Pam & Tommy - General Discussion

[BetterButter]

 

[BetterButter]

 

[chocolatine]

I can't tell from the previews whether it's just a bad show or a "so bad it's good" show. I feel that if I start watching I'll get sucked in even if it's the former. 

ETA: I caved and watched the first two episodes last night. After the (unintentionally?) hilarious scene of Tommy conversing with his penis, I'm firmly in the "so bad it's good" camp.

Edited February 2, 2022 by chocolatine

[Avabelle]

Just finished the first episode - I actually really enjoyed it. Love the soundtrack.

Couldn't help but think that the money, time and energy Rande spent in stalking Tommy could have been spent working another job and paying some bills.

I knew Tommy was a piece of shit but is the gun stuff true?

[chocolatine]

10 minutes ago, Avabelle said:

I knew Tommy was a piece of shit but is the gun stuff true?

I don't know about the gun stuff, but I know that he physically abused both of his wives, so I wouldn't put the gun stuff past him.

[Avabelle]

Very true.

I liked the first episode but it was too much Tommy and not enough Pam for me.

 

[Avabelle]

Onto episode two and the biggest mystery to me is what she found attractive about this eejit. He’s so cringey.
 

See her entourage based on real life friends? They seem so non toxic.

[Dandesun]

46 minutes ago, Avabelle said:

Onto episode two and the biggest mystery to me is what she found attractive about this eejit. He’s so cringey.

She didn't strike me as having the best taste in men. She married fuckin' Kid Rock for a hot minute, too,

[chocolatine]

13 minutes ago, Dandesun said:

She didn't strike me as having the best taste in men. She married fuckin' Kid Rock for a hot minute, too,

She also married Rick Solomon, the guy who had made a sex tape with Paris Hilton and sold it. She initially annulled that marriage, then married him again. Then, after divorcing Solomon for good, had two more marriages that each lasted less than a month. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamela_Anderson#Personal_life)

[QQQQ]

Damn, this is tarnishing the crush I've had on Tommy since the mid 80s. Keep in mind that back in the day we didn't have the interwebs to discover how truly awful some musicians were in real life, so opinions were based on music videos. And I've chosen to remain ignorant ever since 'cuz I love Motley Crue's music.

 

 

[Avabelle]

I also thought he was hot back on the day. It made me understand at least why Pam was into him. I’m this version though he seems like such a moron.

[festivus]

The 80s were all about models and actresses getting with these rocker guys. Pam's no worse than anyone else. I have been looking forward to this show even though I didn't pay any attention to the sex tape thing back in the day so I don't know much about it. I didn't have time to watch it today but I've got tomorrow free. 

[SallyAlbright]

The tone reminds me a lot of the director's previous film I, Tonya, which I also surprisingly loved. This is good so far, in a very campy kind of good way. 

Sebastian Stan and Lily James are very very good.  I still can't believe it's sweet Rose from Downton Abbey (and Cinderella!)

Edited February 3, 2022 by SallyAlbright

[chocolatine]

Just watched episode three. I feel really bad for what's about to happen to Pamela. I can see why Rand wanted to lash out at Tommy - even though I don't agree with his tactics; two wrongs don't make a right - but Pamela didn't do anything to Rand. She was collateral damage in all of this. I really like Seth Rogen and Nick Offerman as actors, so I have to keep reminding myself that their characters are scum.

I really liked Pam's meeting with the publicist, that was the first time on the show that she didn't come across as a ditz (I think real-life Pamela is smarter than people giver her credit for).

I feel conflicted about Tommy. He's coming across so supportive of and in love with Pamela, and so excited when she tells him she's pregnant, but real-life Tommy is a monster. He assaulted Heather Locklear during their marriage, assaulted Pamela during theirs, said in a televised interview in the 90s that he didn't think grabbing and shaking a woman constitutes physical abuse, had a violent altercation with one of his sons, not to mention the story about him and Nikki Sixx gang-raping a Motley Crue groupie in the 80s.

Finally, kudos to Lily James. I know the boobs are fake, but for the rest of her body, she must have been on an insane diet and workout regimen to look like Baywatch-era Pam.

[MaggieG]

So far, I think Lily is doing a great job. I really liked the scene with them running around the room singing along to The King and I. 

[peachmangosteen]

Someone said Lily is doing Margot Robbie doing Pam Anderson and I rolled. Still, she is absolutely the best part of this.

