The Thing About Pam
The Thing About Pam is an American crime drama limited television series detailing the involvement of Pam Hupp in the 2011 murder of Betsy Faria. It stars Renée Zellweger, Josh Duhamel, Judy Greer, Gideon Adlon, Sean Bridgers, Suanne Spoke, Mac Brandt, Katy Mixon, and Glenn Fleshler. Jenny Klein serves as showrunner for the series.
The Thing About Pam | |
---|---|
![]() Title card | |
Genre | Crime drama |
Based on | "The Thing About Pam" Podcast and Dateline TV Episodes Concerning the Story of Pam Hupp |
Starring | |
Narrated by | Keith Morrison |
Composers | |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 6 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
|
Producers |
|
Cinematography | John Brawley |
Editors |
|
Running time | 43 minutes |
Production companies |
|
Release | |
Original network | NBC |
Original release | March 8 – April 12, 2022 |
After Peacock Productions was shut down, NBC News Studios was launched with the intention of creating documentary-style content. The series was announced in May 2020 when the company revealed a partnership with Blumhouse Television. It is based on coverage from Dateline NBC and is titled after a Dateline podcast of the same name. In February 2021, the series was given a six-episode order with Zellweger joining the cast and the production as an executive producer. Filming took place in New Orleans.
The Thing About Pam premiered on NBC on March 8, 2022. It received mixed reviews from critics. Though some praised Zellweger's performance as Hupp in her network television debut, others criticized the comedic tone used to convey the story of a real murder.
Premise
The scripted series is a detailing of the 2011 murder of Betsy Faria, which resulted in her husband Russ's conviction. When his conviction was overturned, the crime set off a chain of events that exposed a diabolical scheme deeply involving Pam Hupp.
Cast
Main
- Renée Zellweger as Pam Hupp, a self-appointed businesswoman arrested for the murder of Betsy Faria
- Josh Duhamel as Joel Schwartz, the defense attorney for Russ Faria
- Judy Greer as Leah Askey, the Lincoln County prosecutor who tried Russ Faria twice for his wife's murder
- Gideon Adlon as Mariah Day, Betsy and Russ's 17-year-old daughter
- Sean Bridgers as Mark Hupp, Pam Hupp's husband
- Suanne Spoke as Janet, Betsy's mother and Mariah's grandmother
- Mac Brandt as Detective McCarrick, a detective assigned to Betsy's murder case
- Katy Mixon as Betsy Faria, Russ's wife, Mariah Day's mother, and the murder victim
- Glenn Fleshler as Russ Faria, Betsy's husband and Mariah's father
Guest
- Patricia French as Minnie, Pam's neighbor
- Ben Chase as Nate Swanson, a defense attorney working with Joel
- Drew Scheid as Travis Hupp, the son of Pam and Mark
- Celia Weston as Shirley Neumann, Pam's mother
- Heather Magee as Chris Mennemeyer, the judge in Russ's trial
- Alice Barrett-Mitchell as Cathy Singer, a journalist and producer at Dateline
- Dane Davenport as Mike Wood, a candidate for Lincoln County prosecutor and Joel's friend
- Jeff Ryan Baker as Louis Gumpenberger, a Missouri resident who is shot and killed by Pam
Dateline journalist Keith Morrison provides the show's narration.[1]
Episodes
No. | Title | Directed by | Teleplay by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "She's a Good Friend" | Scott Winant | Jessika Borsiczky and Jenny Klein | March 8, 2022 | 2.86[2] | |
On December 27, 2011, in Troy, Missouri, cancer patient Betsy Faria was found murdered in her home. The police immediately suspected her husband, Russ. Self-appointed businesswoman Pam Hupp was the last person to see Betsy that night after insisting on driving her home. She made several alibis by strategically calling her husband, Mark, and Betsy's mother, Janet, a few hours before Betsy was discovered. While Russ tells the police that Pam was good friends with Betsy, Pam awkwardly tries to make them suspicious of Russ. Pam's account of dropping off Betsy at her home includes several contradictions. Pam tells Janet that the police are holding Russ at the station. | ||||||
2 | "She's a Helper" | Scott Winant | Jenny Klein | March 15, 2022 | 2.39[3] | |
Russ is interrogated and released from the station after 24 hours. Pam and Mark talk to detectives. Pam mentions that Betsy had planned to reveal something Russ did to her. Lincoln County prosecutor Leah Askey deems this probable cause; the police arrest Russ, who hires Joel Schwartz and Nate Swanson as his lawyers. An investigation ensues. Joel and Nate deduce that Betsy was strangled and then stabbed postmortem. Leah and Joel discover that days before she died, Betsy changed the sole beneficiary of her $150,000 life insurance policy from Russ to Pam; Leah perceives this as Russ's motive to kill while Joel sees it as Pam's. Pam agrees to testify in court. Joel learns that the trial judge, Chris Mennemeyer, went to high school with Leah. Detective McCarrick encourages Pam to put the insurance money in a trust for Faria's daughters. | ||||||
