James, meanwhile, also revealed to Porter that she had attempted to make contact. “I was very hopeful that we would be in touch right up until we started filming… My sole intention was to take care of the story and to play Pamela authentically.”

It’s a bold claim, of course, to try to reframe the narrative by making a show about the scandal, especially when Anderson’s permission is missing. But the first three episodes of Pam & Tommy actually do succeed in portraying Anderson in a nuanced, sympathetic light.

While the first episode is dedicated to the backstory of Gauthier and how he plotted revenge against his celebrity client, the second episode, I Love You Tommy, really makes you warm to Anderson, thanks in large part to James’ outstanding performance. After meeting Lee by chance at an LA club, we learn that Anderson is obsessively pursued by the rockstar to Cancun, Mexico, where she is attending a press conference for Baywatch. There, the pair attend a series of wild parties, fall head over heels in love, and orchestrate a shotgun wedding on the beach. Despite the very public love affair, though, it’s clear that Anderson is actually an intensely private person. She has a close circle of friends, serious aspirations for her acting career, and a soft spot for Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals.

Pam & Tommy: Disney’s raucous new drama will make you think twice about the stolen sex tape saga