In the spring of 2021, promotional photos were released on social media for an upcoming show, Pam and Tommy. Pam and Tommy is Hulu’s new biographical drama based on the lives of actress/model, Pamela Anderson, and former Moëtly Crüe drummer, Tommy Lee. The photo featured an unrecognizable Lilly James dressed as Pamela and wearing the iconic Barb Wire outfit.
The show centers around one particular story from the couple’s private life. In 1996, a sex tape featuring the couple was stolen from their home and uploaded to the web. At this time, the internet was very new and still developing. But when news of the tape began to spread, society realized just how impactful the internet could be.
Pam and Tommy became highly anticipated, but not everyone shared the same excitement. Shortly after the photos were released, Vanity Fair reported that the singer/songwriter and friend of Pam, Courtney Love, was not impressed.
“In a since-deleted Facebook post published on May 16, Love wrote that she found the idea of the show to be ‘so fucking outrageous,’ saying its existence was ‘further causing’ Anderson ‘complex trauma,”‘ wrote journalist Savanha Walsh for Vanity Fair.
Bustle reported that sources close to Pam said she was not happy about the production and said it would be traumatic to live through these events again.
Despite the critiques, the show was released on Hulu and other streaming services this year on Feb. 2. While some viewers took to Twitter to express their enthusiasm, others began to question the integrity of Hulu and those involved with the show.
Before I delve into my take on the show, I’d like to acknowledge the phenomenal work from makeup artist David Williams, hairstylist Barry Lee, costume designer Kameron Lennox, and anyone else involved in transforming the cast into their characters. They did a truly amazing job.
Now, back to our scheduled programming. Back in the 90s, my mom was a big fan of Baywatch and would watch the show while living overseas. It was a global phenomenon. When I was 16, I became aware of Pamela Anderson and instantly thought she was the coolest Canadian I’d ever known.
In many ways, Lily James portrays a dimensional version of Pamela Anderson. She’s not just a blonde bombshell; there’s more to her personality, which is revealed throughout the show.
Another issue is how much of the show is actually based on facts. Because Pam or Tommy didn’t contribute to its production, the dialogue and nuances between the characters are just hearsay.
For example, in episode four, Pamela suffers from a devastating miscarriage, and the couple is heartbroken. Now, this part is true. Tommy Lee wrote about the tragedy in Mötley Crüe’s 2001 biography, The Dirt. But what happens next seems to be pure fiction. Towards the end of the episode, Pam and Tommy are being harassed by the paparazzi. Pamela then smashes the windshield of the photographer’s car. According to an article by ScreenRant, this did not happen in real life. While the scene showcases the impact of privacy invasion on celebrities, it seems a bit theatrical.
While the series may be nostalgic and aesthetically pleasing, its premise is ironic. Pam and Tommy’s private sex tape was stolen from their home. Fast forward a couple of decades later, and a video production company is once again stealing a personal portion of the couple’s life.
But as the Hulu series comes to a close, Pam has decided that it is time to tell her life story from her perspective. On March 3, Netflix announced that a documentary on Pamela was on its way. For this project, Pam will have complete control when telling her story.
The final episode of the series will premiere on March 8. Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with the premise of the show, the commotion from Pam and Tommy has sparked many meaningful conversations. I can only hope that Pamela’s documentary will allow her to take back her voice and speak on her own terms.