3 | "She's a Star Witness" | Logan Kibens | Kirk A. Moore | March 22, 2022 | 2.48[4] | |
Producer Cathy Singer decides to devote several episodes of Dateline NBC to a story about Betsy. Leah files several motions to preclude any evidence regarding Pam during the trial. Despite Joel's objections, Chris grants the motions. Mariah testifies in court and describes quarrels between Russ and Betsy. Leah's tactics make it difficult for Joel to defend Russ. The prosecution calls Pam to the stand. Joel points out the contradictions in Pam's story. He also motions an offer of proof to show Chris the insurance policy records. Chris, however, denies any attempts to question Pam about her story. Pam fakes a limp as she exits the courtroom. Mariah and her sister threaten to sue Pam if they do not receive the insurance money. After three days in court, Leah and Joel make their closing statements. While Leah tries to attack Russ's character, Joel talks only about existing evidence. Russ is found guilty of murder in the first degree and convicted with a life sentence without parole. Pam transfers the money in Mariah's trust to her personal checking account. | ||||||
4 | "She's a Loving Daughter" | Logan Kibens | Matt K. Turner | March 29, 2022 | 2.50[5] | |
Pam has a strained relationship with her mother. Shirley threatens to take her out of her will every time Pam makes a misstep, which infuriates her because she struggles with finances. After he spends three years in prison, there is an appeal to Russ's conviction. Dateline producers seek out Pam. Russ has his conviction overturned after Joel presents irrefutable evidence proving Russ's innocence. Pam's daughter and her husband attempt to get into the house flipping business but lose a house at an auction when Pam outbids them. Joel appears on Dateline. Desperate for more money, Pam visits her mother. When Shirley threatens to exclude her from her will for an additional time, Pam mixes something in her drink. Later, Shirley's dead body is found outside, apparently after sustaining a fall from her balcony. | ||||||
5 | "She's Not Who You Think She Is" | Adam Kane | Adam Lash & Cori Uchida | April 5, 2022 | 3.08[6] | |
In 2003, Pam and Mark moved from Florida to Missouri due to Pam's possible involvement in money laundering. In the present, Pam overhears a store clerk who believes she killed Betsy. Joel helps Mike Wood run against Leah for the position of Lincoln County prosecutor. As a result of Pam's infamy, Mark contemplates moving out of town with her and their son Travis. Pam criticizes Mark. Dateline dedicates several episodes to Pam's involvement in Betsy and Shirley's deaths. Mariah and her sister sue Pam because of the insurance money. Pam ends up winning the case. Pam, pretending to be Russ, writes Mariah a mean letter. As the Dateline episodes and Mike's campaign shine a light on Pam, the people of Troy, including her next-door neighbor Minnie, turn against her. Mariah moves out of town. Pam poisons Minnie with a cough drop. | ||||||
6 | "She's a Killer" | Adam Kane | Jenny Klein & Travis Sentell | April 12, 2022 | 2.92[7] | |
Pam picks up Louis Gumpenberger, a stranger with mental and physical disabilities. She gives him $1,000 to record soundbites at her house. She calls 9-1-1 and makes Louis blurt out a confession to Betsy's murder. Pam shoots and kills him with her gun, claiming self-defense over the phone, and plants false evidence in his pocket. As a result, Russ, who is in Florida, is forced to return to Troy, Missouri, to speak to the police. Pam is arrested for the murder. In the police station, Pam goes to the bathroom and uses a ballpoint pen to stab her neck in a suicide attempt. Pam pleads guilty and is sentenced to life in prison. An epilogue says Mark divorced Pam; Mariah returned to Missouri and had two children; Russ became engaged but has not talked to his daughters; Mike won his election against Leah and reopened Betsy's murder case in 2019; Leah was investigated for prosecutorial misconduct; Joel and Nate are still working together; Shirley's death is under investigation; Louis's family did not see a trial for his murder; and the police brought charges against Pam in 2021. In prison, Pam watches the show and declares that they "got it all wrong." |
Production
Development
On January 10, 2020, NBC announced its plans to shut down the unscripted production unit Peacock Productions. Variety reported that the decision was sparked by the rise of streaming services and a necessity for "higher-quality productions". In a statement, NBC said the company was "shifting its documentary strategy to an entirely new model" that would be "consistent with industry trends".[8] Two weeks later, on January 23, NBC News Studios was launched. Liz Cole, executive producer of Dateline NBC and the then-president of Peacock Productions, announced she would also serve as president of the new company. The studio's intent is to produce documentaries, docu-series, select scripted programming, and content for emerging platforms. At the time of its announcement, NBC News Studios had already struck partnerships with Focus Features and Blumhouse Television, with the latter revealing they were in negotiations to develop and produce scripted programs based on stories told on Dateline. In a statement, Cole said "the documentary business is certainly more robust than it ever has been. More and more people are seeking out that content".[9]
