‘The Thing About Pam’ Star Renée Zellweger Says It Was ‘Important to Introduce Levity’ to the True-Crime Series
variety.comMichael Appler Renée Zellweger and showrunner Jenny Klein gathered on Monday at the chic Whitby Hotel in New York City to fete the release of their NBC series “The Thing About Pam.”In “The Thing About Pam,” a limited series based on the viral “Dateline” episode and true crime podcast of the same name, Zellweger plays Pam Hupp, a sadistic, yet unassuming Missouri woman who was charged with the murder of her best friend Betsy after framing Betsy’s husband.
But the real Hupp looks nothing like the two-time Oscar winner. When photos of the star’s unrecognizable transformation first surfaced last year, Zellweger, who served as executive producer, met backlash for the use of a “fat suit.” But the subject of Zellweger’s transformation — arguably the foundation of “The Thing About Pam’s” comedic rhythm — barely surfaced Monday evening.“Is Pam a difficult character to let go?
On the last day, are you ready to go your separate ways?” the screening moderator, Josh Horowitz, asked.“Yea, I was done,” Zellweger said, laughing. “It was just itchy.
It was a very itchy project.”“Equal parts true crime, “Dateline” spoof and off-kilter character comedy, “The Thing About Pam” isn’t camp, since it’s all too aware of its own satire.
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