How many falling chandeliers is Jay going to have to avoid in Ghosts before he’s off the hook with the devil? Well, at least a few, according to star Utkarsh Ambudkar.

In the Season 4 finale of the hit CBS comedy, Ambudkar’s beloved character discovered that instead of signing with a reputable publicist to help promote his new restaurant, he actually signed a deal with the devil, or someone quite close to him. Jay’s new superstar publicist is really none other than Elias Woodstone (Matt Walsh) — the human form of Hetty’s (Rebecca Wisocky) despicable ex-husband — who got him to sign over his soul.

Now, three months after the finale aired and made its way to Paramount+, the ghosts are back in the Season 5 premiere, “Soul Custody,” and figuring out to get Jay out of his impossible deal with Elias, even if it means him having a few near-death encounters in the meantime.

“Last we saw Jay, he was narrowly avoiding death by chandelier. So when Season 5 starts, the man is on a ticking clock. And Sam — they’re terrified. He’s really scared,” Ambudkar told DECIDER in an interview ahead of Season 5’s release. “He is protecting himself the best way he knows how. He’s covered himself in every kind of sports padding imaginable, and he’s really looking for ways to a defeat Elias. And more importantly, if Elias should win, what kind of existence is he going to enjoy in the afterlife? So he’s desperate when we meet him.“

Even so, the Pitch Perfect alum admits there is something undeniably enjoyable about having to play the damsel in distress and having to figure out how he’s going to get out of not only the deal, but purgatory if Elias winds up getting his way and killing Jay.

“To play manic fear is always fun, and J rarely gets to be at the center of it, right? He’s usually kind of like, “What is happening, right?” he said of being the only non-ghost and or human without the ability to see the ghosts at Woodstone B&B.

In preparation for what could be the end of his life, Ambudkar says Jay is making preparations — just in case — and doing all of the most necessary things. Getting his will ready? No. Sending letters and voicemails to the people that he loves? Nah. Packing a snack for the road? Yup.

“I don’t know what to do. Should I go in the ghost trap? What what kind of food should I bring with me if I’m going to be dead? I’m putting cookies in my pocket because I need a cookie for the rest of my afterlife,’” he joked. “It’s fun to be sort of at the center of the hurricane. And for the other ghosts to all be scrambling and Sam to try and fix the the situation.”

To find out if Jay is going to make it or if Elias will have his way with the man of of the manor at Woodstone, fans will just have to tune into the Season 5 premiere of Ghosts as it airs on CBS.

Ghosts returns for its fifth season on CBS on October 16 at 8:30 p.m. ET. New episodes stream the next day on Paramount+.

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