Pam & Tommy

Pam & Tommy is an American biographical drama miniseries chronicling the marriage between actress Pamela Anderson and Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, played by Lily James and Sebastian Stan, respectively, during the period their unauthorised sex tape was made public. Based on the 2014 Rolling Stone article "Pam and Tommy: The Untold Story of the World's Most Infamous Sex Tape" by Amanda Chicago Lewis, the series was created for Hulu by Robert Siegel, and is produced by Point Grey Pictures, Annapurna Television and Lionsgate Television.

Pam & Tommy
Promotional poster
Genre
Created byRobert Siegel
Based on"Pam and Tommy: The Untold Story of the World's Most Infamous Sex Tape"
by Amanda Chicago Lewis
Starring
ComposerMatthew Margeson
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
CinematographyPaula Huidobro
Editors
Running time32–51 minutes
Production companies
DistributorDisney Platform Distribution
Release
Original networkHulu
Original releaseFebruary 2 (2022-02-02) –
March 9, 2022 (2022-03-09)

The series development was announced in 2018, with James Franco attached to direct the miniseries and play Lee. It was given a series order in December 2020 by Hulu, announcing James to play Anderson and Stan to replace Franco following the latter's departure from the project. Casting announcements were made throughout 2021 and filming took place in Los Angeles between April and July 2021.

The first three episodes of Pam & Tommy premiered on Hulu on February 2, 2022, and were directed by Craig Gillespie, with the rest of the episodes debuting weekly. The miniseries received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise going towards the cast’s performances (in particular of James').

Premise

Pam & Tommy depicts the turbulent three-year marriage between Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee, with particular emphasis on the theft and illegal distribution of an infamous sex tape the couple recorded privately during their honeymoon.

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

Guest

Production

Development

The series was first announced in 2018, with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg developing the project under their production company Point Grey Pictures and James Franco attached to direct the miniseries and play Tommy Lee.[1] By December 2020, Franco had left the series and it was announced that Hulu had greenlit the project with an eight-episode limited series order. Craig Gillespie was set to direct with Robert D. Siegel writing and Rogen and Goldberg executive producing the miniseries.[2] Tatiana S. Riegel, a frequent collaborator of Gillespie's, was attached to edit the miniseries.[3] Pamela Anderson reportedly did not want to be involved in the series at all, despite multiple attempts to include her;[4] Lee was also not involved with the series but he supported it.[5] The series is based on a 2014 Rolling Stone article describing the story of how Anderson and Lee's sex tape was stolen and released. Siegel found it hard to believe the events had not been the subject of a film or series previously, with the producers optioning the rights to the article to serve as the basis of the series. Co-showrunners Siegel and D.V. DeVincentis noted that most of the "basic plot beats" came from that article and "the basic mechanics" of the events "was pretty much what happened", with the conversations between the characters dramatized.[6]

Casting

Alongside the series order announcement, Lily James and Sebastian Stan were cast to play the titular characters, with Rogen also cast in a main role. In April 2021, Nick Offerman and Taylor Schilling joined the cast in main roles, with Pepi Sonuga, Andrew Dice Clay, Spenser Granese and Mozhan Marnò joining in recurring roles.[7][8][9] In June 2021, Fred Hechinger joined the cast of the series in a recurring role.[10] In January 2022, it was revealed that Jason Mantzoukas was voicing Tommy Lee's penis.[11]

Filming

The series began filming on April 5, 2021, in Los Angeles and finished on July 30, 2021.[12] The two main actors went through long make-up processes to closely resemble their characters. Lily James wore a prosthetic forehead, chest, dentures, blue contact lenses, and a blonde wig. Sebastian Stan spent hours getting up to 30 tattoos painted on him, grew out and dyed his hair, and wore brown contact lenses, a prosthetic penis, and pierced nipples. Their wardrobe was not custom made, but purchased second-hand based on the clothes Anderson and Lee wore during that period of 1995-1998.[13]

