Every so often, a new comedy series taps into something bigger than laughs. It can connect to the awkwardness, beauty and heartbreak of becoming who you are, especially when the process is messy, loud and absolutely hilarious.
Prime Video’s coming-of-age comedy “Overcompensating” does precisely that, pairing sharp writing with an emotional core that captures the chaos of young adulthood. With a fearless ensemble, a dynamic creator-star at its center, and a pulse on today’s culture, the series deserves serious Emmy consideration.
Created by and starring Benito Skinner — who rose to prominence through viral characters on TikTok and YouTube — “Overcompensating” is loosely inspired by Skinner’s college experience. He plays Benny, a closeted former football player navigating his identity while forging a fast, complicated friendship with Carmen, a sardonic high school outsider played by Wally Baram. With chaotic encouragement from Benny’s older sister Grace (Mary Beth Barone) and her unpredictable boyfriend Peter (Adam DiMarco), the two wade through hookup culture, flavored vodka, fake IDs and the kind of intimate conversations only found in your late teens and early 20s.
The show blends the raunchy humor of a teen sex comedy with the sensitivity of a confessional diary. Imagine if “American Pie” were reimagined for a generation raised on therapy speak, gender fluidity and TikTok oversharing. “Overcompensating” is utterly hilarious but never cynical; it’s sincere and sometimes sneakily profound.
Skinner, who also serves as writer and executive producer, will be contending for lead comedy actor, outstanding comedy series and writing for the standout fifth episode, “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites.” The episode sees Carmen gradually piecing together the truth about Benny’s identity, culminating in a tender, teary embrace at a Halloween party — a tear-jerking climax made even more powerful under the direction of Desiree Akhavan, whose work on the episode will serve as the series’ directing submission.
Baram, a Mexican-Syrian actor, will contend for lead comedy, and if the voters feel inspired to nominate her, she will become only the fifth Latina (following Selena Gomez’s fourth last year), and the first Middle Eastern performer recognized in the category.
The guest cast alone reads like a dream list of pop-culture icons, featuring TV veterans Kyle MacLachlan, Connie Britton, and James Van Der Beek, and most notably, English pop star Charli XCX. The three-time Grammy winner who not only appears in the show but also serves as executive producer. Should the show earn a nom for comedy series, XCX could be a list of music artists sharing producer credits in the category, such as Selena Gomez (“Only Murders in the Building”) and Drake (“Euphoria” in 2022).
OVERCOMPENSATING, from left: Benito Skinner, Wally Baram, (Season 1, aired May 15, 2025). photo: ©Amazon/MGM Studios / Courtesy Everett Collection
©Amazon/Courtesy Everett Collection
Also on the producer’s list is Jonah Hill, whose Strong Baby Productions, in collaboration with A24, helped give the comedy a creative edge. Hill is a two-time acting Oscar nominee for “Moneyball” and “The Wolf of Wall Street,” but has increasingly carved out a space behind the camera with projects like his directorial debut “Mid90s.” A producing nomination here would mark his first and could potentially place him alongside his friend Seth Rogen, also a producer for his frontrunning satirical series “The Studio” from Apple TV+.
In this Emmy cycle, digital-native creators are making inroads into categories historically dominated by network and cable heavyweights. While YouTube-born series like “Hot Ones,” “Challenge Accepted” and “Good Mythical Morning” push into the nonfiction and short form races, Skinner’s pivot from internet sketch comedy to deeply personal scripted storytelling represents a leap, proving these creators are also artists.
While “Overcompensating” is seemingly flying under the radar (despite an impeccable 95% on Rotten Tomatoes), Prime Video has proven it can break through in a significant way. “Jury Duty” became a sleeper hit in 2022, earning nods for comedy series and supporting actor for James Marsden.
Skinner’s show also invites comparisons to Hulu’s “Pen15,” another brutally honest teen comedy that garnered Emmy attention with a writing nod in its debut season and an outstanding comedy series mention in 2020. Like “Pen15,” “Overcompensating” is at its best when it leans into the messy details and the hyper-specific, uncomfortable truths of becoming yourself.
“Overcompensating” knows exactly who its audience is, but it also manages to be inviting enough to those curious to join the fun without judgment. In an era of curated identities and performative self-expression, Skinner delivers something real, and Emmy voters would do well to notice.
