Nicole Byer

Nicole Byer (born August 29, 1986) is an American comedian, actress, and television host. She is known as the host of the Netflix comedic reality bake-off series Nailed It! (2018–22), for which she has received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

Byer gained recognition for her work in the commentary series Girl Code (2013). Byer later starred in the MTV/Facebook Watch comedy series Loosely Exactly Nicole (2016–18), which was based on her real life experiences. She made several guest appearances in such comedy series as 30 Rock (2012), Family Guy (2016), Transparent (2016–17), The Good Place (2019), Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2019–21), and The Simpsons (2019). She also appeared in films, including Other People (2016), All About Nina (2018), Bad Hair (2020), and Valley Girl (2020). In 2021, Byer began co-hosting Wipeout with John Cena.

Byer is the host of the Headgum podcast Why Won't You Date Me?, the Earwolf podcast Best Friends co-hosted with Sasheer Zamata, and the Headgum podcast Newcomers.

Byer's first full-length special, Nicole Byer: BBW (Big Beautiful Weirdo), premiered on Netflix in December 2021 and earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special.

Early life Byer was born and raised in New Jersey and moved to New York City in the early 2000s. She worked there as a waitress for a restaurant and cabaret club. She described how the experience eventually led to her to studying improv, "They would give me a lot of money because they were like, 'You're very funny. You have to get out of here. You're very bad at this [waiting tables].'" Byer's parents both died when she was young, her mother while Nicole was a teen in high school, and her father when she was 21. She has said that comedy helped her work through both her parents' deaths, "it was a blessing that I had found these things before they passed away so I could escape."

She then took classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade, starting improv and sketch comedy in June 2008, the same month that her father died. She continued with improv and sketch comedy before starting her stand-up career in 2013. Byer graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy Certificate Program in Professional Performance.

Career She tours the United States doing stand-up comedy and regularly performs improv with Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles.

TV Byer began appearing on Girl Code on MTV in 2013. In 2014, she hosted the first season of MTV's Are You the One? The Aftermatch Live, an after-show for Are You the One?. She appeared in several roles on network television in 2016. That year, she had supporting roles on three shows: MTV's commentary show Girl Code; a hidden camera prank show Ladylike, also on MTV; and she was a series regular on the Fox show Party Over Here, a half-hour sketch comedy created by Paul Scheer and Lonely Island, which was cancelled after one season. As a commentator on the show Girl Code, she was described by Maitri Mehta at Bustle as a "beloved talking head"; Early in her career, Byer learned to do her own makeup and hairstyling before performances, after experiences with on-set makeup artists and hairstylists unprepared to work with her skin tone and hair texture.

Nailed It! Since March 2018, Byer has hosted the Netflix original bake-off series Nailed It! alongside head judge chocolatier Jacques Torres. Each episode features three home bakers with a "terrible track record" attempting to recreate extremely complicated pastries for a $10,000 prize. Byer received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program four times (2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023). She is the first Black woman to be nominated in the category.

Because her comedy is "not kid-friendly", her commentary is edited to create the "feel-good G-rated comedy" that the show is known for. An entire season is shot in only 13 days.

Loosely Exactly Nicole

In 2016, MTV premiered Loosely Exactly Nicole, a scripted, single-camera comedy written and starring Byer, based on her life. Loosely Exactly Nicole premiered September 5, 2016, on MTV. It was later cancelled after one season. Shortly after, it was picked up by Facebook Watch for a second season.

Wipeout Since 2023, Byer has been the co-host of Wipeout with John Cena on TBS.

Why Won't You Date Me? In December 2017, Byer launched a weekly podcast Why Won't You Date Me? on the HeadGum podcast network. The guest also critiques her Tinder profile. Byer concludes each show by asking the guest host if they would date her. Past guests include her very close friend Sasheer Zamata, Emily Heller, and Brooks Wheelan. Critics have referred to the show as "bold" and "refreshing." In 2021, the show left HeadGum to join Conan O'Brien's Team coco podcast network. In 2024, the show was back to HeadGum and acquired by them. Each episode features a guest who provides more background on the series and characters. Past guests have included John Gemberling, Demi Adejuyigbe, Paul F. Tompkins, and Betsy Sodaro.