[IndianPaintbrush]

I'm enjoying this even though the nudity is really over the top. I thought they did a good job of showing how weird things must have been for Pam and Tommy once the alcohol and ecstasy wore off. Yes, Pam is much smarter than she appears. And while Tommy was absolutely a piece of shit, he also had a charisma that this actor isn't quite capturing.

I had no idea there was an elaborate scheme to steal Tommy's entire safe! I was always under the impression that Tommy left the tape lying around somewhere.

[festivus]

Just watched the first one. Tommy Lee is such a massive dick. I wanted to punch him in the face so bad. Couldn't help but root for Seth Rogen to get away with it. I know I'll feel differently when we get to Pam's side of it but for now, grrrr. 

[Ss55]

I'm blown away at how well the actors are doing portraying Pam and Tommy.  I agree with the comment above that the Tommy "charisma" is lacking in the show, though.  I know he had/has many faults, but my friends and I all had major crushes on him in the 80s/90s so I see why Pam and others were drawn to him.  I didn't find out about his abusive behaviors until later.

[Unclejosh]

I like Sebastian Stan and his acting is good but agree there is a charisma issue. Not sure why but as a contrast I think MGK did better as a younger Tommy in The Dirt.

 

[SallyAlbright]

5 hours ago, Unclejosh said:

I like Sebastian Stan and his acting is good but agree there is a charisma issue. Not sure why but as a contrast I think MGK did better as a younger Tommy in The Dirt.

 

He's a really good actor but in real life he seems like a pretty classy, smart, put-together guy. This is a very good thing generally, but means he's lacking that slimy car-crash quality that Lee had, where you shouldn't look but can't help yourself. Not sure I'm explaining it very well, but basically he doesn't feel dangerous enough to me, more silly. 

[Dandesun]

He also looks a little too… healthy to be Tommy Lee in my opinion. Lee was rock star fueled by drugs and alcohol and adoration rather than a healthy diet and regular work outs, you know? And Stan doesn’t have that wolffish angularity to his face.

[Emmeline]

On 2/2/2022 at 7:59 PM, SallyAlbright said:

The tone reminds me a lot of the director's previous film I, Tonya, which I also surprisingly loved. This is good so far, in a very campy kind of good way. 

Sebastian Stan and Lily James are very very good.  I still can't believe it's sweet Rose from Downton Abbey (and Cinderella!)

Oh my gosh, until you mentioned Downton Abby & Cinderella, I had no idea who the Pam actress was.  

[Avabelle]

I agree with those who have said Stan is lacking the charisma of Tommy. He’s doing the crazy well but it doesn’t really capture what Pamela saw in him.

[MaggieG]

I'm not really caring too much about Rand's backstory. The scenes with him and Nick Offerman are good, just seeing how they're getting the tape out but I have no interest in Rand and his pornstar wife/ex-wife. Give me more Pam and Tommy. 

 

[Unclejosh]

I don't like that they are trying to make Rand sympathetic like he was somehow justified in his actions.  He was and is a scumbag loser by all accounts.  I mean Tommy may have treated him badly but his actions were just as bad in my opinion if not worse. Maybe that will change in future episodes.

On the flip side, much like Antonio Brown, if Tommy just paid his bills, all of this could have been avoided.

[pasdetrois]

I made it through two episodes and stopped.

I can't get past vain executive producer Seth Rogen writing himself into so much of the story - half an episode up front would have sufficed, followed by brief updates in following episodes to track his story.

I REALLY can't get past slimy EPs Rogen and Franco exploiting Pam - who objects - by artificially creating a Pam clone and then repeatedly showing her naked and having sex. She's essentially portrayed as an animated sex doll. And not very smart either - all the squeaks and simpering and baby doll voice and batting the eyes. The second episode is essentially a soft core porn tape.

Loathsome.

[SeanC]

2 hours ago, Unclejosh said:

I don't like that they are trying to make Rand sympathetic like he was somehow justified in his actions.  He was and is a scumbag loser by all accounts.  I mean Tommy may have treated him badly but his actions were just as bad in my opinion if not worse. Maybe that will change in future episodes.

I don't think this is about justifying what he did. 

It's a pretty standard storytelling format to present a character with initially sympathetic motivations as a way to pull the audience in before gradually revealing that they're actually or are becoming morally bankrupt.

[festivus]

Yeah, if it was just the contents of the safe he stole and no tape was involved, I can't say I'd be mad about it. 

I'm fine with the portrayals so far but I can't say I know much of anything about what Pam & Tommy are really like. Did Pam really do so much posing and simpering like they showed in the club? If so she'd be annoying as shit. Tommy seems like just a straight up douche.

