'Overcompensating' comedy series

Broke DL's character limit with that italic tag following the long-ass show title, sorry about that. Hope you get the gist.

Trailer.

May 15th.

He's cute, a less hot Taylor Zakhar Perez with an equally great body, but he is nobody's college freshman.

Looks like they got some neat cameos in this.

The dude looks 30. College freshman my ass.

His bod is incredible, though. And why not play himself, give it more of a personal touch. Also, people (Zoomers!) would be in uproar if they got a teenage actor for such a raunchy role, times have changed.

r3 I think his facial features are actually more pleasing than Zakhar's, who has a bit of a Cro-Magnon thing going on.

Thanks, OP. I will alert my grandchildren about this.

As if you have kids, bitch.

[quote]Also, people (Zoomers!) would be in uproar if they got a teenage actor for such a raunchy role

You're an idiot

And you're blocked.

What was said above. THEY LOOK TOO OLD. The closet case is way way too old. Unless this is a christian college, no tall handsome stud is going to be a tortured closet case in 2025 or it he was, he'd be quite a sad sack.

Benito Skinner is 31.

I wan't bothered by older casting in Riverdale and I'm not bothered here. It's called suspension of disbelief. Let the kiddies be in school where they belong and let the adults act.

And as has been said, it's not appropriate either if they intend to deal with smut. Look at the Young Royals shithow whenever they did anything sexual.

[quote] I wan't bothered by older casting in Riverdale and I'm not bothered here. It's called suspension of disbelief. Let the kiddies be in school where they belong and let the adults act.

R12 Exactly! It ain't that big of a deal. The industry has done that since forever. Yeah, we made jokes about it, but as long as the show was entertaining, it was all good. This need for perfect 'authenticity' these days is just unnecessary.

I especially loved it in PEN15, where Erskine and Konkle played middle schoolers and they used the insane age difference with the kids around them to great comedic effect. God, I miss those two on TV together.

I loved Pen15 and I also liked Nasim Pedrad's show Chad where she played a middle school boy

All eight episodes out today. I thought the first one was decent at the start, but got a lot funnier as the episode progressed, especially that running Amanda Knox gag.

There are three love interests for the lead I can spot already, can't wait to see that develop further. He actually pulled a mini Felicity for one of them at the end. Which is preferable to the full Felicity I myself pulled as a young and highly dumb fucking bitch. Never go full Felicity, it'll fuck up your life real good.

The extremely straight Adam DiMarco plays an aggressively straight Guido jock. Which, choices.

This was awful. The gay love interest turns out to be straight. A show about sex and we don't get to see the main gay character have sex. Oops... sorry, we actually do see him go down on a woman! And the breeders get to have plenty of sex. Yet the gay character doesn't. The funniest part was when we spent 7 episodes getting attached to the love interest only to find out he's straight. Yeah... that was fun. IJBOL. This show sucked. I'm sad I won't get those hours back. It doesn't deserve a second season. I hope it gets cancelled because it was actually borderline offensive. Why did Benito Skinner, an out gay man, straightify the show? What the actual fuck?? It wasn't very gay at all. His hag got more screen time ffs!

He's very believable as a college freshman.

They're really undercompensating with that terrible cast.

Just watch Crashing on Netflix if you want to see closeted gay overcompensation run amok.

Kyle still looks pretty good.

He's very believable as a college freshman.

Im really enjoying this, the creator/lead is quite charming and talented. But the guy who has been making big sappy puppy eyes at his character since the first episode ends up being straight? How bizarre.

A closeted football player?

Sorry, that's too implausible, no one will buy it

When did Kaia Gerber morph into Zendaya?

R23 Yup. He's straight.

Loved this, hope we will get a second season soon. Both funny, hot and emotional, a hard combo. R17, I don’t at all see any straightfying, just the usual tropes of coming out, And the love interest being straight is far from being established.

Th show ilustrrates toxic masculinity and the too it takes. Adam de Marco and his glorious ass are great.

Benito Skinner in British gay mag Attitude:

Nice legs

It's cute. It makes me miss Never Have I Ever tho. I might finish it today

Loving it three eps in.

I finished it. Coulda used more Didi Conn, but it was really sweet.

