The Thing About Pam

I love it. Huge Dateline fan. Contra the "top review", I think it's an inspired telling. I was surprised by Keith Morrison's narration but it's a bold move that works better than it should. It does an effective job of creating a hybrid of the Dateline roots and a dramatic re-telling. That reviewer wanted a "traditional drama" - this is bolder than that. It's a prestige re-enactment. For me, the dark humor and the slight camp are a perfect fit for the story. Some people may find it offensive. That's fine, but likely hypocritical unless you are personally affected by this case. There is so much entertainment filled with senseless death and violence, I think it's odd to criticize a show that is at least showing sympathetic victims and the utter immorality of a sociopath - even if with a darkly humorous take. RZ is fantastic. Duhamel gives the best performance I've ever seen him give in anything. Judy Greer is fantastic in everything she does, no surprise she is here too. Familiar with the story, not necessarily a fan of RZ, I put off watching the first episode. It far exceeded expectations - currently quite underrated with a 6.1 IMDB rating. I know the story very well and am still very eager for the next episode.

Pam Hupp could be anyone from anywhere. In this Dateline'esque style show about a terrible true crime, it examines the horrible woman at the center of it, Pam Hupp. What it also does is expose the other people who need exposing ... the inept investigators and prosecutor. Talk about misconduct! Wow! The retelling brings to light how tragically Betsy's children lives were shattered not just by Pam but by all those who were involved from the start. Betsy's husband, Russell, was another victim to Pam. And he wasn't the last. Understanding how wrong a case can go from the very start can hopefully help someone else from having the same thing happen to them ... because Pam Hupps exist, whether it be LA, California or a small town in Missouri. And while this is entertaining and may feel like it makes light of Betsy's murder, it very much takes the truth and justice of it quite seriously. Having seen videos of the real Pam Hupp, I have to give it up to Renee on capturing her accent and mannerisms. The supporting cast does a wonderful job, too!

WTF? Were NBC and HULU on a break from decency and morality when it decided making and airing this piece of GARBAGE would be a good idea? Betsy Faria was a human being (with a LOVING FAMILY), who was BRUTALLY murdered by a SOCIOPATH (PAM HUPP) for financial gain. AND then this SOCIOPATH/murderer SHOT and KILLED mentally challenged, Louis Gumpenberger in order to frame him and cover up her crimes. Oh and here's some more "comedy for NBC", Hupp probably killed her OWN mother, by pushing her from a 3rd floor balcony, for money too. So on top of her 3 murders, Hupp was also instrumental in aiding in the conviction of Russ Faria, AN INNOCENT MAN convicted of murdering his wife Betsy. He spent 3 years in prison for the murder HUPP committed. SO NBC thought, "Hey let's put Oscar winner Zellwegger, the notorious ANOREXIC, Ooh yeah, that's right she has a fast metabolism...yep... in a FAT SUIT let her embarrass herself with her overacting. Oh and let's make it even worse by having her use the wrong dialect to insure she is even MORE cringe worthy to watch. Since obviously, making a comedy out of two possibly three murders, and putting a rail thin actor in a FAT SUIT isn't OFFENSIVE ENOUGH, let's make a sarcastic COMEDY out of COLD BLOODED MURDER. Won't the be a hoot?" No NBC it actually isn't a hoot. And for those who say we "didn't know her, why get so upset" BECAUSE these are HUMAN BEINGS who were murdered. EVERYONE should care and BE UPSET. Have we lost our minds thinking this is "no big deal" WTF?? And the sarcastic, tongue in cheek narration is disrespectful and ABSURD. It is sad and a terrible commentary on how our society is devolving into a narcissistic, uncaring, anything-for-a-BUCK travesty. "Good on you NBC/HULU," for contributing to the despicable PERVERSE insanity, anything for RATINGS and MONEY, eh?