On May 19, 2020, it was reported that NBC News Studios and Blumhouse Television were developing an untitled scripted television series based on coverage from Dateline about the involvement of Pam Hupp in the murder of Betsy Faria as well as the sentencing and release of her husband Russ Faria. Since 2014, Dateline had devoted several episodes to the story and created a podcast centered around the case in 2019 titled "The Thing About Pam". 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". In addition to the series announcement, it was revealed Cole would executive produce alongside Jason Blum, Marci Wiseman, and Jeremy Gold.[10]
Casting
.jpg.webp)
The limited series was given a six-episode order and titled The Thing About Pam on February 4, 2021, with Renée Zellweger joining the cast to portray Hupp in her network television debut and attaching herself as an executive producer through her production company Big Picture Co. It was also reported NBCUniversal Chairman of Entertainment Content Susan Rovner would oversee the series and that Jessika Borsiczky would write and serve as showrunner. In a statement, Borsiczky said the murder case she was adapting could be interpreted as both a whodunit and a character study. Additional executive producers included Carmella Casinelli, Borsiczky, Noah Oppenheim, and Chris McCumber.[11] In May 2021, Jenny Klein signed a one-year first-look deal with Blumhouse Television and joined The Thing About Pam as a writer and executive producer.[12]
Marci Wiseman, following her resignation as Co-President of Blumhouse Television in October 2020, was later removed as an executive producer for the series.[13] In June 2021, Josh Duhamel was added to the cast with Mary Margaret Kunze joining as an executive producer.[14] By August 2021, The Thing About Pam was in the final stages of pre-production with casting still underway in New Orleans. On August 24, it was announced Borsiczky had exited the series as writer and showrunner due to creative differences but that she would remain an executive producer for the time being; Klein was appointed as the new showrunner.[15] On August 27, it was reported that pre-production would be suspended for some time due to Hurricane Ida with a filming start date set for early September.[16] On August 30, Judy Greer and Katy Mixon joined the cast.[17] On September 24, Gideon Adlon, Sean Bridgers, Glenn Fleshler, Suanne Spoke, and Mac Brandt were added to the cast.[18]
Filming
On September 28, 2021, Scott Winant was announced to be directing the first two episodes as well as executive producing. Filming was postponed until October 1, 2021.[19] At the second annual BlumFest in October, Zellweger spoke with Dateline correspondent Keith Morrison about portraying Hupp, "Truth is stranger than fiction. She's notorious, not famous. It won't be the same as coming to understanding a person's life experiences within context. [I am] going to be researching and trying to understand just based on the limited information that's available. I'm going to play the person that you sort of illuminated in your podcast and try to understand what makes a person like that tick".[20] Throughout October, Zellweger was photographed wearing face and body prosthetics to portray Hupp.[21][22] Filming took place in New Orleans and Hammond, Louisiana.[23]
Makeup artist Arjen Tuiten said it took eighty minutes to apply prosthetics on Zellweger. "It was Arjen who did all of the work. Arjen and Benadryl. I'm allergic to adhesives, and so there was a lot of comedy in the preparation," the actress remarked.[24] Hair department head Lawrence Davis and makeup department head Carla Brenholtz said they added light touches to prosecutor Leah Askey (played by Greer), based on a look anchored in Troy, Missouri.[25] In an interview with Vanity Fair, Zellweger revealed Morrison's role as the show's narrator and said her physical transformation was "pretty much head to toe".[1] When asked why they did not cast an actress with a closer resemblance of 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.' And our job at that point is to provide Renee and the rest of the cast with all the tools they need to embody these characters."[26]
Music
The score was composed by Giona Ostinelli and Sonya Belousova.[27] The theme implemented the use of an English horn, a prepared piano with coins between the strings, a harmonica, "ka-ching" sounds, a custom-made Italian instrument combining a waterphone and daxophone, and the sound of someone slurping. The slurping effect, which the duo came up with before filming began, was also used in the sound design.[28]
