Nicole Byer
{{short description|American comedian and actress}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Nicole Byer
| image = 27th Critics Choice Awards - Nicole Byer (cropped).png
| alt =
| caption = Byer in 2022
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|08|29}}
| birth_place = Middletown Township, New Jersey, U.S.
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Comedian
- actress
- television host
- podcaster
}}
| years_active = 2009–present
| known_for = Nailed It!
Loosely Exactly Nicole
Girl Code
Why Won't You Date Me?
| website = {{URL|nicolebyerwastaken.com}}
}}
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–present), for which she has received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations.{{cite magazine |last1=Romano |first1=Nick |title=Nailed It is the Netflix series about baking fails you didn't know you needed |url=https://ew.com/tv/2018/03/10/nailed-it-netflix-baking-fails/ |access-date=March 12, 2018 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=March 10, 2018 |archive-date=March 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312173800/http://ew.com/tv/2018/03/10/nailed-it-netflix-baking-fails/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=2020 Primetime Emmy® Awards – Nomination Press Release |url=https://www.emmys.com/sites/default/files/Downloads/72nd-nominations-list-v1.pdf?q=1 |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |access-date=July 29, 2020 |archive-date=July 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728162008/https://www.emmys.com/sites/default/files/Downloads/72nd-nominations-list-v1.pdf?q=1 |url-status=live}}
Byer gained recognition for her work in the commentary series Girl Code (2013).{{cite news |last1=Mehta |first1=Maitri |title=Who Is Nicole Byer? The Comedian Has Two New Shows On MTV & She Deserves It |url=http://www.bustle.com/articles/109228-who-is-nicole-byer-the-comedian-has-two-new-shows-on-mtv-she-deserves-it |access-date=September 9, 2016 |work=Bustle |date=September 8, 2015 |archive-date=September 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160906002930/http://www.bustle.com/articles/109228-who-is-nicole-byer-the-comedian-has-two-new-shows-on-mtv-she-deserves-it |url-status=live}} Byer later starred in the MTV/Facebook Watch comedy series Loosely Exactly Nicole (2016–2018), which was based on her real life experiences.{{cite news |last1=de Moraes |first1=Lisa |title='Loosely Exactly Nicole' Star Nicole Byer Asked To Explain Show's White EPs – TCA |url=https://deadline.com/2016/07/nicole-byer-loosely-exactly-nicole-white-executive-producers-tca-1201796039/ |access-date=September 9, 2016 |work=Deadline |date=July 31, 2016 |archive-date=September 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905232658/http://deadline.com/2016/07/nicole-byer-loosely-exactly-nicole-white-executive-producers-tca-1201796039/ |url-status=live}} She made several guest appearances in such comedy series as 30 Rock (2012), Family Guy (2016), Transparent (2016–2017), The Good Place (2019), Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2019–2021), 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?,{{cite web |title=Why Won't You Date Me? |url=https://omny.fm/shows/why-wont-you-date-me-with-nicole-byer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815055351/https://headgum.com/why-wont-you-date-me?page=3#continue |archive-date=August 15, 2018 |access-date=February 22, 2018 |website=HeadGum.com}} 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].'"{{Cite web |last=Eisenberg |first=Ophira |date=June 28, 2019 |title=Nicole Byer: Nailed It! |url=https://www.wbur.org/npr/736559516/nicole-byer-nailed-it |access-date=October 19, 2021 |website=wbur.org |language=en |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019184007/https://www.wbur.org/npr/736559516/nicole-byer-nailed-it |url-status=live}} 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."{{Cite web |last=Cornish |first=Audie |date=September 17, 2019 |title='There Isn't Just One Type Of Black,' Says Comedian Nicole Byer |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/09/17/761632307/there-isn-t-just-one-type-of-black-says-comedian-nicole-byer |access-date=September 22, 2021 |website=NPR.org |language=en |archive-date=October 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018013255/https://www.npr.org/2019/09/17/761632307/there-isn-t-just-one-type-of-black-says-comedian-nicole-byer |url-status=live}}
