Sebastian Stan had a terrific time with Tommy Lee in real life but the Pam & Tommy crew failed to connect with Pamela Anderson.
Although the makers of Pam & Tommy have yet to reach the real-life Pamela Anderson, actor Sebastian Stan did have the opportunity to speak with Tommy Lee about the upcoming Hulu series. The show stars Lily James as a Baywatch actress and Stan as a Mötley Crüe drummer, and it chronicles the couple’s high-profile courtship and subsequently leaked sex tape, which caused a media frenzy in the 1990s.
With a supporting cast that includes Nick Offerman and Seth Rogen, the series is one of the most eagerly anticipated productions coming to Hulu in 2022, and it is set to premiere on February 2.
The hoopla surrounding Pam & Tommy is due in part to James and Stan’s out-of-character casting. They are more known for portraying more upright characters such as Disney’s Cinderella (James) and Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Bucky Barnes (Stan).
The overall premise of Pam & Tommy, on the other hand, has been ridiculed, especially by Anderson’s friend and singer Courtney Love. Love accused the show of inflicting “complex pain” on Anderson by revisiting a difficult period in her life in a since-deleted Facebook post last year.
Anderson has not responded to attempts by the Pam & Tommy crew to contact her, nor has she made any public comments about the show. Stan appears to be more successful in reaching the real-life counterpart of his character.
He and James were recently featured on the cover of Variety magazine, where they talked about everything from their hair and makeup transformations to how they get into character for the new show. Stan didn’t elaborate on his conversation with Lee, but he did say that they were able to connect.
What does Sebastian Stan share about Pam & Tommy?
Stan was able to connect with Lee despite Pam & Tommy’s contentious nature, and Lee has previously praised Stan and the show’s approach to the story. Although Lee and Anderson’s absence from Pam and Tommy’s growth is understandable, it does raise a sensitive issue that, as Love pointed out, is likely still fraught with hurt and trauma.
Not everyone engaging in real-life debates, however, is opposed to revisiting the past. Figure skater Tonya Harding and her ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, for example, worked with the filmmakers of the 2017 dark comedy I, Tonya (which also stars Stan)—having the advice of individuals who went through the story made for a better picture.
However, Stan, James, and the rest of the Pam & Tommy creative team appear to be repeating that the show has no intention of condemning the marriage ahead of its premiere. Instead, they argue that the show is meant to attack the media and cultural reactions to celebrities’ private lives.
Pam & Tommy’s capacity to deliver on its promises remains to be seen, and each viewer will undoubtedly interpret the show differently. Anderson and Lee, on the other hand, may have more to say after the series airs.
