Summary:
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Hulu picks up rom-com series “Hard Feelings” created by Mary Beth Barone, fast-tracked for development after bidding war.
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Barone to star as dating consultant in NYC, with Benito Skinner in undisclosed role. Showrun by Scott King.
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Barone and Skinner, known for their individual projects, collaborate on “Hard Feelings” for Hulu, continuing A24 partnership.
Hulu has picked up “Hard Feelings,” a rom-com series created by and starring comedian Mary Beth Barone, Deadline reported Wednesday.
The A24 project landed after a competitive situation among buyers and has been fast-tracked for development. Hulu won a bidding war for it.
Barone will play Claire Ambrose, New York City’s most sought-after dating consultant, who teaches straight men communication skills and emotional intelligence while repeatedly dating men who have neither.
Benito Skinner is attached in a supporting role that hasn’t been disclosed. Scott King will showrun and executive produce alongside Barone, Skinner, Mackenzie Roussos of E360 and A24.
“MY LIFE IS A TV SHOW,” Barone wrote on Instagram. Skinner posted a story reading “AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!”
Barone, 35, grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, dropped out of Boston College and started doing stand-up in 2015. She built an early audience online, including a viral FAQ pamphlet she wrote for her family about a guy she was dating, then moved into live comedy with the Brooklyn show “Drag His Ass,” billed as a treatment program for fuckboys. She has since headlined the New York Comedy Festival, Netflix Is a Joke Fest and the Edinburgh Fringe.
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Her first special, “Thought Provoking,” she produced herself and released in 2024. Her second, “Galaxy Brain,” premiered on Netflix in July and cracked the platform’s Top 10 that week. Universal Music’s MCA released it as a comedy album Aug. 19.
Barone currently plays Grace on Prime Video’s “Overcompensating,” where she also writes. “Hard Feelings” marks her first time creating and leading a show.
Skinner built his following as Benny Drama, posting character sketches and celebrity impressions to Instagram before turning that into a TV career. “Overcompensating,” which he created, wrote, stars in and executive produces, premiered in May 2025 and holds a 93% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. The semi-autobiographical series follows a closeted former football player through his freshman year.
Season 2 recently wrapped production. Skinner has said the new episodes are “more queer” and that he plays a second, undisclosed character alongside Benny. His film credits include “Idiotka,” which premiered at SXSW in 2025.
The two met at a Bushwick comedy show in 2019 and started running a monthly show together that year. They co-host the Dear Media podcast “Ride,” which launched in 2023. Barone writes for Skinner’s show. Now he acts in hers.
The deal keeps A24 in business with both comedians across competing streamers. “Overcompensating” sits at Prime Video with Amazon MGM Studios. “Hard Feelings” heads to Disney-owned Hulu.
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No additional casting has been announced, and Hulu hasn’t set a production timeline.