She then took classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade, starting improv and sketch comedy in June 2008, the same month that her father died.{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Allison P. |date=September 6, 2016 |title=Nicole Byer Is Not Your Teacher |work=The Ringer |url=https://theringer.com/nicole-byer-is-not-your-teacher-8d96af3e5fd8#.ajem8m90i |url-status=live |access-date=September 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215100457/https://www.theringer.com/2016/9/6/16042442/nicole-byer-is-not-your-teacher-8d96af3e5fd8#.ajem8m90i |archive-date=February 15, 2021}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Byer |first1=Nicole |title=Best Friends with Nicole Byer and Sasheer Zamata; Episode 7:Nicole is Watching Frasier (at 35:15) |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/best-friends-with-nicole-byer-and-sasheer-zamata/id1464766741 |website=Apple.com |publisher=EarWolf |access-date=July 25, 2019 |archive-date=August 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807214613/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/best-friends-with-nicole-byer-and-sasheer-zamata/id1464766741 |url-status=live}}
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?.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1976392/are-you-the-one-cast-selfies/ |title=The 10 Best 'Are You the One?' Cast Selfies |publisher=MTV |access-date=December 27, 2021 |archive-date=December 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227101547/https://www.mtv.com/news/1976392/are-you-the-one-cast-selfies/ |url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Wright |first1=Megh |date=March 17, 2016 |title=Nicole Byer Is the Nation's Top Transvaginal Mesh Attorney on This Week's 'Party Over Here' |work=Splitsider |url=http://splitsider.com/2016/03/nicole-byer-is-the-nations-top-transvaginal-mesh-attorney-on-this-weeks-party-over-here/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919183304/http://splitsider.com/2016/03/nicole-byer-is-the-nations-top-transvaginal-mesh-attorney-on-this-weeks-party-over-here/ |archive-date=September 19, 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Wright |first1=Megh |date=May 13, 2016 |title=Nicole Byer Gets Stalked by an Internet Ad on Tomorrow's 'Party Over Here' |work=Splitsider |url=http://splitsider.com/2016/05/nicole-byer-gets-stalked-by-an-internet-ad-on-tomorrows-party-over-here/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919183044/http://splitsider.com/2016/05/nicole-byer-gets-stalked-by-an-internet-ad-on-tomorrows-party-over-here/ |archive-date=September 19, 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Houlihan |first1=Ryan |date=September 8, 2015 |title=Nicole Byer Is About To Redefine The Term 'Ladylike' With Brand-New Show |publisher=MTV |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2263604/ladylike-mtv-girl-code-nicole-byer/ |url-status=dead |access-date=September 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914080814/http://www.mtv.com/news/2263604/ladylike-mtv-girl-code-nicole-byer/ |archive-date=September 14, 2016}} As a commentator on the show Girl Code, she was described by Maitri Mehta at Bustle as a "beloved talking head"; Stephanie Merry at The Washington Post called Byer "one of the most dependably funny commentators" on the show.{{cite news |last1=Merry |first1=Stephanie |title=Nicole Byer has her own TV show, and the fact she's a black female comedian is the 'least interesting thing' about it |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/09/02/nicole-byer-is-a-black-female-comedian-with-her-own-tv-show-but-thats-the-least-interesting-thing-about-it/?noredirect=on |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109155535/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/09/02/nicole-byer-is-a-black-female-comedian-with-her-own-tv-show-but-thats-the-least-interesting-thing-about-it/?noredirect=on |archive-date=January 9, 2019 |access-date=August 21, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} 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.
