for The Modern Queer World| url= https://www.intomore.com/culture/sam-jay-is-the-black-lesbian-snl-writer-weve-been-waiting-for|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2018-08-01| website= intomore.com| language= en}} and studied for a degree in communications but quit due to lack of interest.{{Cite web |last= Khanna| first= Vish| date= |title='Saturday Night Live' Writer Sam Jay Talks Bobby Brown, JAY-Z and Her New Album 'Donna's Daughter'| url=https://exclaim.ca/comedy/article/saturday_night_live_writer_sam_jay_talks_bobby_brown_jay-z_and_her_new_album_donnas_daughter|archive-url=|archive-date=| access-date=2020-07-21| website= exclaim.ca| language=en-ca}}

Career

After years of working in an office and as a music manager, Jay performed her first stand-up comedy routine in 2012, at the age of 29.{{Cite news| last= Wilstein|first=Matt|date=2019-05-24|title=Why SNL Writer Sam Jay Hates Performing Comedy for 'Woke' Kids |language= en|work=The Daily Beast| url= https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-last-laugh-podcast-how-comedian-sam-jay-handles-snls-predominantly-white-space|access-date=2020-07-21}} In 2017, she joined the writing staff of Saturday Night Live,{{cite web| last1= Andreeva| first1= Nellie|title='Saturday Night Live' Taps Heidi Gardner, Luke Null & Chris Redd as New Cast Members, Adds 7 Writers for Season 43 |url= https://deadline.com/2017/09/saturday-night-live-heidi-gardner-luke-null-chris-redd-new-cast-members-season-43-writers-1202173665/ |website=Deadline |access-date=3 October 2017 |date=26 September 2017}} becoming the first black lesbian writer in the show's history and the second black lesbian to be involved with the show overall (after performer Danitra Vance joined the cast 32 years prior). She co-wrote the "Black Jeopardy" sketch.{{Cite news |url= https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/television/2017/10/10/new-snl-writer-sam-jay-thrives-challenge/4YXKFsikYIpFkz9COd0TJK/story.html |title=New 'SNL' writer Sam Jay thrives on a challenge |work= The Boston Globe|access-date=2018-08-01}} In 2018, she performed stand-up on Netflix's The Comedy Lineup and starred in a half-hour stand-up special for Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents.{{cite web| title=Sam Jay| url= https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7615637/|website= IMDb.com}}{{Cite news| url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/tv-highlights-the-comedy-lineup-premieres-on-netflix/2018/07/02/58244266-7bc0-11e8-aeee-4d04c8ac6158_story.html| title=TV highlights: 'The Comedy Lineup' premieres on Netflix| newspaper= The Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2018-08-27}}

Jay's first stand-up comedy release was Donna's Daughter (2018), which was made available as audio only.{{Cite news |title=Sam Jay Announces Debut Stand-up Album, Donna's Daughter |language=en |work=pastemagazine.com |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/06/sam-jay-announces-debut-stand-up-album-donnas-daug.html |access-date=2018-08-01}} Her first Netflix stand-up comedy special, 3 in the Morning (2020), was filmed at The Masquerade in Atlanta{{Cite web |last1=August 02 |first1=Alamin Yohannes |last2=EDT |first2=2020 at 10:00 AM |title='SNL' writer Sam Jay shares how she turned the British Museum up in clip from new comedy special |url=https://ew.com/tv/sam-jay-netflix-comedy-special-3-in-the-morning-exclusive-clip/ |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=EW.com |language=en}}{{Cite web|url= http://www.masqueradeatlanta.com/events/sam-jay/|title=NETFLIX ORIGINAL COMEDY SPECIAL TAPING: SAM JAY (1ST SHOW)| access-date=2020-08-13 | website= The Masquerade Altlanta|language=en-US}}{{Cite web| last= Vo|first=Thao|date=2020-07-09| title=Sam Jay Announces First Netflix Comedy Special, 'Sam Jay: 3 In The Morning'| url= https://www.sheenmagazine.com/sam-jay-announces-first-netflix-comedy-special-sam-jay-3-in-the-morning/| access-date=2020-07-21| website= Sheen Magazine|language=en-US}} and received acclaim.{{Cite web|last=Wright|first=Megh|date=2020-07-21|title=Sam Jay Has a Joke About Something Called 'Traveling'|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/07/sam-jay-netflix-comedy-special-trailer.html|access-date=2020-07-21|website=Vulture|language=en-us}}{{cite news|last1=Zaino III|first1=Nick A.|title=For Sam Jay, comedy isn't just an act|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/theater-art/2014/07/17/for-sam-jay-comedy-isn-just-act/qFLqSsxekUSu1rLMJHxZoO/story.html|work=The Boston Globe|date=17 July 2014}}{{cite magazine|last1=Conteh|first1=Mankaprr|title=Sam Jay's Comedy of Compromise|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-features/sam-jay-pause-hbo-interview-1168490/|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=12 May 2021}} Her other work includes appearances on Flatbush Misdemeanors (2021–2022) and Take My Wife (2016–2018) and stand-up performances on Jimmy Kimmel Live!{{cite web|title=WATCH: Stand Up Comedy from Sam Jay Video | work = Jimmy Kimmel Live!|url=http://abc.go.com/shows/jimmy-kimmel-live/video/featured/VDKA3729315|accessdate=3 October 2017| via= ABC.go.com}} and at the 2017 Just for Laughs Comedy Festival.{{cite web| last1= Limbong|first1=Andrew|title=Just For Laughs Comedy Festival Offers A Look At Up-And-Coming Talent |url= https://www.npr.org/2017/07/29/540300097/just-for-laughs-comedy-festival-offers-a-look-at-up-and-coming-talent| publisher= National Public Radio | website= NPR.org |language=en}}

