“Nailed It!” is a unique breed in the world of reality competition shows, walking the fine line between genuine contest and tongue-in-cheek sendup of the entire genre. Most of the time, that unique sensibility seems to stem from its host, the actress and comedian Nicole Byer.
From her breakout as a regular commentator on MTV’s “Girl Code,” to her scripted MTV-turned-Facebook Watch series “Loosely Exactly Nicole,” much of Byer’s comedy is embodied by that same flavor of sharp, but always good-natured, ribbing.
On “Nailed It!,” the Netflix baking competition where amateur bakers attempt to recreate elaborate professional treats to comically poor results, Byer’s keen stewardship keeps the show from veering into territory that’s too mean or sad to be entertaining.