Casting directors wanted her to be one thing as she was trying to break into the industry – “sassy” – Nicole Byer, star of MTV’s new single-camera comedy Loosely Exactly Nicole told TV critics kicking off Sunday at TCA. Loosely Exactly Nicole debuts Monday, September 5 at 10:30 p.m.

Code words like “Can you be more urban,” “Can you have more edge?” and, she said quoting one casting director, “I need you to be as black as possible and if you go too black I’ll bring you back.”

“It was every audition I went on,” Byer said

“Sad,” muttered one TV critic in the Beverly Hilton ballroom, heard by all.

“But look at me now!” Byer beamed.