[38] John Doyle of The Globe and Mail said the actress "brings an equal amount of vinegary exuberance to the work. Adlon is also inspired by strong, talented women, including her mother, actress/producer Pamela Adlon. [1] When asked why they did not cast an actress with a closer resemblance to Hupp's physical appearance, McCumber replied, "When a two-time Oscar winner calls and says, 'I'm obsessed with this story and I want to play Pam and I want to produce, you say, 'Yes, yes, yes, yes.' NBC/St Charles Missouri Police Department, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Shannon Cochran (in Sexual Harassment) Linda Purl Helene Beesly is Pam 's mom, played by Shannon Cochran in "Sexual Harassment" and subsequently played by Linda Purl in episodes starting with " Niagara ." Contents 1 Season 2 2 Season 4 3 Season 5 4 Season 6 5 Season 7 6 Season 9 7 Behind the scenes 8 Appearances 9 References Season 2 Schwartz, who is portrayed by Josh Duhamel in the show, explained to KSDK that he and his client were very involved in the project. One of the things about Pam is that its no easy task to prove shes a liar. These details include her name, erroneously written as "Rita" and details "Klondike 507". Recovering from cancer, trying to get her life back together and her only mistake was to trust the wrong person. Martin is a Staff Writer with WhatToWatch.com, where he produces a variety of articles focused on the latest and greatest films and TV shows. Jenny Klein serves as showrunner for the series. Moments after walking through the door of his Troy, Mo., home on Dec. 27, 2011, Russ Faria discovered his wife, Betsy . ", She added: "In our research process, we were fortunate to interview some people close to Pam Hupp, and that shed light on some of the family dynamics at play here.". It's always intense, especially when you really care about a project and a role, and everyone else around you does too. Rene Zellweger Becomes Convicted Killer Pam Hupp in 'The Thing About Pam' By H. Alan Scott On 03/08/22 at 4:40 PM EST Culture True Crime If you're a director looking to cast a female actor. In a statement, Borsiczky said the murder case she was adapting could be interpreted as both a whodunit and a character study. Judy Greer has graced us with her presence on screen since the late 90s. A one-stop-shop for all things video games. Minnie is Pams nosy neighbor. Other recent TV credits include CBS Battle Creek and the J.J. Abrams mini-series 11.22.63 on Hulu. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. ("The Search"), Helene plays a sexy nurse in Michael's movie. Louis was an unsuspecting participant in a twisted fantasy that ended in murder. Betsys mom, Janet, doesn't know what to believe. "[42], The show's comedic tone was criticized. The Thing About Pam. He never gets the chance to tell her he might have herpes. On television, Duhamel is known for his role on the NBC drama Las Vegas. Additionally, he lent his voice to Nickelodeons Emmy Award-winning animated series Fanboy & Chum Chum and starred in several seasons of the long-running ABC soap opera All My Children, for which he received three consecutive Daytime Emmy nominations. Heather Magee as Chris Mennemeyer, the judge in Russ's trial. This brutal crime set off a chain of events that would expose a diabolical scheme deeply involving Pam Hupp. Previously, she directed an AOL original short that documents the practice of Transcendental Meditation and how it has changed the lives of teachers and students who learned the practice from the David Lynch Foundation. The Thing About Pam podcast on demand - Two days after Christmas, 2011, Russ Faria came home from game night to find his wife, Betsy, dead. 2021. "I mean, she's a real person, her family's real, [and] are here except for Betsy. Gideon Adlon found speaking to her real-life counterpart Mariah Day for The Thing About Pam "heart-breaking," she told Newsweek. Jenna Fischer took the lead, explaining that "We wanted Shannon Cochran to come back. Josh Duhamel plays Joel Schwartz on the NBC limited series The Thing About Pam., Duhamel most recently starred on the Netflix original series Jupiters Legacy, based on the comic series of the same name. In a statement, NBC said the company was "shifting its documentary strategy to an entirely new model" that would be "consistent with industry trends". . Lancaster on HBOs Lovecraft Country. Previously, he co-starred on DirecTVs Kingdom and has also recurred on Night Shift, Colony and Valor. On the film side, he has appeared in the features Game Over, Man and Venom, and hell also be seen in the upcoming feature films To Leslie and Grey Elephant., Katy Mixon plays Betsy Faria in the NBC limited series The Thing About Pam.. Pam mentions that Betsy had planned to reveal "something" Russ did to her. Renee Zellweger is unrecognizable as Pam Hupp, the real-life woman at the center of the anticipated NBC true-crime series, The Thing About Pam. The entire experience was a revelation to many diehard fans, and it offered up an endless stream of juicy behind-the-scenes details. * Available content may vary through participating service providers. Opinion", "Impressive performances steer the twisty true-crime story of, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Thing_About_Pam&oldid=1140290565, Russ is interrogated and released from the station after 24 hours. The stamp is