Season one covered the Star Wars franchise and The Lord of the Rings in the second. The third season explored Tyler Perry's body of work and the fourth goes through the Fast & Furious franchise, with a new co-host, Jon Gabrus as a guide. The fifth season covered selections from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a sixth season has Byer and Lapkus experiencing various Batman films.

Book Her first book #VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE: The Fat Girl's Guide to Being #Brave and Not a Dejected, Melancholy, Down-in-the-Dumps Weeping Fat Girl in a Bikini was released in 2020. The book features over 100 photos of Byer in bikinis with much of the book written through captions, making it both a comedy book and a photo book. Byer has explained the long title, "I, Nicole Byer, wrote this book to #1, share my impressive bikini collection and my hot body with the world, and #2, help other people feel #brave by embracing their body as it is." The title began as a joke hashtag on Instagram, making fun of the way people often comment on photos of fat women wearing relatively little clothing as, 'You're so brave.'

In 2018, she appeared in a Smirnoff ad campaign with actor Ted Danson.

Comedic style On The Ringer, Allison P. Davis described Byer's comedy: "Most easily compared to a raunchier Retta with a hint of Ilana Glazer's madcap energy. She's mouthy, vulgar, a little bit goofy, relatable but ridiculously charming, and not afraid to infuse her broad comedy with a confident sexuality."

On her sexual orientation, Byer has said that she "doesn't identify as straight", but is uncomfortable with the labels "bisexual" or "queer." She has stated on her podcast Why Won't You Date Me? that she is open to dating people of any gender, and has dated men and women in the past.

She lives in Los Angeles with her rescue dog, Clyde. She previously lived with fellow comedian John Milhiser.