In September 2020, it was announced that HBO had ordered a sitcom co-written by and starring Jay.{{Cite web|last=Porter|first=Rick|date=29 September 2020|title=HBO Orders Late Night Show Starring 'SNL' Writer Sam Jay|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hbo-orders-late-night-show-starring-snl-writer-sam-jay|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Hollywood Reporter}} She partnered with producer Prentice Penny to create the series, which was named PAUSE with Sam Jay. The first season premiered in May 2021,{{Cite web|url=https://www.hbo.com/pause-with-sam-jay|title = PAUSE with Sam Jay}} and the show was renewed by HBO for a second season two months later.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/pause-with-sam-jay-renewed-season-2-hbo-1234788332/|title='Pause with Sam Jay' Renewed for Season 2|date=July 29, 2021}} The comedy series Bust Down, co-created and co-starring by Jay, premiered on Peacock in March 2022. Jay was one of the roasters at the Netflix Roast of Tom Brady (2024). {{Citation |last=McCarthy-Miller |first=Beth |title=The Roast of Tom Brady |date=2024-05-05 |type=Documentary, Comedy |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32244679/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |others=Tom Brady, Kevin Hart, Jeffrey Ross |publisher=Casey Patterson Entertainment, 199 Productions, Hartbeat Productions}}

Style

Jay's stage persona has been described as self-aware and observational, inviting comparisons to Patrice O'Neal.{{cite web| last1= Eakin| first1=Marah|title=Comedian Sam Jay hates Da Brat's "What'chu Like" identity crisis| date=May 2016|url=https://avclub.com/comedian-sam-jay-hates-da-brat-s-what-chu-like-identi-1798246790|accessdate=3 October 2017|publisher=AV Club}}

Comedy albums

class="wikitable sortable"

!Year

!Title

!Notes

2018

|Donna's Daughter

|Comedy Central Records

2020

|3 in the Morning

|Netflix

2023

|Salute me or Shoot me

|HBO

Filmography

=Film=

2023: You People

=Television=

2012: Just for Laughs: All Access (TV series) – (episode: "Episode #6.6")
2015: Get Your Life (TV series) – Lady in Dickies (episode: "Girl Get Your Blacktresses")
2016: Take My Wife (TV series) – (episode: "Punchline")
2016: Flophouse (TV documentary) – (episode: "Haircuts at Babe Island")
2016: The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail (TV series) – (episode: "The One Without Neil DeGrasse Tyson")
2017: Pinsky (TV series) – Sam
2017: Comedy Central Presents (TV series) – (episode: "Sam Jay")
2017–2020: Saturday Night Live (TV series) – writer
2018: Nobodies (TV series) – Andrea
2018: The Comedy Lineup (TV series) – executive producer, writer (episode: "Sam Jay")
2018: 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards (TV special) – writer
2018: 70th Primetime Emmy Awards (TV special) – writer
2019: Broad City (TV series) – Doorwoman (episode: "Along Came Molly")
2019: Donald Glover Presents (TV mini-series) – writer (5 episodes)
2020: BET Awards 2020 (TV special) – writer
2020: Shrill (TV series) – Fran's Friend (2 episodes)
2020: 3 in the Morning (TV special) - writer, executive producer
2021: Kenan (TV series) – consulting producer
2021: That Damn Michael Che (TV series) – Barber (episode: "Well Played, Crackers")
2021: Pause with Sam Jay (TV series) – executive producer, writer
2021: Flatbush Misdemeanors (TV series) – Georgia (episodes: "retrograde" and "obiageli")
2022: Bust Down (TV series) – Sam, also co-creator, executive producer
2023: The Eric Andre Show (TV series) - Herself, cameo (episode: "Football Is Back)
2023: Sam Jay: Salute Me or Shoot Me (TV special) - writer, executive producer
2024: The Roast of Tom Brady (TV special) - herself

Awards and nominations

2018: Emmys, Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series for Saturday Night Live (nominee){{cite news |date=2018 |title=Outstanding Writing For A Variety Series Nominees / Winners 2018 |language=en |work=Television Academy |url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2018/outstanding-writing-for-a-variety-series}}
2019: Emmys, Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series for Saturday Night Live (nominee){{cite news |date=2019 |title=Outstanding Writing For A Variety Series Nominees / Winners 2019 |language=en |work=Television Academy |url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2019/outstanding-writing-for-a-variety-series}}
2020: Writers Guild of America, Best Comedy/Variety – Sketch Series for Saturday Night Live (nominee){{cite news |date=2020 |title=Writers Guild Awards Winners & Nominees 2020-2013 |work=Writers Guild of America |url=https://awards.wga.org/awards/nominees-winners/2020-2013}}