Episodes
No.Title [14]Directed by [14]Written by [14]Original release date [15]
1"Drilling and Pounding"Craig GillespieRobert SiegelFebruary 2, 2022 (2022-02-02)
Craftsman Rand Gauthier is renovating a bedroom suite in the Southern California mansion of Tommy Lee, the drummer for rock band Mötley Crüe. Lee frustrates Gauthier with frequent, drastic, last-minute changes to the floor plan, all of which Gauthier has to charge to his credit card. Despite Lee promising to pay half the costs upfront, neither Gauthier nor his coworker Lonnie have received a cent. One day, Gauthier accidentally walks in on Lee's wife, television star Pamela Anderson, while she is half-naked in the kitchen. Lee, angered by the incident, dismisses Gauthier and Lonnie's work as shoddy and fires the men without pay. The following day, Gauthier attempts to retrieve a toolbox he left behind. However, he is held at gunpoint by Lee who claims the toolbox as "compensation" for having to hire new workers. Angered by Lee's abusive treatment, Gauthier decides to exact revenge on the rock star. Returning a few months later during the night, Gauthier sneaks onto Lee's property and steals a large safe from the garage. Among its contents is a Hi8 cassette tape. Due to the format, Gauthier takes it to a friend and former boss, pornographic director Uncle Miltie. They discover the tape contains a sexually explicit home video made by Lee and Anderson on their honeymoon.
2"I Love You, Tommy"Craig GillespieRobert SiegelFebruary 2, 2022 (2022-02-02)
Two months earlier, Pamela Anderson meets Tommy Lee at a nightclub. He follows her to Cancún, where the Baywatch cast are attending a conference for the show's syndicators. Lee coaxes Anderson away from the business dinner and the two engage in a wild night of debauchery. Despite Lee’s being newly divorced from his marriage to actress Heather Locklear two years earlier, he impulsively proposes and she accepts. They are married in front of friends on a beach. Upon returning to the United States, the couple learn about one another's tastes and decide where they should live. They move into Lee's house in Southern California, where he is beginning a renovation. After meeting the contractors, Lee announces that he has changed his mind about the theme and layout of the new suite.
3"Jane Fonda"Craig GillespieD.V. DeVincentisFebruary 2, 2022 (2022-02-02)
Miltie and Gauthier decide to sell Lee and Anderson's sex tape, but are rejected by various pornographic distributors out of fear of legal action. While attempting to fix his estranged porn star wife Erica's toilet Gauthier orders a rare float cup valve off a website, sparking an idea. Gauthier and Miltie meet with Deep Throat producer and loan shark, Butchie Peraino. Convincing him they can confidentially sell the sex tape on a website and ship it worldwide, Peraino agrees to finance their endeavor. Meanwhile, Anderson is growing tired of her treatment on the Baywatch set. She attends meetings regarding the promotion of her upcoming feature film Barb Wire and joyfully discovers she is pregnant with Lee's child.
4"The Master Beta"Lake BellMatthew Bass & Theodore BressmanFebruary 9, 2022 (2022-02-09)
Gauthier and Miltie's website becomes tremendously successful. Tommy finally discovers his safe is missing and calls the police. When the LAPD informs Lee his case will not be their top priority, Anderson panics, remembering their sex tape was in the safe. She convinces Lee to hire private investigator Anthony Pellicano to find and retrieve it. Listening to Lee's long list of people he has angered over the years, Pellicano suspects Gauthier is the likely thief. Tracking him to his apartment, Pellicano beats Gauthier and demands the cassette be handed over when he returns in a couple days. Pellicano then informs Lee and Anderson that Gauthier is his prime suspect and assures them he will have the cassette by the weekend. However, while on the set of Baywatch, Anderson is horrified to find crewmen watching the sex tape. She and Lee find Miltie's website and learn the tape has already circulated nationally. An angry Lee sends a biker gang to Miltie's studio and Gauthier's apartment. Miltie escapes to Europe while Gauthier takes refuge in Erica's house. Anderson suffers a miscarriage and angrily bashes in a paparazzo's windshield.
5"Uncle Jim and Aunt Susie In Duluth"Gwyneth Horder-PaytonBrooke Baker & D.V. DeVincentisFebruary 16, 2022 (2022-02-16)
A depressed Lee worries his fame has passed him by, while Anderson continues to find success. After an intoxicated Lee gets into a public altercation at The Viper Room, Anderson is warned by her agent of the negative publicity her husband might bring to her career. After discovering new band Third Eye Blind has bumped Mötley Crüe out of the studio's best recording booth, Lee's anger strains his relationship with Anderson. Adding fuel to the fire, the couple's sex tape falls into the hands of Bob Guccione, owner of Penthouse. Unsure of his intentions, Lee and his lawyers preemptively sue Guccione for invasion of privacy, against Anderson's wishes. In retaliation, Guccione demands stills from the video be published. Lee's lawsuit ends up making the LA Times, bringing the video widespread attention to the point that Jay Leno tells jokes about the tape on The Tonight Show. As the couple's lawsuit moves forward, Anderson is informed only she will be testifying against Penthouse.