I binged it last night. It wasn't what I was expecting but overall I enjoyed it. Holmes steals all her scenes as the drunk, dumb blonde roommate. I also really liked the arc of the sister; I expected her to be a one-note secondary character but she ends up being a lot more interesting. Now that I know the actress and creator Benito Skinner are besties in real life it makes sense but she still delivered

I wouldn't have minded the twist of the one guy turning out to be straight if he hadn't been so flirty and handsy with Benny up to that point. If they had left it a little more 'maybe he is/maybe he isn't' the reveal would have been more realistic and devastating. Most of us have been there and even though we were rooting for the happy ending we understand it usually doesn't happen that way. But maybe they're leaving it open for future exploration

Benito Skinner on why some gay men ‘have trouble cheering each other on’

Skinner lamented the competitiveness which exists between gay men, saying: "Straight men get a thousand spots, but we only get one"

I kind of struggles through this one. I had really high expectations, and it just was not what I hoped it would be. Benito is adorable, so there is that. Overall I don't think the premise, or the series itself, is bad, but just not my cup of tea.

R35 I agree. This is how I feel about the series, and I'm half way through. Don't know if I want to finish it - I feel like it's wasting my time. However, I get a boner every time Adam Di Marco is on screen, so there's that.

OP’s posting skills suck donkey dick.

Slate has a thoughtful analysis of this show.

One of the things they point out is that, for a show about a gay guy, most of it takes place in the realm of obnoxious straight people.

I found the frat stuff annoying (and dumb) and am not sure if I want to continue because that seems to have eaten the show.

[Quote]One of the things they point out is that, for a show about a gay guy, most of it takes place in the realm of obnoxious straight people.

Literally this. The breeders got too much screen time and the gay guy not enough. His whole storyline was badly done. I stopped watching after the love interest turned out to be straight. Had no reason to watch anymore. It was the main reason I watched the show in the first place. The plot twist was just dumb. Who thought this was a good idea?

Netflix Fraubait dear

Initially, I was annoyed that they made the gaggle of gays at the LGBT table on orientation day just a bunch of stereotypes rather than a mix of people. But then I realized that all the various groups they show are just one-note stereotypes. The frat boys are douche bros, the blondes are dumb shallow cunts, etc. There's no nuance to be seen anywhere.

I am three episodes in and at least I am still watching, so it is nominally entertaining. Overall, poorly acted with a few exceptions. Adam DiMarco is attractive but this is not his best work; in fact, he is over-acting IMHO. I actually was surprised that he would take this role - somewhat beneath him. The lead male is not that good. The lead female is not bad. In fact, I am not interested or invested enough to even look up their proper names. Collegiate life can be wild and frenetic, but the portrayal of it in this series is way over the top. As I mentioned, it is nominally entertaining. I have it on in the background while I am answering emails. So there you go...my two cents.

People calling it one-note haven't watched to the end. The whole point is that everybody is overcompensating and, when you get to know them, more is revealed.

Since I came out at 14 in 1990, I somewhat resent an intelligent college freshman in 2025 being closeted, but then again I wasn't a straight-passing homecoming king.

The comedy is very well done as you would expect from A24.

The show is quite enjoyable and Benito is undoubtably a star.

He looks college aged to me.

r12 They're meant to be college students, not kids.

r34 That's the kind of shit someone says when they suddenly realise they aren't as talented as they always thought.

r41 It feels like a series of TikTok stereotype skits threaded together on a barely-there story.

Is interesting I have been following both Benito Skinner and Brian Jordan Alvarez for years on Instagram I’m glad to see they both got a shot at a show. From the sound of it sounds like the English Teacher is better.

R46, English Teacher is definitely better, even if Benito is hotter than Brian.

[quote] ‘OVERCOMPENSATING’ is currently the #1 series on Prime Video US.

Hope that helps Benito get a second season.

He was on CBS THIS MORNING this week, and Gayle King managed to make it all about herself.

A show about a closet case? I'm sure Gayle can't relate 😆

The Fraternity stuff was really dumb, unwatchable. The rest of the show was fine. Something to watch while you look at your phone.

R51 It wasn't gay enough though. How can you sell this as a gay show when 90 % of the show is about the breeders and the main gay love interest turns out to be straight?

Actually, the main gay love interest turns out to be not the main gay love interest.