Byer has guest-starred in several shows including BoJack Horseman, Transparent, and Bob's Burgers. She played Lizette in season 5, episode 7 of the Freeform series Young & Hungry in 2017. She appeared as a guest judge on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars.{{cite news |last1=Sava |first1=Oliver |date=February 15, 2018 |title=Kristin Chenoweth can't save Drag Race{{'s}} humdrum All Stars Snatch Game |work=The A.V. Club | url=https://www.avclub.com/kristin-chenoweth-can-t-save-drag-race-s-humdrum-all-st-1823051919 |url-status=live |access-date=August 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817124918/https://www.avclub.com/kristin-chenoweth-can-t-save-drag-race-s-humdrum-all-st-1823051919 |archive-date=August 17, 2018}}
== ''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.{{cite news |last1=Licata |first1=Elizabeth |date=February 22, 2018 |title=Netflix's "Nailed It" Is a Hilarious TV Baking Competition for Amateur Chefs |work=The Kitchn |url=https://www.thekitchn.com/netflix-new-tv-show-nailed-it-cake-fails-256100 |url-status=live |access-date=March 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313092256/https://www.thekitchn.com/netflix-new-tv-show-nailed-it-cake-fails-256100 |archive-date=March 13, 2018}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Guerrasio |first=Jason |title='Nailed It!' host Nicole Byer admits her comedy is 'not kid friendly' and why she desperately wants Beyoncé on her show |url=https://www.insider.com/nailed-it-nicole-byer-dirty-humor-edited-2021-5 |access-date=September 22, 2021 |website=Insider |language=en-US}}
== ''Loosely Exactly Nicole'' ==
{{Main|Loosely Exactly Nicole}}
In 2016, MTV premiered Loosely Exactly Nicole, a scripted, single-camera comedy written and starring Byer, based on her life. Madeleine Davies at Jezebel described the show's premise as a "comedic look on [Byer's] life as a black actress struggling to make it in Hollywood."{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Madeleine |title='I Want It Blacker': Here's the First Trailer for Nicole Byer's Loosely Exactly Nicole |url=http://jezebel.com/i-want-it-blacker-heres-the-first-trailer-for-nicole-b-1784647985 |access-date=September 9, 2016 |work=Jezebel |date=August 1, 2016 |archive-date=September 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907044804/http://jezebel.com/i-want-it-blacker-heres-the-first-trailer-for-nicole-b-1784647985 |url-status=live}} Loosely Exactly Nicole premiered September 5, 2016, on MTV.{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Jaleesa M. |title='Loosely Exactly Nicole' star Nicole Byer on early auditions: I was asked to 'be as black as possible' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/08/03/nicole-byer-mtv-loosely-exactly-nicole-diversity-inclusivity/87997116/ |access-date=September 9, 2016 |work=USA Today |date=August 3, 2016 |archive-date=October 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008171023/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/08/03/nicole-byer-mtv-loosely-exactly-nicole-diversity-inclusivity/87997116/ |url-status=live}} It was later cancelled after one season.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2017/02/mtv-loosely-exactly-nicole-mary-jane-comedy-series-canceled-one-season-sweet-vicious-1201907006/ |title=MTV's 'Loosely Exactly Nicole' & 'Mary + Jane' Comedy Series Canceled After One Season, What About 'Sweet/Vicious'? |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |date=February 9, 2017 |access-date=February 9, 2017 |archive-date=February 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215100601/https://deadline.com/2017/02/mtv-loosely-exactly-nicole-mary-jane-comedy-series-canceled-one-season-sweet-vicious-1201907006/ |url-status=live}} Shortly after, it was picked up by Facebook Watch for a second season.{{cite web |last1=Goldberg |first1=Lesley |title=Facebook Dives Into Scripted Television With Nicole Byer Comedy Series |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/facebook-dives-scripted-television-nicole-byer-comedy-series-1012002 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=June 12, 2017 |access-date=August 21, 2018 |archive-date=June 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614044721/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/facebook-dives-scripted-television-nicole-byer-comedy-series-1012002 |url-status=live}}
== ''Wipeout'' ==
= Podcasts =
Byer is the host of four podcasts: Why Won't You Date Me?, Best Friends!, 90 Day Bae, and Newcomers.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-05 |title=Headgum Podcast Network Signs Nicole Byer’s ‘Why Won’t You Date Me?’ Podcast, Expands Its Comedy Portfolio |url=https://whatstrending.com/headgum-podcast-network-signs-nicole-byers-why-wont-you-date-me-podcast-expands-its-comedy-portfolio/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=What's Trending |language=en-US}}
