Sam Jay
Sam Jay is an American stand-up comedian and writer.[1] She is a staff writer for Saturday Night Live and has performed stand-up on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents and The Comedy Line-Up. Jay's first hour long comedy special, 3 in the Morning, was released on Netflix on August 4, 2020.[2]
Early life, family and education
Jay was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1981/82[3] and raised in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.[4] She attended college for communications but quit due to lack of interest.[5]
Career
After working several office jobs and working as a music manager, she pursued a career in stand-up comedy in 2012 at age 29.[6][5] Jay's comedic style has been described as self-aware observational humor.[4] She has been compared to Patrice O’Neal.[7]
In October 2017, Sam joined the writing staff of Saturday Night Live.[8] She is the sole Black lesbian staff writer and the second Black lesbian to be involved with the show including Danitra Vance.[6][4] She co-wrote "Black Jeopardy."[9]
Jay appeared on Netflix's Special The Comedy Lineup, which premiered on July 3, 2018, and starred in a half hour stand up comedy special for Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents.[10][11] She filmed her first one-hour Netflix comedy special, Sam Jay: 3 in the Morning, at The Masquerade in Atlanta, February 22, 2020[12], which was released on August 4, 2020.[13]
Jay has appeared on Take My Wife and performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.[14] She received positive critical reception for her performance at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal.[15]
Personal life
Jay is a lesbian.[6]
Accolades
- 2018 - Primetime Emmy Awards Nominee - Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series, Saturday Night Live
- 2019 - Primetime Emmy Awards Nominee - Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series, Saturday Night Live
- 2020 - WGA Award Nominee - Comedy/Variety Sketch Series, Saturday Night Live
Discography
- Donna's Daughter, July 2018[16]
References
- Zaino III, Nick A. "For Sam Jay, comedy isn't just an act - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Boston Globe. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- Wright, Megh (2020-07-21). "Sam Jay Has a Joke About Something Called 'Traveling'". Vulture. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
- "Netflix: Sam Jay: 3 in the morning". Netflix.com. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
- Bendix, Trish. "INTO: A Digital Magazine for The Modern Queer World". intomore.com. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
- Khanna, Vish. "'Saturday Night Live' Writer Sam Jay Talks Bobby Brown, JAY-Z and Her New Album 'Donna's Daughter'". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
- Wilstein, Matt (2019-05-24). "Why SNL Writer Sam Jay Hates Performing Comedy for 'Woke' Kids". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
- Eakin, Marah. "Comedian Sam Jay hates Da Brat's "What'chu Like" identity crisis". AV Club. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- Andreeva, Nellie (26 September 2017). "'Saturday Night Live' Taps Heidi Gardner, Luke Null & Chris Redd as New Cast Members, Adds 7 Writers for Season 43". Deadline. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- "New 'SNL' writer Sam Jay thrives on a challenge". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
- "Sam Jay". IMDb.com.
- "TV highlights: 'The Comedy Lineup' premieres on Netflix". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
- "NETFLIX ORIGINAL COMEDY SPECIAL TAPING: SAM JAY (1ST SHOW)". The Masquerade Altlanta. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
- Vo, Thao (2020-07-09). "Sam Jay Announces First Netflix Comedy Special, 'Sam Jay: 3 In The Morning'". Sheen Magazine. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
- "WATCH: Stand Up Comedy from Sam Jay Video". Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Retrieved 3 October 2017 – via ABC.go.com.
- Limbong, Andrew. "Just For Laughs Comedy Festival Offers A Look At Up-And-Coming Talent". NPR.org. National Public Radio.
- "Sam Jay Announces Debut Stand-up Album, Donna's Daughter". pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 2018-08-01.