awarded by the gender equity coalition ReFrame and industry database IMDbPro for film and television projects that are proven to have gender-balanced hiring, with stamps being awarded to projects that hire female-identifying people, especially women of color, in four out of eight key roles for their production. The Thing About Pam may seem too far-fetched to be real, but it is based on the actual 2011 murder of Betsy Faria. Oscar-winning actress Rene Zellweger is making her return to broadcast TV as Pam Hupp. She always has lip balm, CBD oil, and Ilia's Skin Serum Concealer with Vitamin C. "I love Ilia. Years after "The Office" finished airing, Pam actress Jenna Fischer and Angela actress Angela Kinsey reunited to launch the "Office Ladies" podcast, where they went through the episodes of the show and provided some killer commentary. Here's our who's who guide to The Thing About Pam cast. Zellwegers breakout role came in 1996 in the film Jerry Maguire. . In a statement, Cole said "the documentary business is certainly more robust than it ever has been. "There's a lot of suffering and loss involved in this case, obviously. The actor portrays Mariah in the NBC true crime drama which charts the 2011 murder of Day's mother Betsy Faria and its aftermath, including how Betsy's husband Russ (Glenn Fleshler) was wrongfully accused and Pam Hupp's (Rene Zellweger) involvement. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. From there, the actress says that for a long time, "The Office" had a rule against stunt-casting. As the workplace love birds find each other and fall in love, we slowly meet many of the different members of their families. Some of his favorite shows are What We Do In The Shadows, Bridgerton, Gangs of London, The Witcher, Doctor Who, and Ghosts. In film, Fleshler has worked with A-list directors that include Barry Levinson, Woody Allen, Kenneth Lonergan, Tom McCarthy, JC Chandor, Todd Phillips and Andrew Jarecki. Meanwhile, Zellweger is no stranger to transforming her body onscreen, as previously seen in Bridget Joness Diary and Judy, for which she won her second Oscar portraying Judy Garland at the end of her career. She later faced political and legal consequences for her actions during the investigation and subsequent trials. ("Roy's Wedding"), Months later, Helene called Pam at work to inform her that Cece had been infected with head lice, unwittingly revealing to the entire office that Pam had infected them with lice. During her lengthy stage career, she served on the board of directors for both Company of Angels and Deaf West Theatre.Spoke currently serves on the faculty at the California Institute of the Arts, where she teaches acting in the Film Directing Program and in Character Animation. Zellweger most recently starred as the legendary Judy Garland in Judy, winning the Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Critics Choice awards for the film. In addition to the series announcement, it was revealed Cole would executive produce alongside Jason Blum, Marci Wiseman, and Jeremy Gold. One difficult aspect of the aftermath of her mother's death was the way in which her step-father was wrongfully accused, and convicted, of the crime because it led to a complete break in their family. ("Casino Night"), Helene talks to Pam over the phone about Pam and Roy's Wedding ("Dwight's Speech"), Jim jokingly threatens to Pam that he will give Pam's Mom's details to Michael, who is in search of a prospective date. Duhamel also recently wrapped the bank heist thriller Bandit, alongside Mel Gibson, and the action-crime film Blackout.. ("Stress Relief"), Hurt by the divorce, Helene shows a bit of bitterness when comedically telling Pam that its not too late to back out of the wedding. The limited series also stars Olivia Luccardi, Jesse Scott Egan, Adam David Thompson, Catherine Carlen, Sarah Stipe, Drew Scheid, and Ann Mahoney. He has also appeared in such films as Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!, When in Rome, and Love, Simon. All of those things were really important because all those bits and pieces are what construct the person that we project our own conclusions and presumptions onto.. Each episode of the series L-R: Olivia Luccardi as Lily Day, Gideon Adlon as Mariah Day in "The Thing About Pam." Adlon spoke to Newsweek about. It's a factor that is constantly upsetting schedules and casting calls. "But it was intense. She was finally arrested in 2016 for the murder of Louis Gumpenberger, In 2019, Dateline released a multi-episode podcast all about Hupps story. Since 2014, Dateline has assigned multiple episodes to the story and created a podcast centered around the case in 2019 titled "The Thing About Pam". [30], First-look images and a trailer were released in early February. [10] In a statement, Cole said that "having been at the forefront of the true-crime genre for so long, we know better than anyone that truth is often stranger than fiction, and with the twists and turns in this case, we saw a real opportunity to present it in a scripted format". 1) Do the Right Thing's 2) Pamela Anderson 3) Ellen DeGeneres 4) Judith Ivey. ("Niagara"), Later, she starts to date Michael Scott, making Pam angry and Pam begins to dislike them both. However, his troubles had only just begun when he was arrested and convicted for her death. In a perfect world, Van Sant's vicious satire should have inspired "The Thing About Pam." The limited series does put some clever, over-the-top spins on the well-trod story; Hupp is often . Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters, Rene Zellweger Becomes Convicted Killer Pam Hupp in 'The Thing About Pam'. The first time we meet Helene, she's played by Shannon Cochran. It was prosthetics, it was a [padded] suit, it was the choice of clothing, it was the briskness in her step-step-step, her gait, she shared. Going on to speak about what it was like filming with Zellweger, Adlon said her co-star was able to convey Pam's "toxic" nature with ease. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! ET It always seemed like Pamela Hupp was your friendly, easygoing neighborhood pal. Rene Zellweger to Star in True-Crime Series 'The Thing About Pam', Ant Anstead on Girlfriend Renee Zellweger's 'Kindness' & Holiday Plans, Rene Zellweger Spends Thanksgiving With Ant Anstead and His Son, By signing up, you agree to our Pamela Anderson shared what she carries in her daily crossbody bag. We intended for her to always play Pam's mom. Actor Bio. The limited series stars Lily James as actress Pamela Anderson, and Sebastian Stan as drummer Tommy Lee. And they were right, there are some real strange things about Pam. The series was announced in May 2020 when the company revealed a partnership with Blumhouse Television. We cast her as Pam's mom. Jennifer McHugh is a Los Angeles-based writer. She has also had memorable roles in movies such as 13 Going on 30, The Village, 27 Dresses, Ant-Man, and Halloween. Where do we even begin? After a nearly flawless relationship, the final season of The Office found Pam and Jim's marriage seriously on the rocks. In the theater, he has worked with directors and playwrights that include Mike Nichols, Tony Kushner, Edward Albee, Tom Stoppard and David Hare. I'm allergic to adhesives, and so there was a lot of comedy in the preparation," the actress remarked. ("Threat Level Midnight"), When Jim and Pam are getting ready to attend Roy's wedding, Jim tells Cece to go inside who was playing in the yard, telling her "grandma almost has breakfast ready". [43] Liam Mathews at TVGuide said the "deliciously satisfying" tone was similar to that of the Coen brothers, but that its use to convey the story of a real murder would make "you feel [a] little queasy. [32] The series held a premiere in Los Angeles on February 28, 2022,[33][34] and premiered on NBC on March 8. Elsewhere, she's made supporting appearances in films like 13 Going On 30, Jurassic World and Ant-Man, among many others. Judy Greer stars as Leah Askey in the new NBC limited series "The Thing About Pam." Greer's career in both film and television has been extremely prolific, with her appearing in nearly 200. It's her mom, it's her family, and it's weird that actors are portraying the worst thing that ever happened to your life.". Recently, Coolidge attended the SAG Awards, where she received two honors. ("The Lover") However, Pam warms up to the idea and goes on a double date with them. Unfortunately, Anderson, who was married to Lee from 1995 . The case of killer Pamela Hupp is a twisted tale involving money and murder. Club's Gwen Ihnat said "The Thing About Pam does an impressive job of translating an addictive tale to the small screen. Cookies help us deliver our Services. The Thing About Pam airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. EST on NBC. "Normally I'd jump at the chance to meet the person I was playing but I was so daunted by this project that I quickly scrambled to wrap my brain around playing Russ," Fleshler explained. Russ Faria spent years in jail after finding wife Betsy fatally stabbed. : 1) Ben Vereen 2) Michael Fishman 3) The Lincoln Tunnel 4) The Lincoln Tunnel. New episodes air weekly on NBC on Tuesdays. Cast and character guide to the new true-crime drama, The Thing About Pam. This brutal crime set off a chain of events that would expo Based on the 2011 murder of Betsy Faria that resulted in the conviction of her husband, Russ, but he insisted he did not kill her. Meanwhile, television producers sought to devote several episodes from Dateline NBC to Betsy's story, which uncovers Pam's past and makes her a suspect in the case. That Sunday morning, one of Dee's daughters stopped by her mother's house around 9 a.m., but Dee was nowhere to be found. "I think Glenn [Fleshler, who plays Russ] did such an incredible job of conveying that on screen, and you can see Mariah struggle with her want to connect with him and just how she doesn't agree with anyone around her. Additional executive producers included Carmella Casinelli, Borsiczky, Noah Oppenheim, and Chris McCumber. One of the earliest of these characters to have actual screen time is Pam's mom, Helene Beesly. Pam Hupp (Rene Zellweger), who declares herself "a pillar of the community," has been intimately involved in Betsy's life while Betsy has been getting cancer treatments. Russ Faria's conviction was overturned by a judge in 2015 and he was released from prison. In the first official trailer and images, audiences get a peek at the Oscar-winning actress dramatic transformation into the Missouri mother turned murderer. (6 episodes, 2022) Series Art Direction by Kirby Feagan . Katy Mixon is best known as April on Eastbound & Down. Poor Betsy. 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