Is the main actor believable as a college freshman? I haven't see the show. But the Netflix comedy series "Sex Education" had a cast that was believable as teenaged, secondary school students.

This has received a much warmer reception on Reddit than here on DL, despite not really dealing with anything that could be considered woke. Or at least not hitting you on the head with it. I enjoyed it, but the script could have been punched up a lot, the editing tightened, and the lead introduced to some new facial expressions.

I had no issue with that British love interest turning out straight because that's exactly what happened to me in college as well, it's very relatable. I did have an issue with him clearly wearing pants in that woods scene. I get that you don't want to go nude, but at least put on some flesh-coloured briefs or something.

r54 Everyone is pretty believable, yes. I mean, his skin is incredibly taut and he still has a full head of hair. I don't know what your personal criteria are in this case.

[quote]How can you sell this as a gay show when 90 % of the show is about the breeders and the main gay love interest turns out to be straight?

90% of the show is actually about the lead's relationship with his fag hag. Which IS an integral part of the gay experience for most gays in college. Incidentally, my bestie was also called Carmen and she was definitely more important to me than guys at that age. Besides, who even has time for guys in college, I was busy learning and partying and shit.

[quote]Collegiate life can be wild and frenetic, but the portrayal of it in this series is way over the top.

It's a comedy show, not a documentary. Obviously much that you see is heightened for comedic purposes.

We barely made it through the first episode.

They all sure are pretty, though. That much "pretty" usually signifies a crap show; "pretty" is at the top of the list, and writing, directing, and acting are at the bottom.

We then compounded our mistake by watching Darren Starr's "Younger."

Off to BritBox.

R17 the show isn’t about sex. It’s about a gay freshman coming to terms with his being gay and learning about himself while building relationships in college.

It’s not “about sex”.

R42 imagine watching a show LIKE THIS and complaining about “overacting”. Most of them do. It’s part of the schtick.

And why is this thread 95% one person???

The guy playing his roommate has a wonderful backside. Great for spanking.

Best thing about this series was Adam Di Marco, hands down. Great actor, with a handsome face and great body that he loved to show off. Overall, a 'so-so' series which didn't live up to my expectations.

So when does S2 debut ? Will Prime wait for another three years, when Di Marco will be pushing 40, playing a 22 year old ? Benny will be in his mid-30s by then, as well.,

The show is not gonna appeal to men in their 40s and older. At least not most of them. Some of you expecting too much from a silly sitcom promoted toward young people.

I saw a blind item the other day about a sexy new freshman sorority hopeful being added to the cast of Season 2. It was heavily implied that Gabrielle Carteris will be portraying the little strumpet.

Don't count on it, r64

Lukas Gage is not attractive to me. He looks like the poster boy for fetal alcohol syndrome

This was weak. Closet cases really aren’t that interesting. This was just the same scene over and over.

I thought it was charming and funny in a campy way. That’s Benito’s whole personality. He’s very over the top and cheesy

I loved it. It very much reminded me of my closeted freshman year. Except I didn't have a "fag hag" or have any real relationship drama.

I didn't recognize Adam DiMarco from White Lotus until I checked the credits. Connie Britton and Lukas Gage definitely are more distinguishable despite having much smaller parts in both shows. This show was a perfectly enjoyable watch, but DL hates everything!

The full-frontal scene with the roommate was unexpected. I rewound and watched it three times. There was also the scene where Adam DiMarco was laying on the bed with the full view of his back side. Overall, I stayed with it but wish the whole premise of the show was more believable.

[quote]I wan't bothered by older casting in Riverdale and I'm not bothered here. It's called suspension of disbelief. Let the kiddies be in school where they belong and let the adults act.

Oh, how times have changed.

DLers continue to use Gabrielle Carteris as the byword for too old to play a teenager, but was only 29 the first season of BH 90210.

Although Carteris was the oldest of the 90210 students, I thought Ian Zeiring and Luke Perry looked older. The woman who played Emily Valentine looked like she was in her mid-30s.

The actors of Overcompensating look ridiculous playing college students.

I loved it. Was sorry when it ended.

It looks like he's had all the fat sucked out of his face.

Geez, I'm stunned he was able to stop as many purses falling out of his mouth as he did in the show compared to him in r75.

He has a negative percentage body fat right now. He looked better with a few more pounds on him.