[Avabelle]

5 hours ago, pasdetrois said:

I REALLY can't get past slimy EPs Rogen and Franco exploiting Pam

Franco?! I didn’t think he was involved.

[Snapdragon]

1 hour ago, Avabelle said:

Franco?! I didn’t think he was involved.

Dave Franco, not James.  Though apparently James Franco was supposed to star as Tommy Lee (and direct, I think) when this project was first pitched but he left and was replaced by Sebastian Stan after all the allegations against him.

[Straycat80]

I’m liking this series. I feel bad for Pam, even though she’s always been a hot mess, she didn’t do anything to Rand, Tommy did. I came across a story about Tommy shoving a gun in Rand’s face and keeping his tools so that was true.  I don’t condone a crime but you can sort of understand why he stole from Tommy and did what he did with the sex tape. He was desperate for money. 
I remember when that tape came out and people made a big deal about it because the internet was just becoming a thing.

I always wondered what happened to Andrew Dice Clay and there he is, the porn investor guy. 

Edited February 5, 2022 by Straycat80

[chocolatine]

28 minutes ago, Straycat80 said:

I’m liking this series. I feel bad for Pam, even though she’s always been a hot mess, she didn’t do anything to Rand, Tommy did. I came across a story about Tommy shoving a gun in Rand’s face and keeping his tools so that was true.  I don’t condone a crime but you can sort of understand why he stole from Tommy and did what he did with the sex tape. He was desperate for money. 
I remember when that tape came out and people made a big deal about it because the internet was just becoming a thing.

Rand didn't have to sell the tape in order to recoup the money Tommy owed him. There was cash, jewelry, and guns in the safe, and we saw Rand pawn the guns. Between the cash and the money he got for the other things, he could have called it even. But we saw Rand make a big deal about "karma" so for him it went far beyond recouping his losses.

[peachmangosteen]

3 hours ago, chocolatine said:

But we saw Rand make a big deal about "karma" so for him it went far beyond recouping his losses.

And I get that lol.

[chocolatine]

5 minutes ago, peachmangosteen said:

And I get that lol.

I get that too, I'm just saying that Rand's motivation wasn't just to get back what was owed to him. And he obviously didn't care what kind of "karma" he would incur for what he did to Pam.

[Straycat80]

4 hours ago, chocolatine said:

Rand didn't have to sell the tape in order to recoup the money Tommy owed him. There was cash, jewelry, and guns in the safe, and we saw Rand pawn the guns. Between the cash and the money he got for the other things, he could have called it even. But we saw Rand make a big deal about "karma" so for him it went far beyond recouping his losses.

Yep, agree, he was about the karma. And he didn’t care who else got hurt (Pam). 

[Sweet-tea]

Lily James looks a lot like Pam from a distance, but she’s not as pretty or as busty as Pam was during the series. She’s doing a good job of capturing Pam’s essence though. 

I agree about Sebastian. He looks shorter and a little heavier than Tommy Lee and lacking in sex appeal. 

I remember hearing about the tape but didn’t realize the guy broke into their house. Yikes. 

Just read this article about all the makeup and prosthetics it took to turn Lily James into Pamela Anderson. I didn’t realize she was wearing a fake forehead and chest piece! They did a good job. 

https://stylecaster.com/beauty/pam-and-tommy-lily-james/

This article says Pam Anderson is upset about the series. 

https://www.etonline.com/pamela-anderson-finds-pam-tommy-series-very-painful-source-says-178144

Edited February 6, 2022 by Sweet-tea
added links

[Valny]

I may have fell asleep in the second ep, but did they ever show Tommy discovering the safe was gone?!

[MsTree]

Ironically, I'm finding the story about Rand and his life a bit more interesting than the Pam & Tommy "party all the time" story.

[Straycat80]

9 hours ago, Valny said:

I may have fell asleep in the second ep, but did they ever show Tommy discovering the safe was gone?!

Not yet, probably next episode. 

[patty1h]

I'm a recent subscriber to Hulu and only because I got a sweet deal on the price and I could watch I Love Lucy reruns there.  I've been aware of their original series like The Handmaids Tale, etc. but hadn't gotten around to checking any out until this.  I had no idea that they were as outrageously raunchy as HBO -- I think I saw more dick and tits in those 2 hours than I did in all of Game of Thrones.  Woof. 

I made it to the end of the 2nd episode and bailed because I didn't care enough of any of these characters to stay interested - Tommy is a jerk, Pam seems like an airhead and Rand is just a weasel.   I have other shows I can be watching.

