Chesapeake native joins 'Saturday Night Live' cast

Jay Pharoah, a Chesapeake native, is one of four new featured players on "Saturday Night Live," NBC announced Tuesday.

He will make his debut when the show's 36th season begins Sept. 25 with alumna Amy Poehler as host and Katy Perry as musical guest.

Pharoah, 22, couldn't be reached for comment but around 6 p.m. Tuesday posted this on his Facebook page: " Im on SNL baby and thank you all!!!!"

Pharoah told The Washington Post on Tuesday night, "I'm known for impressions and family stories." He wouldn't say much about his future roles on "SNL " but admitted he's good at celebrities.

The buzz online is that Pharoah might knock "SNL" cast member Fred Armisen off the stage as the show's Barack Obama impersonator. Pharoah's take on the prez has won raves from online critics and fans.

According to a 2008 Mix magazine article, Jared "Jay Pharoah" Farrow had his first performance cracking up family members at a Christmas party four years earlier.

He got much of his material from the news, barbershops and his part-time gig at Burlington Coat Factory, he said in the article.

He was a student at Tidewater Community College in 2008 and was living out his dreams that April, inching toward the big time, when he was opening at a Beach comedy club for comedian Charlie Murphy, brother to Eddie Murphy.

Charlie Murphy described Pharoah as a rising star with a strong work ethic. He was quoted as saying that he saw traits in Pharoah that reminded him of both his brother and comedian Chris Rock.

"The brother is dedicated," Murphy said at the time. "He shows up on time, and he does what he has to do."

Pharoah is an Indian River High School graduate, according to a 2005 Virginian-Pilot story.

Other new "SNL" cast members are Vanessa Bayer, Paul Brittain and Taran Killam.