Overcompensatingon Prime Video is taking social media and the streaming world by storm! The college comedy show is making the rounds on TikTok and has remained on the streamer’s Top 10 list since its release.
The series was created by social media sensation Benito Skinner, loosely based on his own experiences. Skinner stars as Benny, a former high school athlete beginning freshman year at Yates University, his parent’s choice as he’s never made one for his own, grappling with his sexuality. Benny meets outsider Carmen (Wally Baram), and the two quickly become friends, facing parental expectations, awkward hookups, flimsy fake IDs and all the other joys that come with “finding yourself” in college. It’s campy, funny, full of heart and stars a hilarious supporting cast of names like Adam DiMarco, Mary Beth Barone and Holmes. The likes of Charli XCX, Megan Fox and Bowen Yang also make stellar cameos.
Earning the coveted STREAM IT stamp of approval from DECIDER, all eight episodes are available to stream now on Prime Video. If you’ve already binged the series, the bad news is there’s no news on a Season 2 confirmation (yet). As Hailee would respond to that…pisses me off! The good news is we’ve rounded up 7 similar shows to add to your summer watchlist:
Photo: HBO Max
Roommates Whitney, Bela, Kimberly and Leighton begin their new lives of sexual freedom at Essex College, braving the trials and tribulations of freshman year. Benny’s closeted identity is similar to that of Reneé Rapp’s character Leighton in The Sex Lives of College Girls. Both come from accomplished backgrounds with straight (lol) plans set for the future, either by them or their parents, and struggle to come to terms with their true selves. For more displays of real friendship between clumsy sexual encounters and heartening moments of authenticity, three seasons of SLOCG await you.
Why not take it back to one of the campiest classic examples of a show that’s not afraid to go all the way. You may know how this premise goes…an unlikely group of students comprise the New Directions glee club at McKinley High School led by optimistic teacher Will Schuester. Together, the hodgepodge group of performers sing and dance their way through the Ohio show choir circuit, learning to accept themselves along the way. If you’re someone upset with the ages of the “college students” in Overcompensating, Benito Skinner says, “Can’t we just have a little fun?” Skinner and Barone address the “controversy” in their podcast, citing the other American TV shows along the lines of Glee and Euphoria where the actors are not their characters’ ages. So, in the interim of hopefully more Overcompensating episodes, watch some twenty-somethings play high schoolers and enjoy it.
This FX series focuses on another group of twentysomething, Gen Z housemates– the house belongs to one of their parents’, because what young adult is ever going to be able to afford a house again– in Queens combating the uncertainty of young adulthood with absurdity…and drugs. (But seriously, do I actually need to memorize my social security number?) Also with appearances from stars like Julia Fox and Charlie Cox, Adults reflects Overcompensating with its raunchy and sometimes frenzied tone. Owen Thiele also stars in both comedies!
For anyone saying the cast of Overcompensating is too old…first, stop being a Debbie Downer, and second, have you ever heard of Pen15? When we think of absurd and ridiculous shows that are surreal and sincere at the same time, Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle’s comedy comes to mind. The pair, who are in their late 30s, play middle school versions of themselves surrounded by actual teens reliving their experiences as outcasts in 2000. While funny to see grown women play with Calico Critters and lust over thongs so fervently, the series often authentically transports you back to your middle school selves. Seeing grown actors portraying their younger selves crying over divorces, periods and not having the coolest new item to “fit in” at school pulls on the heartstrings.
For another irreverent, coming-of-age comedy, MTV’s Awkward lives up to its name in every sense. 15-year-old Jenna Hamilton receives a brutal anonymous letter condemning her as a nobody, amongst other rude things. This combined with an accident misconstrued as a suicide attempt, Jenna is starting the new school year with a neck brace and all eyes on her. To make it worse, after losing her virginity to popular jock Matty Mckibben, he’s pretending she doesn’t exist. Over five seasons, Jenna experiences the best and cringiest moments of the formative high school years.
Michaela Coel’s comedy creation is another identity searching saga. Coel stars as Tracey, a young woman desperate to take things to the next level and lose her virginity with her devout fiancé, Ronald. Constantly rebuffed, Tracey sets her sights on a young poet named Connor. Constricted by her mega religious family, Tracey longs to enter the next phase of womanhood, discover herself sexually and see more of society. Stick around for season 2, and you may see a one Mr. Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) act not very becoming of a Viscount.
For another eccentric watch on the woes of figuring out life as a young adult, Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer welcome you to Broad City. Playing versions of themselves, the pair of friends do whatever it takes to “make it” in New York City, sending them down some questionable paths. While also dealing with tales as old as time-like problems, such as roommates’ boyfriends who never leave, crappy minimum wage jobs and learning to file taxes, the women also slowly discover who they are and what they want from life. Comedy legends such as Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch and Fred Armisen also guest star throughout the five seasons.
Claire Waheed is a recently graduated freelance writer currently based in Texas. She loves all things pop culture and new adventures.
