‘Pause with Sam Jay’ Canceled After Two Seasons on HBO

Pause With Sam Jay (Credit: HBO)

HBO has canceled late-night comedy series Pause with Sam Jay, according to host Sam Jay.

In a recent interview on The Daily Beast‘s “The Last Laugh” podcast, Jay confirmed the series won’t return for a third season.

“Pause isn’t coming back. We’re done,” the comedian said. “No, it wasn’t my decision. It was kind of disappointing, but I was also drained. It was a draining show, because it was very personal. So I was feeling a little spent from it, to be honest. And I was going to take a year off anyway. I had vocalized that I wanted to do that, because I just felt like I needed to re-up my energy on it and have something to say. And, I don’t know, I feel like this is the industry we’re in. You’re not really in control of that part of it.”

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The half-hour comedy series premiered in 2021, with the 8-episode second season debuting on May 20, 2022.

“You can only make the thing you believe in and put it out there and hope people take to it and hope the network gets it, and it all works out. And it may or may not. So I don’t get overly attached to stuff,” Jay continued. “I’m glad I got to do it, and I feel really good and proud of the thing that I made. And I’m very proud of everybody that worked on the show and put their blood and sweat and tears into making something that was super challenging. I really think we pulled off something cool.”

The comedian said she’s now working on lining up her next projects.

“I’m on to other things and exploring other ideas and creating other stuff, which is all I want the ability to do, is to just keep making things. So I’m in a good place,” she said.

Pause with Sam Jay was created by Jay and Prentice Penny.

The series featured Jay hosting a party at her apartment. The show included interviews, sketches, animation, and conversations with her guests about cultural issues.

Atlanta-born Jay previously worked as a writer for Saturday Night Live and co-created Peacock comedy series Bust Down with SNL alum Chris Redd, Langston Kerman, and the late Jak Knight.

Jay also has a role in Kenya Barris’ Netflix comedy film You People alongside Eddie Murphy and Jonah Hill.