Comedian, actor, and writer Benito Skinner is known for his sharp comedic timing, uncanny character work, and a closet full of wigs—but in a recent interview with Flaunt Magazine, the creator of the upcoming series Overcompensating opened up in a surprisingly candid (and still hilarious) conversation about college essentials, coming out, and the quirks that still bring him joy—including, yes, “Disney Adults.”
When asked to list his college must-haves, Skinner didn’t miss a beat. “Fake ID,” he deadpanned. “Well, I know all the straight guys are bringing grey sheets, so there’s nothing I can say to stop ya.” He added condoms to the list, quipping with signature flair: “Safe sex is the best sex!”
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The self-aware humor is classic Skinner, who rose to fame with viral sketches and characters that lampoon everything from wellness influencers to East Coast elite. But the heart of his interview, and of Overcompensating, goes deeper than punchlines—it’s a layered look at identity, performance, and the vulnerable journey toward authenticity.
Reflecting on his college days at Georgetown, Skinner was asked what advice he’d give his freshman-year self. “I know why you’re not coming out, but I do think you should,” he said, his voice equal parts tender and bold. Then, with a laugh, he added, “You’ll never be able to handle alcohol like this again,” reminiscing on the time he downed eight shots of Burnett’s Vodka—a college classic for all the wrong reasons.
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“Overcompensating” Premieres with a Message
Skinner’s new series, Overcompensating, is as personal as it is hilarious. At its core, the show is a sharp, deeply felt exploration of identity—how we perform it, how we suppress it, and what happens when our true selves start knocking. For the show’s main character, Benny, the moment of reckoning includes a crush that can’t be ignored, vomiting up beta fish at a Charli XCX concert, and the kind of friendship that calls you out and holds you close all at once.
“I hate to call ‘being in the closet’ a lie, because I don’t think that’s what it is,” Skinner told Flaunt. “It’s something bigger than that.” For Skinner, performance isn’t deception—it’s longing. “We all just want to be loved so desperately,” he says, his words landing with a sincerity that’s tough to shake.
The series also spotlights a dynamic rarely explored with such nuance: the sibling relationship. Benny’s sister Grace—played by Skinner’s real-life best friend and comedic partner Mary Beth Barone—is the first to truly see Benny. “I was really inspired by this idea of someone who had gone to college and completely rewritten who they were for someone else,” Skinner said. Coming out, for him, wasn’t a single triumphant moment. “It’s the most complicated thing I’ve ever done in my life, and I still feel weird about it.”
Inspired by Women, Obsessed with Disney Adults
Skinner credits the women in his life and comedy legends like Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and Amy Poehler as foundational to his voice and vision. “Women are just so much funnier than men,” he proclaims. “I can’t even believe we let men do comedy.”
That admiration shines through in Overcompensating, which, in many ways, is a love letter to the women who saw and accepted him—starting with his godmother, the inspiration behind the character Carmen. “She just sees me and loves exactly who I am. I don’t have to do anything for her,” he says.
But when Skinner isn’t writing or shooting scenes, his downtime is delightfully relatable. Feeling tired or sad? He grabs a coffee and scrolls TikTok. Lately, he’s hooked on a very specific genre of content: “Disney Adults,” he gleefully admits. “Disney Adults, THAT’S for adults!” he laughs, with genuine admiration.
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As Overcompensating gears up for release, Skinner’s fans can expect a series that’s as hilarious as it is heartfelt, full of the kind of humor that hits a little too close to home—and the kind of truth that sticks with you.
