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By Will Harris
Correspondent
"Saturday Night Live" earned a few extra laughs in Hampton Roads this weekend when featured player Jay Pharoah, a 2005 graduate of Indian River High School, paid tribute to his former principal.
In a sketch about a high school's "holiday jam," Pharoah played Principal Daniel Frye. Despite the change in first name, there's no doubt about the source of Pharoah's inspiration.
At the mere mention of "Saturday Night Live," Jimmy Frye, principal of Indian River High School, erupted into a cackle and asked, "You heard about that, huh?"
"Jay was at the school to visit just before the Thanksgiving break," Frye said. "He told me he'd written up some skits and stuff, and he wanted permission for what he was doing. So he did ask me, and I said that it was fine with me!"
Pharoah was unavailable for comment. Before the show Saturday night, he sent a message over Twitter: "Everybody from Indian River High especially watch SNL tonight..."
On his Facebook page Sunday, he mentioned the skit.
"Mr. Frye is my first character on SNL and I asked him about it before I did it, he approved with a smile," Pharoah wrote on the website.
A former member of the local children's theater troupe Hurrah Players, Pharoah joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live" in September. In addition to his take on Principal Frye, he has offered up impressions of Denzel Washington, Eddie Murphy and Will Smith, among others.
Frye isn't surprised at Pharoah's accomplishments, but he's impressed by the speed at which they've occurred. "He was always serious about his comedy," Frye said. "I didn't know his success would come so soon, but I knew he'd keep at it."
Frye learned the sketch had aired after a phone call from his son. "I guess some of the staff and students saw it, too," he said. "They were stopping me in the hallway and asking me if I'd seen it."
"It was sweet," said Kayla Hazlett, a senior at Indian River High School. "His voice sounded just like Mr. Frye, and the brown suit was spot on. "
"It's just a nice gesture that he remembered me," Frye said. "He's shown me a lot of love over the years."
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Great skit
I am also a graduate of IRHS c/o 2005. Jay was in my 9th grade drama class, where he first started doing the Mr. Frye skit. His impression is perfect, I'm glad he's doing so well since he is very good at what he does.
Funny!!
I am a 1990 graduate of Indian River. Jay did a GREAT job as Mr. Frye.. Exactly like him. My sister Erin who graduated in 1996 thought so too! Memories of good times at Indian River!
Dawn
Jay Pharoah as Mr. Frye
Ok, I have two things to say. #1-Mr. Frye was my Principal at Western Branch Jr. High in the mid eighties. When I finally saw the video, I was laughing so hard that I was crying. Jay is a fool. #2-OMG, what is up with the hate?!! There are some people who get up here who do not have a life. What is the matter with you people? Do something constructive with your time like feeding piegons.
Does Pharaoh have family at
Does Pharaoh have family at The Pilot? I think he's gotten more press in four months of SNL as Virginia Beach's Chyler Leigh has in four years on Grey's Anatomy.
Well, I don't know about the other writers...
...but for my part, I don't watch "Grey's Anatomy," but I do watch "SNL," and the angle made it a particularly fun story.
I don't watch it either, but
I don't watch it either, but I am aware that a local is on it.
That's because Grey's
That's because Grey's Anatomy is a waste of air space.
too funny
Jay was dead on in his impression of Mr. Frye. Frye is a good principal and is respected and loved by his students. Since Jay wrote the script I think the PE teacher is Coach Spellman
YES!!1
That WAS Coach Spellman!! Now I see it ... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Jimmy Frye
Jimmy Frye is a GREAT educator and person!! Both my kids (now 31 and 28) fondly recall him, and speak highly of the man. How nice for him to be recognized in such a way...