== ''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. Each episode features a guest, typically another comedian, with whom Byer converses openly about her limited dating history, past sexual experiences, and frustration with being single.{{cite web |url=http://www.thecomedybureau.com/post/171215725100/nicole-byer-why-wont-you-date-me |title=Nicole Byer Takes Honesty About Dating to Whole New Level with 'Why Won't You Date Me?' |date=February 23, 2018 |work=The Comedy Bureau |access-date=August 13, 2018 |archive-date=August 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815091048/http://www.thecomedybureau.com/post/171215725100/nicole-byer-why-wont-you-date-me |url-status=live}} 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"{{cite web |last1=Wright |first1=Megh |title=This Week in Comedy Podcasts: A Very Special Episode of Nicole Byer's 'Why Won't You Date Me?' |url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/02/this-week-in-comedy-podcasts-a-very-special-episode-of-nicole-byers-why-wont-you-date-me.html |website=Vulture.com |date=February 15, 2018 |access-date=August 15, 2018 |archive-date=August 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815091141/http://www.vulture.com/2018/02/this-week-in-comedy-podcasts-a-very-special-episode-of-nicole-byers-why-wont-you-date-me.html |url-status=live}} and "refreshing."{{cite web |last1=Foskett |first1=Annie |title=5 Podcasts About Dating You Need To Hear If You're Dating In Your 20s |url=https://www.elitedaily.com/p/5-podcasts-about-dating-you-need-to-hear-if-youre-dating-in-your-20s-9267253 |website=Elite Daily |date=June 13, 2018 |access-date=August 15, 2018 |archive-date=August 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815090910/https://www.elitedaily.com/p/5-podcasts-about-dating-you-need-to-hear-if-youre-dating-in-your-20s-9267253 |url-status=live}} In 2021, the show left HeadGum to join Conan O'Brien's Team coco podcast network.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=January 12, 2021 |title=Conan O'Brien's Team Coco Picks Up Nicole Byer Podcast, Develops Show With J.B. Smoove & Staffs Up |url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/conan-obrien-team-coco-nicole-byer-podcast-j-b-smoove-1234671552/ |access-date=May 18, 2021 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=January 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114055931/https://deadline.com/2021/01/conan-obrien-team-coco-nicole-byer-podcast-j-b-smoove-1234671552/ |url-status=live}} In 2024, the show was back to HeadGum and acquired by them.
== ''Best Friends!'' ==
In 2019, Byer, alongside Sasheer Zamata, launched a podcast on the Earwolf podcast network, Best Friends, a weekly podcast in which the two ruminate on the nature of friendship. The same year, Byer joined comedian and actor Mano Agapion as a co-host on the RuPaul's Drag Race recap podcast Drag Her, and became a cohost of the 90 Day Fiance recap podcast 90 Day Bae with Marcy Jarreau.
== ''Newcomers'' ==
In 2020, Byer launched a weekly podcast, Newcomers, on the HeadGum podcast network alongside Lauren Lapkus, in which the two friends watch films for the first time and comment on their feelings on each movie as newcomers to the series.{{cite web |title=Newcomers: Star Wars with Lauren Lapkus & Nicole Byer |url=https://headgum.com/newcomers-star-wars-with-lauren-lapkus-and-nicole-byer |website=Headgum.com |publisher=Headgum |access-date=May 24, 2020 |archive-date=May 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527144054/https://headgum.com/newcomers-star-wars-with-lauren-lapkus-and-nicole-byer |url-status=live}} 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{{Cite web |title=Headgum // Newcomers |url=https://headgum.com/newcomers |access-date=September 22, 2021 |website=headgum.com |archive-date=July 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729113044/https://headgum.com/newcomers |url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web |last=Miller |first=Gregory E. |date=October 30, 2019 |title=Nicole Byer dishes on pole-dancing, comedy and writing book |url=https://nypost.com/2019/10/30/nicole-byer-dishes-on-pole-dancing-comedy-and-writing-book/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112215103/https://nypost.com/2019/10/30/nicole-byer-dishes-on-pole-dancing-comedy-and-writing-book/ |archive-date=November 12, 2019 |access-date=December 1, 2019 |work=New York Post}} 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."{{Cite web |last=Sayej |first=Nadja |title=Nicole Byer's New Book Is An Exercise In Funny Photo Captions |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nadjasayej/2020/06/02/nicole-byers-new-book-is-an-exercise-in-funny-photo-captions/ |access-date=September 22, 2021 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=November 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124053408/https://www.forbes.com/sites/nadjasayej/2020/06/02/nicole-byers-new-book-is-an-exercise-in-funny-photo-captions/ |url-status=live}} 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.'