Byer was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as an adult.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2014 A Better You Neighbor 2016 Other People Charlie Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates Office Nicole 2018 All About Nina Leslie 2020 Bad Hair Gina Valley Girl Deejay 2021 Vivo Valentina (voice) 2022 Unplugging Officer Dunn The Bob's Burgers Movie Olsen Benner (voice) Mack & Rita Urth 2023 Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Janice (voice) Good Burger 2 Luna Foxx Urkel Saves Santa: The Movie Sheryl (voice) First Time Female Director Cerritos 2024 Thelma Rochelle The American Society of Magical Negroes Dede 2025 Summer of 69 Destiny The TwitsBeverly Onion (voice) TBATranscendingPost-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 2012 30 Rock Mo'Nique Lookalike Episode: "Grandmentor" 2013 Girl Code Herself Unknown episodes For-Profit Online University 22MuchBIZ Adult Swim special 2013–2014 The Birthday Boys Nurse / Maurine 2 episodes 2013–2015 Pursuit of Sexiness Nicky 11 episodes; Also writer 2014 Are You the One? The Aftermatch Live Host Season 1 Friends of the People Unknown Episode: "Meet the Friends" 2015 Like, Share, Die Miss Andry / Wendy Williams (voice) 2 episodes Comedy Bang! Bang! Terri Herdsman Episode: "Weird Al Yankovic Wears a Different Hawaiian Shirt" 2016 Angie Tribeca Holly Episode: "The Famous Ventriloquist Did It" Animals. Stephanie (voice) Episode: "Pigeons" Lady Dynamite A.D. Fiona 2 episodes Party Over Here Various 10 episodes Ladylike Herself 8 episodes Family Guy Airport Security Officer (voice) Episode: "The Boys in the Band" 2016–2017 The UCB Show Various 2 episodes Transparent Jataun 2016–2018 BoJack Horseman Interviewee / Talk Show Peahen / Teenage Girl (voice) Loosely Exactly Nicole Nicole Byer 20 episodes; Also writer and producer 2017 Celebrity Family Feud Herself Episode: "Funny Gals vs Funny Guys and Louie Anderson vs Christina Milian" Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special Security Guard #2 TV special Young & Hungry Lizette Episode: "Young & Bridesmaids" 2017–2018 Star vs. the Forces of Evil Princess Arms / Princess Jaggs (voice) 3 episodes 2018–2022 Nailed It! Herself (host) 56 episodes 2018 Bob's Burgers Martha / Drunk Lounge Lady (voice) Episode: "Go Tina on the Mountain" Little Big Awesome Ho Cho Flo / Puppy Num Nums (voice) Episode: "Puppy Shower/Claude the Buff Hamster" 2018–2020 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Herself Episodes: "All Stars Snatch Game", "Get a Room!" Apple & Onion Cotton Candy / Kid / Rude Fan (voice) 5 episodes 2018–2023 Big City Greens Andromeda (voice) 10 episodes 2019 The Good Place Gwendolyn Episode: "The Book of Dougs" The Simpsons Erica (voice) Episode: "Bart vs. Itchy & Scratchy" Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ Mandine Chinton Episode: "Missing Dean" A Black Lady Sketch Show The Invisible Man 2 episodes Snoopy in Space C.A.R.A. (voice) 11 episodes 2019–2022 Tuca & Bertie Various voices 23 episodes 2019–2021 The Unicorn Meg 3 episodes Brooklyn Nine-Nine Trudy Judy 3 episodes 2020 Lego Masters Herself Episode: "Storybook" American Dad! Pickle House Customer (voice) Episode: "Trophy Wife, Trophy Life" Game On! Herself Episode: "Celebrity Guests: Nicole Byer and David Ortiz" Mapleworth Murders Julia Squift Episode: "The Case of the Case of Wine: Part I" Amphibia Gertie (voice) 2 episodes Archer Gabrielle (voice) Episode: "The Double Date" The George Lucas Talk Show Herself Episode: "Radioland Stream Night" 2020–2022 Woke 40 Oz. Bottle (voice) 4 episodes 2021 Close Enough Ophira (voice) Episode: "Where'd You Go, Bridgette?/The Erotic Awakening of A.P. LaPearle" Nicole Byer: BBW (Big Beautiful Weirdo) Herself Netflix special A Tale Dark & Grimm Mrs. Baker (voice) 4 episodes Poorly Drawn Lines Lizandra (voice) Episode: "Dinner Party" 2021–2022 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself 3 episodes, including "Menzeses" Home Economics Amanda Conley 3 episodes 2021–2025 Wipeout Herself (co-host) 2021–2024 Rugrats Lucy Carmichael (voice) Main role 2021–present Invincible Vanessa / Fiona (Season 1) Voices; 2 episodes 2021–2023 Grand Crew Nicky Koles Main role HouseBroken Various voices 5 episodes 2022 Ada Twist, Scientist Professor Flowerbomb (voice) Episode: "Mind Over Muscle/Iggy Gettin' Diggy With It" The Boys Presents: Diabolical Bree (voice) Episode: "BFFs" Cursed Friends Mikayla Television film The Great North Coach Kiely (voice) 4 episodes The Masked Singer Herself Episode: "Masking for a Duel – Round 2" Ziwe Herself Episode: "Socially Liberal, Fiscally Conservative" 27th Critics' Choice Awards Herself (host) Television special 2022–2024 Trixie Motel Herself Two episodes 2022–2023 The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib NannyCam No Filter CEO Baby (voice) 11 episodes 2023 Blaze and the Monster Machines The Gas Guzzler (voice) Episode: "Renewable Energy Racers" The Muppets Mayhem Beatrice of the Beyhive Episode: "Track 8: Virtual Insanity" Ten Year Old Tom (voice) Episode: "Nelson's Hot Mom/History Week" Survival of the Thickest Herself Episode: "Do The Right Thang, Bitch." 2023–2024 Velma Blythe Rogers (voice) 10 episodes 2024 Dinner Time Live with David Chang Herself Episode: "The Meat Extravaganza" Star Trek: Lower Decks Kassia Nox (voice) 2 episodes: "Starbase 80?!" & "The New Next Generation" 2025 Hollywood Squares (2025) Herself (Guest) 3 episodes: "The Mayor of the Sun", "The Price Was Wrong, Drew", & It's a Hot Gentleman's Sweater". (In-Progress) Very Important People Candice Episode: "Candice" Long Story Short Kendra Hooper Main cast 2026 Chibiverse Andromeda (voice) Episode: "Mystery Busters"