6"Pamela in Wonderland"Hannah FidellSarah GubbinsFebruary 23, 2022 (2022-02-23)
In 1989, Vancouver, Anderson joins her boyfriend at a Canadian Football League game where she appears on the Jumbotron. She is approached by a representative for Labatt Brewing Company who asks her if she would consider becoming their new model. After accepting the gig, Anderson is contacted by Playboy to shoot some test shots for them. Anderson travels with her mother to the Playboy Mansion and has fun doing the shoot. Hugh Hefner advises Anderson to remember that the price for her modeling is not the same as her worth as a person. In 1995, Anderson and Lee travel to Lake Mead for their honeymoon, during which time they film themselves having sex on Lee's boat. After returning home, Lee tells Anderson he wants to keep the tape for sentimental reasons. In the present day, Anderson testifies at the deposition and becomes increasingly distraught at the invasive and judgmental questions asked. After the Penthouse lawyer plays portions of her honeymoon video, Anderson excuses herself to the bathroom and vomits. As the day's deposition ends, Anderson tells her lawyer she refuses to come back and answer any further questions.
7"Destroyer of Worlds"Lake BellD.V. DeVincentisMarch 2, 2022 (2022-03-02)
As bootlegs of Lee and Anderson's sex tape begin dominating the market, Gauthier's business has all but dried up. An annoyed Peraino intimidates Gauthier to pay him the $50k he is owed. Unable to contact Miltie in Amsterdam, Gauthier desperately writes a letter to Lee blackmailing him for money in exchange for shutting down the website. The two meet in the Dodger Stadium parking lot but Lee, rather than pay, points out how Gauthier's desire to get back at him has ruined Anderson's life. He then belittles Gauthier and sets the money on fire. Returning empty handed, Peraino forces Gauthier to instead repay him by shaking down a gambler that owes him money. Gauthier is unable to go through with it. Later that night, Erica tells Gauthier the sex tape made her sympathize with Lee. He breaks down and admits he stole and leaked the tape as revenge. A disgusted Erica throws Gauthier out of the house. Gauthier, distraught, returns to the gambler's house and beats him. Meanwhile, a newly pregnant Anderson goes on press tours to promote the premier of Barb Wire. However, all of the interviews, including her one with Leno on the Tonight Show, become about Penthouse and the sex tape. Furthermore, the couple learn their case has been thrown out with the judge ruling in favor of Penthouse. Anderson berates Lee for not seeing the hidden meaning behind the judgement, claiming that because she has modeled for Playboy, she lost the rights to privacy and to her body. After attending the premiere of Barb Wire, Anderson and Lee sneak into a regular screening and overhear audience members mocking her performance. Meanwhile, Seth Warshavsky tries to come up with a way to combat his cam girls' low views on Clublove.com.
8"Seattle"Gwyneth Horder-PaytonRobert SiegelMarch 9, 2022 (2022-03-09)
A heavily pregnant Anderson struggles to get work, getting passed up for L.A. Confidential and Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. Lee deals with a similar career decline as Mötley Crüe's Generation Swine underperforms and the band loses TV gigs to newer grunge groups. The two discover a bootleg of their tape is being streamed on Clublove.com for free. They attempt to sue Warshavsky, much to his delight, though the case is quickly dropped. Warshavsky offers to buy the exclusive streaming rights to the tape from the couple, explaining that once he has ownership, he will add a paywall to limit access to the footage. Though Anderson is open to giving away the rights, Lee rejects the offer flat out. Gauthier is horrified by the work he's done to pay off his debt, so Butchie agrees to call things square in exchange for $10,000. While shaking down a gambler, Gauthier discovers Warshavsky's site. He initially plans to confront Warshavsky, but after a tarot reading with a strip mall psychic, he realizes he needs to make amends for what he has done. Gauthier attempts to apologize to Lee and Anderson when they are leaving their home, only to get run over. He then apologizes to Erica, who assures him he is not a bad person. Warshavsky offers to buy the original tape from Gauthier for $10,000, which he takes with the intent of paying off Butchie. Instead, he gives it to Erica so she can finalize their divorce. Anderson decides to leave Lee, but he convinces her to travel to Lake Mead with him. When they stop at a hotel, they are instantly recognized. Lee's temper gets the better of him, much to Anderson's ire. She later catches him bragging about the tape in the hotel bar, which prompts her to return home without Lee. When Lee finally returns home, Anderson begs him to sign over the rights to their tape. After a violent fit, Lee relents and signs the contract. Anderson tearfully tells him "it's over", and after their son is born, Anderson and Lee get a divorce.