= Other work =
In 2013, Byer and Sasheer Zamata created and starred in a web series called Pursuit of Sexiness which was produced by Upright Citizens Brigade.{{cite news |last1=Wright |first1=Megh |date=April 28, 2015 |title=Sasheer Zamata and Nicole Byer Turn into Garbage Monsters in 'Pursuit of Sexiness' |work=Splitsider |url=http://splitsider.com/2015/04/sasheer-zamata-and-nicole-byer-turn-into-garbage-monsters-in-pursuit-of-sexiness/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609144648/http://splitsider.com/2015/04/sasheer-zamata-and-nicole-byer-turn-into-garbage-monsters-in-pursuit-of-sexiness/ |archive-date=June 9, 2016}}
In 2018, she appeared in a Smirnoff ad campaign with actor Ted Danson.{{cite web |last1=Scott |first1=Sydney |title=Nicole Byer Shares The Most Embarrassing Thing She's Done In Bed With A Guy |url=https://www.essence.com/celebrity/nicole-byer-embarrassing-dating-story/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820200655/https://www.essence.com/celebrity/nicole-byer-embarrassing-dating-story/ |archive-date=August 20, 2018 |access-date=August 21, 2018 |website=Essence (magazine)}}
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." Writing for USA Today, Jaleesa M. Jones said that "it's precisely [Byer's] brazen, ribald brand of comedy that landed her in the creative incubator that is MTV, where she toplines two new comedy shows in 2016, Ladylike and Loosely Exactly Nicole".
Byer described Whoopi Goldberg, Tina Turner, and Mo'Nique as her early inspirations.
Personal life
Byer supports body positivity and stated in an interview with Brit+Co, "Body positivity, to me, means you accept the body that you're in... And if you want to change it, you can, but you should love the skin that you're in currently, forever. Because everyone is beautiful. No one's truly ugly. You're always beautiful to somebody, and you're always ugly to somebody."{{cite web |last1=Takeda |first1=Allison |title=Nicole Byer Can Find Humor in Anything — And She Does, on 'Loosely Exactly Nicole' |url=https://www.brit.co/nicole-byer-loosely-exactly-nicole-season-2-interview/ |website=brit.co |date=February 7, 2018 |publisher=Brit+Co |access-date=August 21, 2018 |archive-date=August 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821093935/https://www.brit.co/nicole-byer-loosely-exactly-nicole-season-2-interview/ |url-status=live}}
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.{{cite web |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/nicole-byer-interview-sexuality-rupaul-drag-race-nailed-it/ |title=Nicole Byer: "I don't identify as straight, I identify as a person who just loves" |website=Gay Times |date=June 19, 2018 |access-date=July 21, 2020 |archive-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722071950/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/nicole-byer-interview-sexuality-rupaul-drag-race-nailed-it/ |url-status=live}}
She lives in Los Angeles with her two rescue dogs named Clyde and Charlie. She previously lived with fellow comedian John Milhiser.{{cite web |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/living-with-nicole-byer-w-john-milhiser/id1314759544?i=1000458840201 |title=Living with Nicole Byer (w/ John Milhiser) |website=Apple Podcasts |access-date=February 16, 2021 |archive-date=September 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928054814/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/living-with-nicole-byer-w-john-milhiser/id1314759544?i=1000458840201 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Comedian Nicole Byer thinks her dogs are strange, but that's why she loves them |url=https://www.today.com/pets/comedian-nicole-byer-thinks-her-dogs-are-strange-s-why-t141549 |access-date=September 22, 2021 |website=TODAY.com |date=November 15, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020023352/https://www.today.com/pets/comedian-nicole-byer-thinks-her-dogs-are-strange-s-why-t141549 |url-status=live}}
