Benito Skinner Talks “Healing” New Series ‘Overcompensating:’ “I forgave myself in a lot of ways!"

The most highly anticipated comedy series of the year is almost here! The internet’s favorite comedian Benito Skinner aka Benny Drama is making his television debut as the creator, star, writer, and executive producer of Overcompensating.

Premiering May 15th on Amazon Prime, Overcompensating follows a football player named Benny, as he struggles to accept his sexuality in college, finding himself overcompensating as he tries to appear as something he’s not.

To talk about the series, Skinner as well as co-stars Wally Baram, Owen Thiele, Nell Verlaque, Holmes, Mary Beth Barone, Rish Shah, and Corteon Moore joined GLAAD’s Anthony Allen Ramos to discuss what they hope fans take away from the show.

Skinner, who plays Benny, is excited for LGBTQ audiences to finally see the show he’s created. “I hope that queer people see the little things in it that can make you feel like, ‘Oh my God, that was my experience!’ And like ‘Someone else is feeling this way!'”

Watching his project get made was a cathartic experience for Skinner. He adds that, “I didn’t even know, but once I had finished shooting it, I realized how hard on myself I was for not coming out sooner and not being immediately a part of this beautiful community that now I am a part of.” He continues, “I think that we all have our reasons… especially now, that you don’t feel like you can be yourself and that you don’t feel like you can come out yet. And so I think I forgave myself in a lot of ways for not living truthfully for so much of my life because I think there were so many reasons why I chose to do that.”

He hopes that fans have a similar viewing experience, saying, “I hope queer audiences can forgive themselves a little bit” and that, “It’s little things that I think hopefully make them feel seen and a little less alone in their head like I was.”

Wally Baram, who plays Carmen, shares that her experience on the show has been “unbelievable and an immense honor.” She says that, “I was in the writer’s room for the show and so I really feel like I understood the importance of that relationship, both for Benny and the show because it felt like an integral focal point for the everything in the show.”
Holmes, who plays Hailee, is excited for LGBTQ viewers to get to see the show as well, saying, “I hope that they laugh a ton. And then I also really hope that they feel safer to be themselves in the world and know that even though it is brave to come out, often, I understand that in New York and LA or big cities, it might not always feel that way. But I grew up mostly in Nebraska and it absolutely was like that. And I watched a lot of friends struggle immensely. And so I hope that people can feel safer to be themselves and know that even if everyone doesn’t accept them, there are is a large community that will.”

Podcaster and actor Owen Thiele talks a bit about his character George. “I didn’t have a George growing up. So, it was really fun to kind of play the mentor and the person who was so confident with themselves and at home and at ease with themselves and watching Benny struggle.” Thiele adds, “I didn’t really have that. I was Benny. So, I hope that people find a friend like George in real life and I hope that if they don’t that they can turn the TV on and see somebody who’s out and proud and happy.”

Holmes says, “The more you are yourself the more other people will feel that they can be too,” adding that, “The more that we can continue to be ourselves, continue to be proud of who we are. I mean, sorry, gay people are the funniest people I know, always have been.”

Holmes explains the importance of LGBTQ representation in the media, saying, “Shane from The L Word, she meant everything to me till the day I die. I remember watching it in my room alone and being like, ‘What? This person exists? I’ve never seen them in my neighborhood.”

Mary Beth Barone, who plays Benny’s older sister Grace, shares that, “I think the show is so beautiful in that it makes a really specific experience feel very universal. This isn’t just a show for people who felt like they couldn’t come out. This isn’t just a show for college kids. It’s not just a show for frat guys. It is truly a universal story of love and acceptance.”

To close, Skinner says that through the show, “I think this could really heal something in me and I can finally laugh at all of this… Like I was saying, I forgave myself and so it kind of started to feel like I had power over it… I found the humor in the sadness that it was at the time.” He continues, “I don’t think I could have done it any earlier in my life… because I think now I had space and a true love of being gay that I feel like I carry with me.”

The series features exciting guest stars like Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers, Megan Fox, and Charli XCX, who also serves as an executive producer on the show.

Overcompensating premieres May 15th on Amazon Prime!