As the ’90s and early-aughts make their pop culture resurgence, is it really any surprise we’d eventually make our way ‘round to Pam and Tommy? On Friday, May 7, Hulu first released sneak-peek photos of its upcoming limited series about former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson and Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, starring Lily James and Sebastian Stan as the couple in question. The photos immediately made waves on social media as fans expressed disbelief that Cinderella and the Winter Solider could so easily pass for two of the turn-of-the-century’s biggest (and most scandalous) icons.
“Here’s a peek at #PamAndTommy, ” the streamer’s Instagram announced. “Based on the true scandal that started it all, featuring Seth Rogen, Lily James and Sebastian Stan… ready to rewind?”
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A comparison shot for you:
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Here’s a quick breakdown of what, precisely, prompted Hulu to push James and Stan into the makeup chair for such a dramatic transformation.
When will the series come out?
After dropping the first teaser for Pam and Tommy, Hulu confirmed the series will arrive Feb. 2, 2021.
The official trailer was released on Jan. 5, showing Pamela Anderson’s (Lily James) hot and heavy relationship with Tommy Lee (Sebastian Stan) and the men who got ahold of their sex tape (played by Seth Rogen and Nick Offerman) and leaked it on the internet.
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What is Pam and Tommy about?
The Hulu series will be eight episodes in total, each focusing on the lead-up and aftermath of the first-ever “viral sex tape.” When Anderson and Lee were on their honeymoon in 1995, they made a sex tape, which was later stolen and distributed online. This tape might be one of the most—if not the most—famous among scandalous celebrity videos, likely because of the legal battle that followed. The show will chronicle the lawsuit that Anderson and Lee filed against the distributor, Internet Entertainment Group. The suit was eventually settled, and the tape remained in the public domain.
However, as the title suggests, Pam and Tommy will also follow Anderson and Lee’s whirlwind love story and catastrophic breakup. In case you haven’t brushed up on your celebrity trivia recently, it’ll help to remember these two got married after only knowing each other for 96 hours. Anderson gave birth to two sons in 1996 and 1997, respectively, but soon divorced Lee after he was sentenced to six months in jail for spousal battery.
Who’s in the cast?
James and Stan are the headliners, of course, but a number of other big names are attached. Seth Rogen—also executive producing the series—will play Rand Gauthier, the man who stole the sex tape, alongside castmates Nick Offerman, Andrew Dice Clay, Mozhan Marnò, Spencer Granese, Taylor Schilling, and Pepi Sonuga. Co-showrunners Robert Siegel and DV DeVincentis will helm the project.
Anderson and Lee themselves are not involved in the project, per Deadline, and, in fact, it seems they might not approve of it moving forward at all. Back in May, singer Courtney Love, a friend of Anderson’s, posted a furious Facebook complaint that Pam and Tommy was exploiting a traumatic incident. The post has since been deleted.
“I find this so fucking outrageous,” Love began in her post, per People. “When Pam / Tommy sex tape was out / myself @pattyschemel @xmadmx were making a record. And the lone women in many recording studios in LA. Where all / ALL! The staff engineers / producers / owners / were watching the sex tape with huge schadenfraude.. Guffaws, It was disgusting. I banned anyone discussing it.. It destroyed my friend Pamelas life. Utterly.”
Love added that the series wanted to use her image, which she pointedly declined. “Last week I was asked to approve using a Rolling Stone cover of mine / shot by Mark Seliger in this piece of shit/ That they had approved. I said ‘fuck no.’ shocked. Gentleman don’t approve this sort of thing. My heart goes out to Pammy ️️ further causing her complex trauma. And shame on Lily James whoever the fuck she is. #vile.”
Are there photos from set?
When the show was first announced, co-stars James and Stan both shared first-look photos on Instagram, and James shared hers with a pointed Anderson quote: “It’s great to be blonde. With low expectations it’s very easy to surprise people.”
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Stan posted his own photo with a Lee quote: “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”
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Later posts confirmed just how impressive the hair and costuming department’s work has been on the project:
Stan also shared a new photo of himself as Lee on May 30:
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Hilary Weaver Hilary Weaver is a freelance writer based in New York who writes about politics, queer issues, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, and every woman the Queen has ever made a dame. Lauren Puckett-Pope Associate Editor Lauren Puckett-Pope is an associate editor at ELLE, where she covers news and culture.
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