| Big Jay Oakerson | |
| Birth Date: | 7 December 1977 |
| Birth Place: | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Education: | Robert E. Lamberton HS (Overbrook Park, Philadelphia) |
| Alma Mater: | Camden County College |
| Medium: | Television, stand-up, radio, podcasting |
| Subject: | Everyday life, current events, pop culture, human behavior, sex, race relations, self-deprecation |
| Children: | 1 |
Jason Michael "Big Jay" Oakerson (born December 7, 1977)[1] is an American stand-up comedian, radio show host, podcaster and actor.[2] [3]
Oakerson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in West Philadelphia, where he attended Robert E. Lamberton High School.[4] During his senior year of high school, Oakerson moved to the Blackwood section of Gloucester Township, New Jersey with his mother and step-father who worked full-time. His father was absent for most of his childhood. He enrolled at Camden County College but left after a month to pursue comedy. He worked as a chauffeur/bouncer for strippers and children's parties to make ends meet.[5] He has opened for Dave Attell and toured with Korn before touring as a headliner.
His television credits include Comedy Central's Premium Blend, Comedy Central Presents, Inside Amy Schumer, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, and This Is Not Happening with Ari Shaffir, along with multiple appearances on BET's Comic View, HBO's P. Diddy's Bad Boys of Comedy and Crashing. He co-hosted Movies on Tap on Spike TV. He played Neil on the series Z Rock and appeared in the pilot episode of Louie, as well as an episode in the third season. On December 1, 2014, Oakerson headlined a free charity show for supporters of morning show Preston & Steve and radio station WMMR in Philadelphia for the annual Campout for Hunger which supports Philabundance.[6] On June 17, 2016, Oakerson released his first hour long special titled, Live At Webster Hall. He also hosted Big Jay Oakerson's What's Your F@%king Deal?! on Seeso.[7]
Oakerson hosts a podcast called Legion of Skanks with fellow comedians, Luis J. Gomez[8] and Dave Smith. He also co-hosts the podcast The SDR Show on GaS Digital Network's station with Ralph Sutton (who co-owns the network with Luis J. Gomez).
On July 27, 2015, Oakerson, along with fellow stand-up comedian Dan Soder, began their two-hour live radio talk show, The Bonfire, on SiriusXM's Comedy Central Radio channel airing every Monday through Thursday (previously Mondays and Wednesdays) from 6-8pm EST.[9] [10] [11] As of March 1, 2021, the show has aired on Faction Talk from 5-7pm EST after Comedy Central Radio ceased production on all of its talk shows.[12] In 2023, Robert Kelly replaced Dan Soder as the co-host of The Bonfire.
Oakerson divorced from his now ex-wife Carla in 2023 and they share custody of their daughter.[13] He has been in a long-term relationship with Christine Evans, a radio producer, since 2011. Oakerson is Jewish.[14]