Did Jay Pharoah Just Have a Breakout Night?

And we’re not referring to the Saturday Night Live performer’s appearance as President Obama in the cold-open with Kerry Washington. His impression is serviceable and certainly a merciful relief from Fred Armisen’s agonizingly unfunny 44th. No, it’s what followed that was off-the-hook notable.

Pharaoh channeled the slickness of Andy Samberg’s taped bits for the music video spoof “My Girl;” he was gut-bustingly hilarious on Weekend Update as Shaquille O’Neal, alongside Kenan Thompson’s great Charles Barkley; and Pharaoh again provided a great spark with Washington in the skit “How’s He Doing” when he talked, in character as Ebony writer Ronnie Williams, about how much he would love to get a “white person’s mail.”

Jodi Walker, in her EW recap, singles out Pharoah.