After going back to college and back into the closet for his starring TV debut in Overcompensating, Benito Skinner let it all fly at the premiere of his Prime Video series.

The star and creator of the the heartfelt college comedy spoke to Deadline on Wednesday’s red carpet at the Hollywood Palladium about his metamorphosis from creating TikTok characters to becoming a character actor (Queer as Folk, Idiotka) to the “really surreal” experience of leading a series inspired by his own coming out journey.

“I feel like, luckily though, this took a while, and because of that, I was able to really find what I wanted to say, the world of the show, the voice that I wanted to do, I was able to think about the performance,” he said. “Whereas I think what I learned back then is like, ‘How many jokes can I say in a minute and how fast can we make this video?’ And that was helpful on set, to be pitching things and always reacting and putting a costume on, and feeling like, ‘Let’s do this.’ Nothing could prepare me to make a TV show, but I will say that I think making all my videos for years did give me a little bit of help, so I feel fortunate for that.”

And while social media has poked fun at the 31-year old comedian and actor playing college freshman Benny in the 201os-set ensemble comedy, Skinner is proud to join “a long line of classics that I grew up with,” including his co-star and Dawson’s Creek alum James Van Der Beek, who was also in attendance at the premiere.

“This feels right for the world we were in, you know?” explained Skinner after the show was first announced as in the works in 2022. “I thought it would not take this long to make a TV show, but I’m happy to be here and I hope that everyone can just join us in the fun nostalgic bubble that we’re filming this in. And it also feels very appropriate for the subject matter.”

With appearances by executive producer Charli XCX, Megan Fox, Lukas Gage, Connie Britton, Kyle MacLachlan and Van Der Beek, Skinner’s hilarious ensemble of seasoned greats and talented up-and-comers includes his longtime friend and Ride podcast co-host Mary Beth Barone, who plays Benny’s older sister Grace. “Outside of the show, obviously we are best friends and we are very kind to each other,” she said.

“But I think there’s a special relationship between women and gay men where they can be really, really honest with each other and they tease each other,” added Barone. “That’s how they show affection. So, just to turn the volume up on that a little bit felt really fun and natural, although I am so mean to him in some scenes that when they would call cut, we would just hug and I be like, ‘I didn’t mean it!’ But I think it was really fun to play into a different dynamic for sure.”

Wally Baram, a writer for Shrinking and What We Do in the Shadows, makes her onscreen debut as Benny’s equally awkward new bestie Carmen.

“I feel enormously lucky to have this specific journey with this character because I connect with her so much on so many levels, and I think having had the experience behind the camera, with this character specifically, helped me build her out in front of the camera,” said Baram. “I feel enormously lucky. It was very fulfilling.”

For White Lotus alum Adam DiMarco, he enjoyed the challenge of going from playing the sweet romantic in the HBO series to the toxically masculine frat bro Peter in Overcompensating.

“Oh God, it was so fun,” he said. “Every time you get to play a somewhat antagonist villainous role, it’s just more fun. I just kind of reflected back on my days—I played a lot of hockey growing up in Canada, basically my whole life, so I think that was a big in for me, just thinking about hockey bro culture … I think it was just like a balancing act trying to also bring a level of empathy to the character too, or pathos, because you know you want to create a fully three dimensional person.”

Holmes, who can also be seen on the current season of Hacks, enjoyed switching it up to play the life of the party, Hailee, an ultimate girls’ girl to roomie Carmen. “I’ve never had an opportunity to play a character like this,” she said.

“I was so excited because I have never been able to play a high femme role,” added Holmes. “I don’t get those type of auditions, and I’m just so grateful to Benny for giving me the chance. I felt like I could say anything, improvise anything. I think at that time in life, you don’t know who you are at all, and that makes some feel quiet, and I think some people makes them go loud, because they’re trying out everything, and I think that’s Hailee. And that was just a blast.”

Check out Deadline’s exclusive red carpet photos from the Hollywood premiere of Overcompensating, all episodes of Season 1 now available to stream on Prime Video.