Comedian and actor Jay Pharoah detailed the release of his new album and his role hosting the Fox game show "The Quiz with Balls."
Pharoah's transition into game show hosting and the release of a long-term musical project mark a significant diversification of his career since his tenure on Saturday Night Live [1].
Pharoah served as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2010 to 2016 [1]. In his recent discussions, he focused on his musical project, "The Odyssey," which he said took 10 years to come together [2]. He said the album is about a dimension where he has the power to save planet Earth [2].
Beyond music, Pharoah is the host of "The Quiz with Balls." The show features two teams of five contestants each [2]. While he said he loves hosting the program, he said he was not originally sold on the title [3].
The series returned to Fox on May 28, 2024 [4]. Subsequent episodes aired on June 4 and July 23, 2024 [5, 6].
Pharoah used the platform to share the creative process behind the decade-long development of his album while promoting the new season of the game show [7].
“"The Odyssey took ten years to come together, and it's about a dimension where I have the power to save planet Earth."”
Pharoah's move into hosting and conceptual music suggests a strategic shift toward multi-platform entertainment. By leveraging a major network like Fox for visibility and a high-concept album for artistic credibility, he is expanding his brand beyond the sketch comedy roots established during his time at SNL.
