Sam Jay
About Sam Jay
Sam Jay (born Samaria Johnson, January 13, 1982) is an American comedian and writer. Born in Atlanta, she grew up in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, and studied for a degree in communications but quit due to lack of interest. After years of working in an office and as a music manager, she performed her first stand-up comedy routine in 2012, at the age of 29. She is the first Black lesbian writer for Saturday Night Live, where she worked from 2017 to 2020, and was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing For A Variety Series three times.
At Saturday Night Live, Jay became the second Black lesbian to be involved with the show overall, after performer Danitra Vance. She co-wrote the fifth "Black Jeopardy" sketch in April 2018, in which the contestant is T'Challa, played by Chadwick Boseman. In 2018 she performed stand-up on Netflix's The Comedy Lineup and starred in a half-hour special for Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents. Her first Netflix stand-up special, 3 in the Morning (2020), was filmed at The Masquerade in Atlanta and received acclaim, and her special Sam Jay: Salute Me or Shoot Me was released on HBO Max in 2023.
Jay is the co-creator and co-star of the HBO comedy series Pause with Sam Jay (2021-2022), which she partnered with producer Prentice Penny to create, and the Peacock comedy series Bust Down (2022). Her other work includes appearances on Flatbush Misdemeanors (2021-2022) and Take My Wife (2016-2018), the 2023 film You People, and stand-up performances on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. She was one of the featured roasters at The Roast of Tom Brady, live on Netflix. Her stage persona has been described as self-aware and observational, inviting comparisons to Patrice O'Neal.
Videos (177)
Videos 145 to 168 of 177.
1:59These Are Just Jokes, Man … Sak Pase
1K views
3:12Home Sweet Home
1K views
1:43George Bush is like John Candy, Donald Trump is like Andrew Dice Clay
894 views
1:33Alex was so mad he didn't get invited that Frank Ocean suckin' party
892 views
2:14I just want to know if my is still good
892 views
1:25Gene Anthony Ray From Fame's Mother Was A Queen Pin Who Ran West Harlem
841 views
1:50Poor vs. Rich
773 views
1:11Why's It All Gotta Be On Me Tho??
674 views
1:03Sam thought Rachel Feinstein was just getting fat back in 2020
656 views
1:40Bill Clinton has big swagger
613 views
9:41ONSIGHT with Cipha Sounds
553 views
3:00History Not Only Repeats Itself, It (Fill In The Blank)
525 views
1:54Was Glitter so bad that it caused 9/11?
508 views
1:30Ya'll shots are horny as f*** by the way
490 views
1:13Go Judge Me: Tatiana
487 views
0:40Nancy Grace is fighting for black people now, that's crazy
432 views
2:25The 18 & Up club in Detroit Alex used to get into fights at before it burned down
414 views
0:48No limitations on the whiteness
394 views
2:29Diddy just doesn't know how to be gay
341 views
2:20These categories don't get made for no reason
325 views
10:04ONSIGHT with Jon Laster
324 views
0:55How you packin' three bags with two arms, baby girl?
309 views
0:54You look like a ni66a that f***s a lot & hurts people's feelings
284 views
0:43It just looks like uncooked food every time I see it
270 viewsGuest appearances (16)
Videos on other comedians' channels featuring Sam Jay.
Guest appearances 1 to 16 of 16.
6:24Chelsea's Comedian Roundtable feat. Sam Jay, Matteo Lane & Larry Owens | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
229K views
5:22Stand Up Comedy from Sam Jay
Jimmy Kimmel
153.8K views
0:29Black Movies W/ Sam Jay on WMBD. Mark normand & Sam Morril.
Mark Normand
59.5K views
0:21Making A Mess in a Hotel | We Might Be Drunk w/ Sam Jay
Mark Normand
55K views
1:01Fubu! Sam Jay on WMBD w/ mark normand & Sam Morril
Mark Normand
43.6K views
2:19:59Sam Jay is Black & Gay | Bertcast # 675
Bert Kreischer
38.9K views
6:10Sam Jay - Why She’s Choosing to Say the N-Word on Her HBO Show | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
27.3K views
45:32Sam Jay, Jeff Grace & Alex Karpovsky | Getting Doug with High
Doug Benson
25.6K views
9:42Sam Jay's Family Thought She Would Become a Lawyer
Seth Meyers
21.3K views
2:05:09Sam Jay | You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes
Pete Holmes
7.6K views
13:54Sam Jay Thinks Confederate Flags Are Helpful - Team Coco LIVE: Moses Storm & Friends | Team Coco
Conan O'Brien
7K views
1:34Post Sesh Interview w/ Sam Jay, Jeff Grace & Alex Karpovsky | Getting Doug with High
Doug Benson
3.9K views
57:21Episode 134 - Full on Poisoned with Sam Jay | The inconsistent Podcast with Rob Haze
Rob Haze
2.1K views
1:29:55Sam Jay (Fitzdog Radio ) | Greg Fitzsimmons
Gregory Sebastian Fitzsimmons
1.1K views
54:29The JTrain Podcast: Bratty Step Kids & Boyfriend Trust Issues w/ Sam Jay
Jared Freid
730 views
1:08:52Album 118 | Kanye West - Late Registration with Sam Jay
Josh Adam Meyers
131 viewsChannels on this page: Jon Stewart, Jimmy Kimmel, Mark Normand, Bert Kreischer, Doug Benson, Seth Meyers, Pete Holmes, Conan O'Brien, Rob Haze, Gregory Sebastian Fitzsimmons, Jared Freid, Josh Adam Meyers
Frequently asked questions
What is Sam Jay known for?
She is an American comedian and writer known as the first Black lesbian writer for Saturday Night Live, and as co-creator and co-star of the HBO series Pause with Sam Jay.
What awards has Sam Jay been nominated for?
She was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series three times for her work on Saturday Night Live.
What are Sam Jay's comedy specials?
Her specials include the Netflix special 3 in the Morning (2020) and the HBO Max special Sam Jay: Salute Me or Shoot Me (2023).
When did Sam Jay start doing stand-up?
After years of working in an office and as a music manager, she performed her first stand-up comedy routine in 2012, at the age of 29.
What is Sam Jay's real name?
She was born Samaria Johnson in Atlanta on January 13, 1982.
Comedians similar to Sam Jay
Same comedic style, across countries