Release

Pam & Tommy premiered on February 2, 2022, on Hulu, with the first three episodes and the rest debuting on a weekly basis.[16] The series was also released simultaneously internationally on Disney+ under the Star hub (including Hotstar in India), and on Star+ in Latin America.[17]

Reception

Pam & Tommy received positive reviews from critics. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports a 78% approval rating based on 102 reviews, with an average rating of 7.3/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "Pam & Tommy sometimes undercuts its own critique of cultural voyeurism with lurid stylization, but Lily James' performance gives this sleazy opus an undeniable heart."[18] On Metacritic, the series has a score of 70 out of 100, based on 42 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[19]

The Guardian reviewed the series positively, saying that Pam & Tommy is a "warm, funny, intelligent and rather moving drama," while calling the performances from Lily James as Anderson and Sebastian Stan as Lee "astonishing," stating that "each achieve the feat of uncannily resembling – aesthetically, vocally, and in every mannerism – the real-life people, without descending into mimicry."[20] The New York Times reviewed the show positively, stating that it is "consistently entertaining," while praising the performances of the actors, calling James' portrayal a "sneakily complex performance," and complimenting the narrative alongside the practical effects.[21] Mashable reviewed the series positively, praising the performances of the whole cast, especially James and Stan, praising the music, pace, and saying that the show keeps "the entertainment value high."[22] The Washington Post gave a positive review of the series, stating that the transformation of James and Stan is a "casting and makeup coup," while saying that the production is admirable due to its "madeleine-esque needle drops to its relish in the baggy tackiness of so much ’90s fashion.," although claiming that the show exploits Anderson's story.[23] Den of Geek reviewed Pam & Tommy positively, stating that James as Anderson and Stan as Lee are "excellent choices," praising the development of the characters, and saying that "it transports viewers into the mind of a real woman enduring real internet-era trauma."[24] Common Sense Media rated the series 3 out of 5 stars, indicating, "In real life, Anderson and Tommy Lee came off as slightly more sympathetic than they do in this version of the story, which focuses more on the sensational aspects of the story and characters than on why they might be relevant to viewers nearly 25 years later."[25] RogerEbert.com rated the series 2,5 out of 4 stars, saying that the series is entertaining, the performances of the actors "strong," and the direction "stylish," but that the show is a violation of privacy that is "filtered through the glossy lens of prestige TV."[26] BBC rated the show 2 out of 5 stars, complimenting the performances of James and Stan, but stating that the show exploits the traumatic personal of Anderson.[27]

Notes
  1. Schilling is only credited as "Starring" in select episodes.

