Nicole Byer Is An Absolute Treasure

By Andrew Sanford | TV | December 3, 2021 |

By Andrew Sanford | TV | December 3, 2021 |

Some people are naturally funny. No matter what they do or say, they will find a way to elicit laughter. They are so in touch with who they are that simply by being themselves, they can entertain a room or a crowd by merely describing their day. Nicole Byer is one of those people.

I first became aware of Nicole through her appearances on the podcast How Did This Get Made. I love that show but, occasionally, guests can get drowned out by the big personalities of Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas, and June Diane Raphael. Nicole has never had that problem (though now that I think of it, I don’t think she’s ever done an episode with June). She’s able to hold her own and then some.

Since then, I’ve been seeking her out any way I can. Her numerous podcasts like Why Won’t You Date Me, and Best Friends, which she does with Sasheer Zamata, are incredibly hilarious. Nailed It, a baking show she hosts on Netflix, has become a staple in my home. Her stand-up special, Big Beautiful Weirdo, is packed with her signature comedy. She’s a star that I’m happy to gaze at whenever possible.

I was thrilled to see that she was on Jimmy Kimmel: Live promoting her new special. Everything that I love about her was on display in this eight-minute interview. Kimmel is a hard nut to crack, and even he bursts into laughter several times. Nicole just has that effect on people, and I’m thrilled to see her influence spread the way that it has.

I think this post may have slowly turned into a warmup for me pitching Nicole Byer for the Pajiba 10. Heck, this isn’t even the first time I’ve written about her this year. My hands may be tied.