Reliable Source says:
If you saw Jay Pharoah doing stand-up in Virginia Beach, you can say you knew him when. The 22-year-old comic from Chesapeake, Va., is the newest cast member of “Saturday Night Live…”
“I’m known for impressions and family stories,” Pharoah told us Tuesday night. He wouldn’t say much about his future roles on “SNL,” but admitted he’s good at celebrities. Which ones? Again, not talking, but Pharoah does a dead-on Will Smith, Denzel Washington and … President Obama.
Which leads to the inevitable question: Will Pharoah replace Fred Armisen as “SNL’s” commander in chief? The veteran cast member has gotten plenty of heat about his Obama impression for (a) not being African American and (b) not being very funny.
Pharoah’s Obama impression on Youtube isn’t that great, although anything would be better than Armisen’s. And the kid is a fantastic impressionist, so it’s much more likely he’ll pick it up than Armisen has over the last few years. Here’s Pharoah channelling Denzel and Will:
WARNING: RUDE LANGUAGE AND INTERCELEBRITY TRASH TALK
He also does a good Eddie Murphy. Hey, Nick Nolte’s kid is an actor, right? Maybe they could do 48 Hours: The Early Years…