References
  1. Sneider, Jeff (December 15, 2020). "Pamela Anderson, Tommy Lee Sex Tape Series in the Works Starring Lily James, Sebastian Stan". Collider. Archived from the original on December 21, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  2. Kroll, Justin (December 15, 2020). "Lily James & Sebastian Stan Tapped To Play Pam Anderson & Tommy Lee In Event Series For Hulu; Seth Rogen On Board To Play Man Who Got His Hands On Infamous Sex Tape". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  3. Tangcay, Jazz (May 28, 2021). "'Cruella' Editor on Her Next Project, the 'Surprisingly Emotional' 'Pam and Tommy' Series". Variety. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  4. Berlatsky, Noah (February 2, 2022). "Hulu's 'Pam and Tommy' sex tape rehash both sympathizes and exploits". NBC News.
  5. McCrady, Rachel (September 13, 2021). "Tommy Lee Reacts to Sebastian Stan Playing Him in 'Pam & Tommy' Miniseries (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight.
  6. Bucksbaum, Sydney (January 31, 2022). "How Pam & Tommy was made without Pamela Anderson's involvement (or permission)". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  7. Andreeva, Nellie (April 7, 2021). "'Pam & Tommy': Nick Offerman Joins Hulu Limited Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  8. Petski, Denise (April 14, 2021). "'Pam & Tommy': Pepi Sonuga & Andrew Dice Clay Join Hulu Limited Series As Recurring". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  9. Andreeva, Nellie (April 28, 2021). "'Pam & Tommy': Taylor Schilling Joins Cast Of Hulu Limited Series; Spenser Granese & Mozhan Marnò To Recur". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  10. Del Rosario, Alexandra (June 24, 2021). "'Pam & Tommy': Fred Hechinger To Play Seth Warshavsky In Hulu Limited Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  11. Schneider, Michael (January 19, 2022). "'Pam & Tommy' Stars Sebastian Stan, Lily James on Justice for Pamela Anderson, Internet Infamy and That Wild Talking Penis". Variety. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  12. "Pam & Tommy". Production List. December 28, 2020. Archived from the original on January 3, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  13. A prosthetic chest, hours of tattoos: How 'Pam & Tommy' transformed Lily James, Sebastian Stan, USA Today
  14. "Pam & Tommy". Hulu Press (Press release). Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  15. "Shows A-Z – Pam & Tommy on Hulu". The Futon Critic. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  16. Weaver, Hilary; Puckett-Pope, Lauren (November 18, 2021). "Pam And Tommy: Everything We Know About The Hulu Series Starring Lily James And Sebastian Stan". Elle. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  17. "Disney+ stellt kommende Inhalte für Star vor". June 4, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  18. "Pam & Tommy: Miniseries (2022)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  19. "Pam & Tommy: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  20. Mangan, Lucy (February 2, 2022). "Pam & Tommy review – the infamous sex tape's astonishing story". The Guardian. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  21. Poniewozik, James (February 1, 2022). "'Pam & Tommy' Review: The Internet Is for Porn". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  22. Foreman, Alison (February 4, 2022). "You don't have to like tabloids to love 'Pam and Tommy'". Mashable. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  23. "Review | 'Pam & Tommy' is good. But it's hard to avoid feeling queasy". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  24. "Pam & Tommy Will Make You Hate Everyone But Pam". Den of Geek. February 2, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  25. "Pam & Tommy TV Review | Common Sense Media". www.commonsensemedia.org. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  26. Worthington, Clint. "Pam & Tommy movie review & film summary (2022) | Roger Ebert". rogerebert.com. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  27. Martin, Laura. "Pam & Tommy review: The sex-tape drama feels exploitative". www.bbc.com. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
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