Podcasts Year Title Notes 2013 Before You Were Funny Guest Doodie Calls with Doug Mand 2014–2017 Baby Geniuses Guest; 4 episodes 2015 Can I Pet Your Dog? Guest The Champs 2015–2017 Hollywood Handbook Guest; 2 episodes 2015–2019 Lady to Lady 2016–2023 Doughboys Guest; 11 episodes 2016 Another Round Guest Black Men Can't Jump [In Hollywood] The CONAN Podcast Don't Get Me Started Make Me Like It The MEAT Improv with Jake Jabbour and Josh Simpson No Joke Slate Daily Feed 2016–2019 High and Mighty Guest; 5 episodes 2016–2023 How Did This Get Made? 2017 The Bechdel Cast Guest The Dumbbells Kar-Dishin' It: All Things Kardashian The Need to Fail with Don Fanelli Treks and the City Weird Adults with Little Esther 2017–2018 Natch Beaut Guest; 2 episodes 2017–2019 I'm Too Effing High Guest; 5 episodes If I Were You Guest; 2 episodes 2017–present Why Won't You Date Me? Host 2018 All Fantasy Everything Guest The Big Listen Guest; 2 episodes Comedy Bang! Bang! Guest Everything is Rent A Funny Feeling Hysteria Inside the Disney Vault Off Book: The Improvised Musical Raised by TV The Soft Spot Spontaneanation This Particular Album is Very, Very Important to Me unBEARable with Big Dipper and Meatball Unhappy Hour with Matt Bellassai Unladylike Womp It Up! You're Making It Worse 2018–2020 Not Too Deep with Grace Helbig Guest; 2 episodes 2019 Good One: A Podcast About Jokes Guest Who's Your God? The Good Place: The Podcast Cool Playlist Be Here for a While Two Girls One Ghost The Worst with Greta Titelman Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend Three Questions with Andy Richter Scam Goddess A Mediocre Time with Tom and Dan And Especially You Worst Firsts with Brittany Furlan I Hate Talking About Myself Your Mom's House Air Jordan: A Food Podcast Gettin Better with Ron Funches Kreative Kontrol Punch Up The Jam Ghosted! by Roz Drezfalez Good for You with Whitney Cummings The Goodie Goodie with Sabrina Jalees Guest; 2 episodes I'm Afraid of That Guest Las Culturistas 2019–2020 It's Been a Minute with Sam Sanders Forever35 Guest; 2 episodes 2019–2022 Sloppy Seconds with Big Dipper and Meatball 2019–present 90 Day Bae Co-host (with Marcy Jarreau) Drag Her Co-host (with Mano Agapion) Best Friends Co-host (with Sasheer Zamata) 2020 Inside Voices Guest Strong Black Lead Netflix Is a Daily Joke Staying In with Emily and Kumail Culture Kings U Up? I Don't Want to Talk About Fight Club Anymore Guest; 2 episodes I Weigh with Jameela Jamil Guest Spanish Aquí Presents Blank Check with Griffin & David Marti Talks Late Night with Seth Meyers Podcast 2020–present Newcomers Co-host (with Lauren Lapkus) 2021 Wanna Be on Top? Guest My Favorite Murder 2022 Call Her Daddy 2025 Brooke Candy: Unwrapped

Web series + Year Title Role Notes 2016 BUILD Series Herself Guest 2017 Comedians Review the Weirdest Beauty Products Herself Guest 2018 My Most Delish Herself Guest 2020 Transformations Herself Guest 2021 Harper's BAZAAR's Food Diaries: Bite Sized Herself Guest 2021–2022 The Pit Stop Herself Guest; 2 episodes 2022 I Spent a Day With... Herself Guest Nicole Byer On The Audition That Changed Her Perspective On Her Career Herself Entertainment Weekly 's The Awardist The Plant-Based Way with Monét Herself Guest Reality TV Roundtable Herself The Hollywood Reporter

Awards and nominations Year Association Category Work Result 2019 Gold Derby Awards Best Reality Host Nailed It! Reality Host of the Decade Online Film & Television Association Best Host in a Reality Program 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program 2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Host Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program 2022 Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special Nicole Byer: BBW (Big Beautiful Weirdo) 2023 Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program Nailed It!