Warning: Spoilers for Pam & Tommy episode 7!
Pam & Tommy episode 7 disclosed further the impact of Pamela Anderson’s leaked tape, showing especially how the mainstream media like Jay Leno treated her — but which parts were real and which were changed? Following a four-day passionate affair, actress Pamela Anderson and Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee were married in February 1995. Months later, the newlyweds decided to document their Lake Mead honeymoon, and the tape was eventually stolen from them and leaked on the then-emerging Internet. Once the news reached mainstream media, the Baywatch actress, in particular, was incessantly questioned by journalists and mocked by talk show hosts, as illustrated by a recreated Jay Leno interview in Pam & Tommy.
Anderson and Lee initially dismissed the gravity of their scandal, as seemingly no major publications had picked up on it. However, when the creator of Penthouse magazine, Bob Guccione, received a copy of the tape, the couple preemptively filed a lawsuit to prevent the Playboy rival from publishing stills. Unfortunately, all the lawsuit did was bring additional, unnecessary attention to the world-famous celebrities. Pam & Tommy depicted that while the couple was fighting for their right to privacy, Anderson was busy promoting her film, Barb Wire. The actress and her team had great expectations that the project would launch her into the biggest movie star in the world, but her appearances in talk shows and press conferences would only be focused on the leaked tape.
Pam & Tommy episode 1 began with Anderson awkwardly dodging the sexual innuendos in Jay Leno’s Tonight Show interview, and the show’s episode 7 finally revealed the interview’s continuation. After their initial banter, which involved the actress’ pregnancy, Leno said, “I never imagined there was something sex-related Pam Anderson doesn’t know.” This sly remark earned Anderson’s emotional response, heartbreakingly stating how horrible and devastating the whole ordeal was, much to the discomfort of the late-night show’s host and audience. Sadly sticking to her people-pleaser persona, she then lightly dismissed her response. However, just like the events portrayed in previous episodes, the interview was largely accurate, but the dialogue and dramatic timing were fabricated for effect. In real life, Anderson truly fired back at Leno, although not in the exact words that Lily James said. Additionally, while the hair and wardrobe in Pam & Tommy episode 7 accurately recreated the promotion of Anderson’s movie Barb Wire on the Tonight Show, her retort was not heard until a later guesting.
Pam & Tommy’s version of Leno’s interview was actually a combination of two separate occasions in 1996. One discussed Anderson’s pregnancy and her upcoming movie, while the other revolved around the scandal. The actress hurtfully called out Leno for all the times he talked about the leaked tape and her body, saying how the host was “supposed to be [a] friend,” and he “jumped on the bandwagon with everyone making fun of us.” Leno defended himself by insisting he only told one joke, which Anderson countered with a reel of the host repeatedly mentioning the couple’s names on air. Echoing James’ sentiment in the episode, the Barb Wire lead emphasized that their situation is not funny and devastating to them. After all, it was around this time that Anderson had her depositions for the Penthouse lawsuit, so she was really exposed to the intensity of public scrutiny.
Throughout her career, Anderson had been the subject of unsolicited sexual remarks. Despite her hopes of building a true acting career, she remained trapped in her blonde bombshell image. She was also subjected to misogynistic treatment, stripping away her agency and right to reclaim her privacy; no wonder she got fed up with the circulating jokes and comments. While the Jay Leno interview in the Hulu series was not entirely factual, Pam & Tommy still successfully and painfully depicted how gross and unfair Anderson was regarded in the ‘90s.
New episodes of Pam & Tommy release Wednesdays on Hulu.