Benito Skinner (Overcompensating)

Guess who gets pinkeye in this episode

A bit of business up top here, as there’s some live/streaming stuff that should be on your radar!

First, I want to remind you that the Writers Guild Foundation’s annual Festival is this week, December 5-6 and it’s virtual, so you can get involved from anywhere!

The Foundation is a non-profit that is a separate entity from the union itself. The Foundation runs a bunch of terrific programs, including the Veterans’ Writing Project, as well as runs the Foundation Library, which is home to over 50,000 produced film and scripts. (If you live in LA, it’s definitely worth making an appointment and looking at some scripts of movies or shows you love).

The programming for the Fest is incredibly strong. They’re hosting a conversation between Abbott Elementary’s Quinta Brunson and Only Murders in the Building co-creator John Hoffman, writer/director Nia DaCosta discussing her new movie, Hedda, and a bunch of workshops on things like rewriting and adaptations.

And today’s Writers Panel guest, Benito Skinner, will be there with showrunner Scott King (MadTV; Harlem) to talk about how the show is put together.

You can see the whole schedule and get passes here.

And this Sunday, Dec 7, 3-5pm, there’s a new Dead Pilots Society at the Elysian Theater. You can attend live (and if you’re in LA, I hope you will) or you can stream on demand from anywhere. HERE’S THE LINK FOR ALL TICKETS.

Great scripts by Georgia Pritchett (Succession) and actor Ginger Gonzaga (She-Hulk).

And the cast is, as always, terrific: Ed Weeks (The Mindy Project; Drop), Kyle Bornheimer (St. Dennis Medical), Patty Guggenheim (Twisted Metal), Jessica Sula (Split; Michael), Mel Rodriguez (The Residence; Last Man on Earth), Bryan Safi (Throwing Shade), Lauren Potter (Glee), Luke Tennie (Shrinking), Sarah Solemani (Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy), Logan Miller (Escape Room), Burl Moseley (Your Honor; Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Lucy Parks Urbano (Frank’s One Wild Night at the Elysian!), Joy Regullano (The Demon Detective), and more. Don’t know the names? See the faces up above.

Good news! Comedy isn’t dead. Overcompensating on Amazon Prime is a very funny and, ultimately, a very honest and nuanced show. Creator/star Benito Skinner is on the podcast today to talk about creating an authentic coming-out story, translating his stand up show to a TV pilot, learning from Shonda Rhimes, writing about gray areas, inhabiting characters, the state of TV comedy, and more.

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