Pam & Tommy

Matthew Bass & Theodore Bressman, 2022

As my friends and family already know, I love anything Seth Rogen does. I am a fan of every creative project he is a part of. I also adore Lily James and Sebastian Stan. That being said, you can imagine how excited I have been for the TV series Pam & Tommy to come out. Thank goodness, the show turned out to be an absolute masterpiece.

Pam & Tommy is about the titular characters, Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee (Lily James and Sebastian Stan), and the man that sells and distributes their infamous sex tape, Rand Gouthier (Seth Rogen). It tells the story of Pamela and Tommy’s relationship, before and after the tape is released, and explains the repercussions of the tape’s release in their lives, Rand’s life, and the rest of the world. It’s a show about being female in the public eye, dealing with the consequences of your actions, and what it means to be a good person.

For those, like me, that are not already familiar with the scandal of Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson, here is a quick debrief. Pamela Anderson is an actress and model, most popular in the 90s. Tommy Lee is the drummer of Mötley Crüe, a rock band most popular in the 80s. The two of them got married and made a sex tape that was then stolen from their house and distributed to the public. This was in the 90s, when the Internet was new, so video leaks were something unheard of. When this happened, it spread everywhere.

I was not expecting a series on this topic to be so brilliant. At first glance, it seems like a fun opportunity to play some 90s dress-up and make fun of celebrities, but instead it takes a fascinating look at what that tape means for the people involved, especially Pamela. Some of the scenes can be ridiculous (ex: a talking penis), Pam and Tommy’s baby voices can get cringey at times, and the other characters besides Pam and Rand are fairly one-dimensional, but all of that serves a purpose. The series begins as playful and ridiculous, to show Pam’s life before the tape’s release. This later adds weight to the seriousness of Pam’s life by the end of the show. Similarly, the one-dimensional characters bring more focus to Pam’s experiences and make it seem more like “Pam versus the world.”

I love the way that Pam’s character is written. Some may say that she experiences a lot of character development throughout the show, but I believe what really happens is that the audience is able to see the true Pam more clearly throughout the series. We begin the show by seeing her sex symbol persona, and by the end, we realize she is much more than that. She is presented as strong, smart, and kind. We see her for her personal hardships, but also as a symbol for all women. The public views her only for the sexual nature of her work, and refuses to take her seriously. On top of that, people see the tape as simply another way that she is showing her body, rather than a nonconsensual invasion of her privacy. The audience feels devastated and frustrated on her behalf, and sees just how impossible her situation is.

Seth Rogen’s character, Rand, is interesting as well. As the person that stole the tape, it can be upsetting at first to see how much sympathy he is given. However, adding dimension to Rand adds complexity to the series. Rand, in general, wants to be a good person. He feels as if the world is kicking him down, and he is trying to do right by himself. His intention is not to target Pam, and he really does not notice what he has done to her until it is too late. This adds to the show’s theme in two ways. First, it strengthens the idea that bad things can happen to good people. Rand intends only to get back at Tommy, and means no harm on Pam, who has not done anything to him. Yet, the person hit the hardest by what he’s done is actually Pam. Second, and most important, it shows that men at times have no idea the ways in which they are hurtful to women. It is hard for men to realize that actions reflect on men and women differently, and Rand is a demonstration of that. Of course, there is also physical violence against women, but a lot of the violence we see is something that men don’t realize is hurtful. That, I think, is the main purpose of Rand’s character development. He realizes, for the audience, that even though he is attempting to get back at Tommy, he hurts Pamela instead.

The tone of the series slowly becomes much more serious throughout the season. At the beginning, I would almost describe the series as silly. Slowly, we realize the weight of what happens, and as we begin to see the aftermath, the tone changes to become heavier. Overall, the series is still fun, but it ends up making the audience think more than is expected. Aesthetically, this series is fantastic. It feels like being transported back to the 90s (not that I know from personal experience). This isn’t the 90s we see in something like Clueless, however. It is the sexy, alternative side of the 90s. 90s style is prominent, but perfectly rides the line between trendy and over-the-top. Tons of references to 90s artists and pop culture certainly help, as well.

The plot is outstanding. It exceeds all of my expectations. The series takes the situation seriously and examines different facets of its consequences. It covers everything: what this tape means for Pam’s career, what it means for her as a woman, the reaction of the public, the reaction of the press, how the tape helps shape the porn industry, and the role that the invention of the Internet plays. There is a lot covered in just eight episodes, but it is done flawlessly. This is a real event, in fact, a real event, so the plot has a natural flow, but it also feels like a cautionary tale. It also helps my experience that I have not lived through this event. Much like The People v. O.J. Simpson, I found this series shocking and dramatic, but I’m not sure I would feel that way if I had also experienced it in real time. Regardless, I think it is brilliant.

In terms of rewatchability, I could definitely watch it again, but the shock factor of the first watch cannot be matched. It is not really a series that I would revisit many times. Although I highly recommend that first watch, I don’t see a need to watch it more than a couple of times.

Something that I did find interesting about this series is the pushback from the real Pamela Anderson. Although the series seems to take great care in standing up for her, they supposedly never met with her about making this series. Because this series places such importance on Pam not getting the chance to write her own story, it seems quite hypocritical to take away her voice on this too. I do think her story is a great example for what many women experience, and that, overall, the message of this series was important. However, this does not necessarily mean they did right by the real Pam. Hopefully, she feels at least she was portrayed in a good light.

I loved Pam & Tommy. I think those that want to see women represented well on screen will love it, as well. I also recommend this to anyone that loves dissecting celebrity scandals, especially those that liked the Framing Britney Spears documentary. It takes a very similar look at celebrities that suffer from changes to our culture. On the other hand, if you are not looking for social commentary, I would steer clear. Also, if you have a particular affinity for Tommy Lee, you should probably not watch, either (they don’t put him in the best light). However, I think most people will benefit from watching this series, and will have an excellent time doing so.