If you’ve turned on a screen in the last five years, you’ve seen her. Or heard that unmistakable, joyous shriek of a laugh. Nicole Byer has quietly—well, not quietly, she’s actually very loud—become the glue holding modern comedy together. From the disaster-stricken kitchens of Nailed It! to the high-stakes world of voice acting in The Twits, her career trajectory is less of a ladder and more of a rocket ship fueled by chaotic energy and sheer talent.
Honestly, tracking Nicole Byer movies and tv shows is a full-time job because she works harder than almost anyone in Hollywood. She isn’t just a "Netflix person" or a "stand-up person." She’s a "everything person."
The Nailed It! Phenomenon and the Emmy Streak
Let’s be real: most people met Nicole through a kitchen fire. Nailed It! premiered on Netflix in 2018, and it shouldn't have worked. A show about people who suck at baking? It sounds mean. But Nicole, alongside the ever-patient Jacques Torres, turned it into a masterclass in radical empathy and self-deprecation.
She made history here. In 2020, she became the first Black woman ever nominated for an Emmy in the Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program category. That’s huge. It wasn’t just a fluke, either; she kept racking up nominations because she treats every episode like a weird, sugar-coated playground.
The show has spun off into The Big Nailed It Baking Challenge and numerous holiday specials. It’s the cornerstone of her brand, but if you think that’s all she’s done, you’re missing about 90% of the picture.
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The Scripted Gems: From MTV to Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Before she was the queen of Netflix, Nicole was the queen of the "breakout guest star." Remember Girl Code on MTV? That was where a lot of us first saw her dropping truth bombs about dating and body image. It led to her own scripted series, Loosely Exactly Nicole, which started on MTV and eventually moved to Facebook Watch.
It was a semi-autobiographical look at her life as a struggling actor in LA. It was raunchy, honest, and featured some of the most relatable "broke person" humor ever put to film. Sadly, like many great things, it was short-lived, but it proved she could carry a show as a lead actress, not just a host.
Then there are the guest spots. She has this way of showing up in a show and completely stealing the scene.
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine: As Trudy Judy (the Pontiac Bandit’s sister), she matched Andy Samberg’s energy perfectly.
- The Good Place: She played Gwendolyn, the path-of-least-resistance mailwoman in the afterlife.
- Grand Crew: A more recent hit where she plays Nicky, a successful wine-loving professional.
She’s also a frequent flyer in the world of sketch comedy, appearing in A Black Lady Sketch Show and the cult-favorite Party Over Here.
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Voice Acting and Animated Dominance
This is the part of the Nicole Byer movies and tv shows list that catches people off guard. Her voice is incredibly distinct. Because of that, she has become a titan in the animation world.
In Tuca & Bertie, she voiced a dozen different characters. In Big City Greens, she’s Andromeda. She’s been in The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Invincible.
Wait, there’s more. 2025 and 2026 are big years for her animated film career. She’s voicing Beverly Onion in the much-anticipated adaptation of The Twits. She also joined the cast of Long Story Short, coming from the brilliant minds behind BoJack Horseman. If you have kids—or you’re just an adult who likes cartoons—you are hearing her voice constantly.
What About the Movies?
Nicole’s filmography is growing, though she often leans into character-actor roles that leave you wanting more. In The American Society of Magical Negroes (2024), she played DeDe, bringing her signature sharp wit to a satirical premise. She was in Good Burger 2 as Luna Foxx, a nod to her ability to play in both "high-brow" satire and "low-brow" nostalgia.
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She also popped up in Thelma (2024), the sleeper hit about a grandma getting revenge on phone scammers. It’s these smaller, character-driven roles where she often shines brightest because she doesn’t need 90 minutes to make an impression. She needs five.
The Podcast Powerhouse
You can't talk about her screen work without mentioning her microphones. Her podcast Why Won’t You Date Me? is essential listening for anyone who wants to understand the person behind the persona. It’s where she talks about the industry, her dating life (or lack thereof), and her struggles with being a Black woman in a business that often tries to pigeonhole her.
She also does Best Friends with Sasheer Zamata, Newcomers (where she watches things like Star Wars or Marvel for the first time), and 90 Day Bae. These aren't just side projects. They are the engine that keeps her fan base fiercely loyal.
Breaking Down the "Hidden" Credits
People often miss her writing and production credits. She’s an executive producer on The Big Nailed It Baking Challenge and was a writer on Loosely Exactly Nicole. She isn't just a "hired gun" who shows up and says funny things. She is crafting the narrative.
Essential Nicole Byer Watchlist
- Nailed It! (Netflix): For when you need a hug and a laugh.
- Nicole Byer: BBW (Big Beautiful Weirdo): Her Netflix stand-up special that showcases her raw, unfiltered stage presence.
- Grand Crew (NBC/Peacock): For a more grounded, sitcom version of her talent.
- Tuca & Bertie: To see her range as a voice performer.
- Loosely Exactly Nicole: If you can find it, it’s the best "pure Nicole" project out there.
Nicole Byer is a rarity in 2026. She’s someone who has navigated the transition from "internet famous" to "Emmy-winning household name" without losing the weirdness that made her great in the first place. Whether she's judging a terrible cake or voicing a supernatural creature, she brings a specific kind of joy that’s hard to replicate.
To truly appreciate her work, you should start by watching her Netflix special BBW (Big Beautiful Weirdo) to get a sense of her comedic voice, then move into Grand Crew to see her acting chops. This gives you the full spectrum of why she’s currently one of the busiest people in show business.