Ali Landry's "Softer" Spy TV
Source: tvguide.com

by Daniel R. Coleridge

This month, Doritos hawker Ali Landry replaced Ed's weirdo-wiseacre Michael Ian Black as host of Spy TV (airing tonight at 8 pm/ET). Why did NBC choose her pretty mug as the hidden-camera show's new face? 'Cause she's pretty, silly!

"I think they were looking for a new look for the show," Miss USA 1996 tells TV Guide Online. "I guess last season, they thought the skits were mean or cruel — and they thought I'd maybe soften the edges a little bit.

"I consider myself a nice person," she says, "and I don't want to see anybody's feelings hurt. I watched all the pieces beforehand and they were genuinely very funny. Most people [we scam] are set up by a family member or friend. In the end, there may be shock value, but they are so happy they're on TV!"

Of course, Landry wasn't so nice as Scott Foley's vampy bride on Felicity — where she proved she can actually act, as well as pose. Having worked well with the show's co-creator J.J. Abrams, does she harbor hopes of appearing on his other series, Alias? Hey, she displayed some fierce martial arts moves in those Doritos ads — so why couldn't the Spy TV emcee kick TV spy Jennifer Garner's derriere? "Oh, I love Jennifer," she enthuses. "She's a really nice person — she's married to Scott Foley! And I'm his TV wife, although we divorced! Jennifer and I did a sitcom together called Significant Others, which didn't last, so I'm really happy she found a show that stuck."

Ah, but Landry's avoiding the question. Who'd win if these ladies had a spy-versus-spy smackdown? "Of course, I would have to say myself," she giggles. "I'm pretty athletic."