Edited February 6, 2022 by patty1h

[chocolatine]

2 hours ago, patty1h said:

I'm a recent subscriber to Hulu and only because I got a sweet deal on the price and I could watch I Love Lucy reruns there.  I've been aware of their original series like The Handmaids Tale, etc. but hadn't gotten around to checking any out until this.  I had no idea that they were as outrageously raunchy as HBO -- I think I saw more dick and tits in those 2 hours than I did in all of Game of Thrones.  Woof. 

The dick and tits on this show are both prosthetic.

[Avabelle]

The third episode does a better job of selling Tommy to me or at least why Pam is with him. He does seem attentive and listens to her when she was struggling to get screentime on Baywatch. He also seems to like her although I’m not sure how much of that is just honeymoon phase obsession. We also finally see a bit more of Pams ambition which was nice as until this point she’s been played as pretty ditzy.

[teapot]

I’m surprised at Tommy’s character; I definitely heard of the DV, which is AWFUL, but I feel like he’s been described in the book The Dirt and  in interviews etc as a “sweetheart”  type, not an obnoxious douchebag!!!!

am I just old or is the music really, really loud & the dialogue really, really quiet?

[MsTree]

1 hour ago, teapot said:

I’m surprised at Tommy’s character; I definitely heard of the DV, which is AWFUL, but I feel like he’s been described in the book The Dirt and  in interviews etc as a “sweetheart”  type, not an obnoxious douchebag!!!!

am I just old or is the music really, really loud & the dialogue really, really quiet?

Yes, the music is incredibly loud, and the dialogue so low that I gave in and turned on the CC.

Sorry, but there's no way I will ever see Tommy as a "sweetheart". Asshole is more like it.

[IndianPaintbrush]

15 hours ago, teapot said:

I’m surprised at Tommy’s character; I definitely heard of the DV, which is AWFUL, but I feel like he’s been described in the book The Dirt and  in interviews etc as a “sweetheart”  type, not an obnoxious douchebag!!!!

I think Tommy can be a sweetheart when he's in the right mood, but he can also be a cruel and vicious jerkwad, and that kind of behavior is usually fueled by alcohol. He's definitely a man of contradictions. The scene where he argues with his penis about whether he should settle down with Pamela rang very true. He wanted a fairytale romance and domestic bliss, but he wasn't gonna sacrifice any of his rock-star partying ways.

[Avabelle]

Did Pamela really struggle for air time On Baywatch? I know they were obviously perving on her but did she actually struggle for speaking parts? I always thought she was the star.

[Unclejosh]

David Hasselhoff was the star. She was the eye candy who got bigger than the show and got a lot of air time because of that but as shown in the episode it was mostly for eye candy scenes only.  She wasn't allowed a lot of dialogue from what I recall or at least not emotional stuff that showed any acting ability.  

[SunnyBeBe]

Starting Episode 1. Why is the focus on a carpenter in his home?  I have zero interest in the carpenter.  I also have no sympathy for a business person who works without money upfront.  Business people in LA know celebs are often liars, irresponsible and broke. They get services on the sly.  I just don’t find this amusing. Maybe, I’ll skip ahead.  As a business woman for 30 years experience, I know that when a client says money is no issue….it is an issue and they likely won’t or can’t pay.  That phrase is a cue to beware of money issue. I honestly don’t recall any client saying that who wasn’t struggling to pay and most likely couldn’t.   

[LaJefaza]

18 hours ago, teapot said:

I’m surprised at Tommy’s character; I definitely heard of the DV, which is AWFUL, but I feel like he’s been described in the book The Dirt and  in interviews etc as a “sweetheart”  type, not an obnoxious douchebag!!!!

The Dirt is an autobiography so I definitely wouldn't place too much merit in any description of Tommy Lee found in it. I fully expect him to make himself sound great or at the very least downplay his assholishness. And he'd definitely have his 'nice guy' persona on in interviews to counteract any negative publicity swirling around him. I'm sure he could be nice if and when he wanted to, like anybody else, but I'd be wary of trusting his curated public image. Pam wasn't the only person he's assaulted, by far.

 

On 2/5/2022 at 8:29 PM, Sweet-tea said:

I agree about Sebastian. He looks shorter and a little heavier than Tommy Lee and lacking in sex appeal. 

I've seen a lot of people mention Sebastian being too short to play Tommy which is interesting to me because Tommy is only 2 inches taller than Sebastian but apparently the difference is that noticeable. Tommy is extremely lanky so I guess that accounts for him looking so much taller.

Edited February 8, 2022 by LaJefaza