Byer was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as an adult.{{cite web |title=Nicole Byer on the reality of competition shows and how ADHD can help your comedy |url=https://www.cbc.ca/arts/q/nicole-byer-on-the-reality-of-competition-shows-and-how-adhd-can-help-your-comedy-1.6972620 |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=June 25, 2024 |date=September 22, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Uwumarogie |first1=Victoria |title=Nicole Byer On Being Diagnosed With ADHD As An Adult, What People Get Wrong About The Condition |url=https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/nicole-byer-adhd/ |website=Essence |access-date=June 25, 2024 |date=November 18, 2021}}
Filmography
= Film =
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| 2012
| 30 Rock | Mo'Nique Lookalike | Episode: "Grandmentor" |
| rowspan="2" | 2013
| Herself | Unknown episodes |
| For-Profit Online University
| 22MuchBIZ | Adult Swim special |
| 2013–2014
| Nurse / Maurine | 2 episodes |
| 2013–2015
| Pursuit of Sexiness | Nicky | 11 episodes; Also writer |
| 2014
| Are You the One? The Aftermatch Live | Host | First season only |
| 2014
| Unknown | Episode: "Meet the Friends" |
| rowspan="2" | 2015
| Miss Andry / Wendy Williams (voice) | 2 episodes |
| Comedy Bang! Bang!
| Terri Herdsman | Episode: "Weird Al Yankovic Wears a Different Hawaiian Shirt" |
| rowspan="6" | 2016
| 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" |
| rowspan="2" | 2016–2017
| Various | rowspan="3" | 2 episodes |
| Transparent
| Jataun |
| rowspan="2" | 2016–2018
| Interviewee / Talk Show Peahen / Teenage Girl (voice) |
| Loosely Exactly Nicole
| Nicole Byer | 20 episodes; Also writer and producer |
| rowspan="3" | 2017
| 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
| Princess Arms / Princess Jaggs (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2018–present
| Herself (host) | 56 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2018
| 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" |
| rowspan="2" | 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
| Andromeda (voice) | 10 episodes |
| rowspan="5" | 2019
| 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
| Various voices | 23 episodes |
| rowspan=2 | 2019–2021
| Meg | 3 episodes |
| Brooklyn Nine-Nine
| Trudy Judy | 3 episodes |
| rowspan="7" | 2020
| 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{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/lorne-michaels-quibi-murder-mystery-lines-up-all-star-cast-1259091 |title=Lorne Michaels' Quibi Murder Mystery Lines Up All-Star Cast |website=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Rick |last=Porter |date=December 3, 2019 |access-date=July 7, 2020 |archive-date=July 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708124531/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/lorne-michaels-quibi-murder-mystery-lines-up-all-star-cast-1259091 |url-status=live}}
| 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 |
| rowspan="4" | 2021
| 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" |
| rowspan="2" | 2021–2022
| Herself | 3 episodes, including "Menzeses" |
| Home Economics
| Amanda Conley | 3 episodes |
| rowspan="3" | 2021–present
| Wipeout | Herself (co-host) | |
| Rugrats
| Lucy Carmichael (voice) | Main role |
| Invincible
| Vanessa / Fiona (Season 1) | Voices; 2 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2021–2023
| Nicky Koles | Main role |
| HouseBroken
| Various voices | 5 episodes |
| rowspan="7" | 2022
| 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
| Herself | Two episodes |
| 2022–2023
| The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib | NannyCam No Filter CEO Baby (voice) | 11 episodes |
| rowspan="4" | 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 |
| rowspan="2" | 2024
| Dinner Time Live with David Chang | Herself | Episode: "The Meat Extravaganza" |
| Star Trek: Lower Decks
| Kassia Nox (voice) | Episodes: "Starbase 80?!" & "The New Next Generation" |
| rowspan="2" |2025
