Melissa Villasenor Explains Why She Won't Make Fun of Nominees While Hosting Spirit Awards 2021

The 2021 Spirit Awards are happening tonight and SNL‘s Melissa Villasenor is hosting for the first time!

The 33-year-old actress and comedian is opening up about working on the show, which was pre-taped without an audience, and what she’ll be joking about at the event.

“I do love an audience. For me, that’s the ultimate. The best thing is feeling the crowd and having the same energy and laughing together. This is tough, but my goal is that I make the camerapeople laugh. Really, I have a podcast [Laughing With Myself] where I just talk to myself about things, so I feel very comfy laughing at my own jokes,” Melissa told THR.

Melissa says she will not be making fun of the nominees.

“Well, we’re not making fun of any of the movies because they’re all pretty heavy. I’m kind of the butt of the joke. I think, with the writers, that we have come up with some pretty fun stuff. Of course, they know my voice and style. I’m not a mean comic. It doesn’t work for me,” she said.

The show is airing on IFC at 10pm ET!

Click through the gallery for photos of Melissa Villasenor behind-the-scenes at the show…