I kept getting thrown off by the pop culture references in Overcompensating. They’re all over the map. Then I read the Vulture review and realized I wasn’t alone. The show pulls from Benny's college years, probably 10 to 15 years ago, so the references feel out of place for a current sophomore. Once I stopped trying to pin it to a timeline, it all made sense.

I plan to check out his stand-up next. And I agree with R43, the gay lead isn’t the only one overcompensating. Pretty much every character is. The show’s sweet, funny, and kind of hit home.

That said, Benny could use a haircut. That curly mop top isn't doing him any favors.

They all look WAY too old to be in college which makes their juvenile behavior seem even more asinine.

And it is 2025 FFS! You can be be gay as all get out at university these days

R79, it's a little bit harder for guys on the football team to be "gay as all get out"

I didn’t think he was particularly convincing when he was trying to be a “jock”. It was so put on and condescending - I mean, ultimately, wasn’t his character trying to be some version of Patrick Schwarzenegger from The White Lotus? So, they weren’t gay. Did they have to be such gross caricatures? It was his problem, not theirs.

Also, the storyline with his sister being so subjugated lacked credibility as well. Seemed very dated. Like from the 1950s.

*She was in the 1950s and everyone else was in the oughts.

My two takeaways:

- The girl who plays Carmen is the show's biggest asset (and best actor of the younger cast). She's believable and funny and sort of like a Gen Z Janeane Garofalo, minus a lot of the sarcasm and with more insight.

- Kyle MacLachlan: MY GOD. He looked 70. Made me feel old as dirt. You could cast him as a grandpa and he'd be totally believable.

Someone commented that Benito uses any excuse to show off his body. Who can blame him?

Well, better that than his big fake teeth.

I would also be showing off all the time if I had that kind of body.

I have a pet theory that he's self-conscious about his gummy smile and has trained himself not to smile fully. Hence all those weird half-smiles on the show that make him look slightly off. Still, I enjoy him and his looks.

Is he a gay?

Yes, the whole show is based on his experience of coming out in his senior year of college.

He's been with director and photographer Terrence O'Connor since 2016.

Cute couple.

I hope that he didn’t really try to eat smelly snatch while in college.

Pretty sure it's true, r90

I’m liking it so far. Look, if the character is closeted and ‘passing,’ of course most of the characters he interacts with will be straight. Big deal.

What should matter to the gay male viewer is: What is the male pulchritude quotient? I’d say it’s pretty high, and as a special fan of Adam DiMarco’s splendidly proportioned body, especially his ass, legs and feet (I have a special thing for long-waisted men) there’s no way I’m not watching every episode.

I saw lots of flat-chested girls wearing low-cut tops.

[quote]a college-set ensemble comedy about the wild, chaotic journey of Benny (Skinner), a closeted former football player and homecoming king, watching as he becomes fast friends with Carmen, a high school outsider on a mission to fit in at all costs.

What utter shit. Why do so many storylines revolve around the glories of highschool days -- for adults no longer in highschool?

College is a time for discovery and exploration, not for waxing nostalgic for the imagined halcyon days of former highschool "homecoming kings." What absurd projection of old writers' "Americana" nostalgia for something that never was.

Show doesn't revolve around that at all, the point is to show how much of a burden his high school image is to him and that he wants to try something else now that he's in college, i.e. find a boyfriend and shed that hypermasc image. The only ones that keep going on about his high school life are his parents, he's very much glad he's left his home town.

I am working my way through the series. He keeps flashing back to that guy in the car he moved in to kiss. Do we ever get to see the whole thing?

Next time I'd like a "gay series" to actually be gay. This wasn't.

[quote] Do we ever get to see the whole thing?

Yes.

It’s really uneven.

Parts are like a silly teen drama (a la Awkward) but there are also nice moments.

Charlie XCX is wildly out of place in this.

"Charlie XCX is wildly out of place in this."

I actually liked all the cameos. They are obviously a collection of every famous person Benny has ever met in real life, and he asked them to be part of his series. Good on him.

I thought when he found the used condom he was going to consume it.

Turn it inside out for the juzz and leave out the vagina smelling part.

*jizz

I had to laugh when Didi Conn made fun of the sister's small tits.

Skinner is such a stereotype irl. Saw a YT video of him on a talk show.

I couldn't make it through the last episode.