|Hollywood Squares (2025) |Herself (Guest) |Episodes: "The Mayor of the Sun", "The Price Was Wrong, Drew", & It's a Hot Gentleman's Sweater". (In-Progress) |
| Very Important People
|Candice |One episode |
= Podcasts =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="2" | 2013
| Before You Were Funny | rowspan="2" | Guest |
| Doodie Calls with Doug Mand |
| 2014–2017
| Baby Geniuses | Guest; 4 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2015
| rowspan="2" | Guest |
| The Champs |
| 2015–2017
| rowspan="2" | Guest; 2 episodes |
| 2015–2019
| Lady to Lady |
| 2016–2023
| Guest; 11 episodes |
| rowspan="8" | 2016
| rowspan="8" | 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 | rowspan="2" | Guest; 5 episodes |
| 2016–2023 |
| rowspan="6" | 2017
| rowspan="6" | 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 |
| rowspan="2" | 2017–2019
| I'm Too Effing High | Guest; 5 episodes |
| If I Were You
| Guest; 2 episodes |
| 2017–present
| Host |
| rowspan="17" | 2018
| All Fantasy Everything | Guest |
| The Big Listen
| Guest; 2 episodes |
| Comedy Bang! Bang!
| rowspan="15" | 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 |
| rowspan="24" | 2019
| Good One: A Podcast About Jokes | rowspan="21" | 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
| rowspan="3" | Guest |
| Las Culturistas |
| rowspan="2" | 2019–2020
| It's Been a Minute with Sam Sanders |
| Forever35
| rowspan="2" | Guest; 2 episodes |
| 2019–2022
| Sloppy Seconds with Big Dipper and Meatball |
| rowspan="3" | 2019–present
| 90 Day Bae | Co-host (with Marcy Jarreau) |
| Drag Her
| Co-host (with Mano Agapion) |
| Best Friends
| Co-host (with Sasheer Zamata) |
| rowspan="12" | 2020
| Inside Voices | rowspan="6" | 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
| rowspan="5" | 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) |
| rowspan="2" | 2021
| Wanna Be On Top? | rowspan="3" | Guest |
| My Favorite Murder |
| 2022 |
= Web series =
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Association ! Category ! Work ! Result ! {{abbr|Ref.|reference}} |
| rowspan="3" | 2019
| rowspan="2" | Gold Derby Awards | Best Reality Host | rowspan="7" | Nailed It! | {{nom}} | rowspan="2" | |
| Reality Host of the Decade
| {{nom}} |
| Online Film & Television Association
| Best Host in a Reality Program | {{nom}} | |
| 2020
| Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program | {{nom}} | |
| rowspan="2" | 2021
| Best Host | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="4" | Primetime Emmy Awards
| rowspan="2" | Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="2" | 2022
| {{nom}} | |
| Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
| Nicole Byer: BBW (Big Beautiful Weirdo) | {{nom}} | |
| 2023
| Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program | {{nom}} | |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.nicolebyerwastaken.com}}
- {{IMDb name|3355329}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Byer, Nicole}}
Category:20th-century African-American women
Category:21st-century African-American women
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American comedians
Category:Actors from Monmouth County, New Jersey
Category:Actresses from New Jersey
Category:African-American comedians
Category:African-American female comedians
Category:African-American LGBTQ people
Category:African-American women writers
Category:American actors with disabilities
Category:American LGBTQ actresses
Category:American LGBTQ comedians
Category:American Musical and Dramatic Academy alumni
Category:American sketch comedians
Category:American stand-up comedians
Category:American television actresses
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Category:American women podcasters
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Category:Comedians from Monmouth County, New Jersey
Category:LGBTQ actors with disabilities
Category:Middletown High School South alumni
Category:Entertainers from Middletown Township, New Jersey
Category:People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)