Benito Skinner is bringing the drama to Prime Video with his semi-autobiographical comedy series “Overcompensating.” Skinner, AKA Benny Drama, makes his TV debut with the star-studded series that he writes, executive produces, and acts in. The college-set show centers on former football player and homecoming king Benny (Skinner) whose journey as a closeted gay man leads to “horrible hookups, flavored vodka, and fake IDs,” as the logline teases.
The official synopsis reads: “Benny becomes fast friends with Carmen (Wally Baram), a high school outsider on a mission to fit in at all costs. With guidance from Benny’s older sister (Mary Beth Barone) and her campus-legend boyfriend (Adam DiMarco), Benny and Carmen juggle horrible hookups, flavored vodka, and fake IDs. Deeply funny and personal, the show explores the lengths to which we all overcompensate while on the path to finding out who we really are.”
“Overcompensating” also stars Connie Britton, Kyle MacLachlan, Corteon Moore, Owen Thiele, Nell Verlaque, Tomaso Sanelli, and Rish Shah. Guest stars include Megan Fox, Bowen Yang, Lukas Gage, Matt Rogers, James Van Der Beek, Didi Conn, Rachel Matthews, Danielle Perez, Boman Martinez Reid, and Yasmine Sahid. Previously announced guests are Andrea Martin, Kaia Gerber, Julia Shiplett, Tommy Do, Alexandra Beaton, Claire Qute, Elias Azimi, Maddie Phillips and Charli XCX, who also serves as the executive music producer and executive producer.
“Overcompensating” is produced by A24, Strong Baby, and Amazon MGM Studios. Scott King serves as showrunner and executive producer. Jonah Hill, Matt Dines, and Ali Goodwin executive produce for Strong Baby. All eight episodes will debut May 15 on Prime Video.
Skinner previously starred in Chelsea Peretti’s “First Time Female Director.” The multihyphenate told Vanity Fair that he created “Overcompensating” to reflect the modern coming out experience.
“I really wanted queer people to see their experience and the complicatedness of that experience,” Skinner, who teased at least a four season series arc, said. “Not that I don’t think that exists, but I just feel like every time it was so much more complicated to come out than I’ve seen. […] I feel like the villain of the show in a lot of ways is this addiction to masculinity. I think that everyone feels that, not just queer people.”
“Overcompensating” premieres May 15 on Prime Video. Check out the trailer below.
