Just days after it was announced that he was leaving “Saturday Night Live” after 6 years, Jay Pharoah’s next gig is booked. Of course this was likely already a done deal before the announcement of his SNL exit, and may have been the catalyst, even if in part.

During Showtime’s Television Critics Association panel in Los Angeles this afternoon, David Nevins, Showtime president and CEO, announced that Pharoah has booked the lead in Jamie Foxx’s upcoming new series “White Famous,” which the network ordered a pilot for in June.

The half-hour comedy, executive produced by Foxx and Tom Kapinos (creator of “Californication”), will be written by Kapinos, based on an idea by Foxx, who will also guest star in a recurring role.

A co-production between Lionsgate Television and Showtime, the project will focus on a talented, young African American comedian whose star is rising, forcing him to navigate the treacherous waters of maintaining his credibility as he begins to cross-over towards becoming “white famous.”




“I came up from standup comedy, so to be able to share that aspect of my life on screen with a project like ‘White Famous’ is incredibly exciting,” said Foxx. “We couldn’t have found better partners than SHOWTIME, Lionsgate and Tom Kapinos to tell this story in the best possible way.”

“They say you can’t go home again, but I’m thrilled to be back at Showtime, where I’m equally jazzed to be working with the brilliant Jamie Foxx on the creation of another wickedly profane TV antihero,” added Kapinos.

“White Famous” joins other new cable TV series from black creators, centered around the lives of black characters that will be debuting next season, including Issa Rae’s “Insecure,” and Donald Glover’s “Atlanta.”