Release
In November 2021, the series was given a premiere date for March 8, 2022.[29] First-look images and a trailer were released in early February.[30] Upon the release of the trailer, Zellweger's use of prosthetics and a padded suit were criticized online; Libby Hall from IndieWire called it an example of fatphobia.[31]
The series held a premiere in Los Angeles on February 28, 2022.[32][33]
Reception
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 43% of 23 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.0/10. The website's consensus reads, "Renée Zellweger is visibly having fun, but The Thing About Pam's glossy take on a true crime is neither as entertaining or insightful as it aims to be."[34] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 58 out of 100 based on 16 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[35]
Zellweger's performance divided critics. Kimberly Potts of TheWrap said it appeared Zellweger was "thoroughly enjoying her time" as Hupp.[36] John Doyle of The Globe and Mail said the actress "brings an equal amount of vinegary exuberance to the work."[37] IndieWire's Ben Travers, on the other hand, called her performance "exaggerated".[38] From Vulture, Roxana Hadadi said "Zellweger is simultaneously broadly cartoonish and blandly nonspecific. She squints so much that her eyes lose whatever interiority they might have reflected; there is no real difference between her smile or her frown."[39] Variety's Daniel D'Addario criticized the "uncanny" prosthetics and the appearance of a Dateline producer as a character, writing, "It'd be a shame if Zellweger's first acting gig after her Oscar-boosted return to Hollywood were, ultimately, little more than NBC cross-promotion."[40]
The show's comedic tone was criticized. Brian Lowry at CNN called it a failed attempt to be "the next Fargo".[41] 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."[42] Ciara Wardlow, writing for RogerEbert.com, categorized it as "a watchable if often underwhelming true crime docudrama that wants to both be weird and play it safe, ending up in a strange middle ground between the two."[43] In a more positive review, The A.V. Club's Gwen Ihnat said "The Thing About Pam does an impressive job of translating an addictive tale to the small screen."[44]
Ratings
The premiere episode increased its viewership by 205% after seven days, from 2.9 million viewers when it aired to 8.7 million viewers after a week with delayed viewing across linear and DVR, as well as Hulu, NBC.com, the NBC app, and Peacock.[45] By the end of its run on April 12, 2022, The Thing About Pam had become NBC's highest-rated freshman series of the 2021–2022 television season. It also had a positive impact on Dateline, especially on the viewership of the episodes about Hupp that inspired the series.[46]
No. | Title | Air date | Rating (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | DVR (18–49) | DVR viewers (millions) | Total (18–49) | Total viewers (millions) | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "She's a Good Friend" | March 8, 2022 | 0.40 | 2.86 | 0.18 | 1.67 | 0.58 | 4.54 | [2] |
2 | "She's a Helper" | March 15, 2022 | 0.31 | 2.39 | 0.15 | 1.59 | 0.46 | 3.98 | [3] |
3 | "She's a Star Witness" | March 22, 2022 | 0.35 | 2.48 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | [4] |
4 | "She's a Loving Daughter" | March 29, 2022 | 0.31 | 2.50 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | [5] |
5 | "She's Not Who You Think She Is" | April 5, 2022 | 0.35 | 3.08 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | [6] |
6 | "She's a Killer" | April 12, 2022 | 0.34 | 2.92 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | [7] |
References
- Breznican, Anthony (February 2, 2022). "Renée Zellweger Is Unrecognizable as a Midwestern Murdering Mom". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- Berman, Marc (March 9, 2022). "Tuesday Ratings: Quiet Launch for The Thing About Pam on NBC; ABC and CBS Share Dominance". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
- Berman, Marc (March 16, 2022). "Tuesday Ratings: Sluggish Returns for NBC Comedies Young Rock and Mr. Mayor". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
- Metcalf, Mitch (March 23, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Tuesday 3.22.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
- Metcalf, Mitch (March 30, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Tuesday 3.29.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
- Metcalf, Mitch (April 6, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Tuesday 4.5.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
- Metcalf, Mitch (April 13, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Tuesday 4.12.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
- Steinberg, Brian (January 10, 2020). "NBC News Will Shut Down Peacock Productions (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- Steinberg, Brian (January 23, 2020). "NBC News Launches Documentary Studio for Streaming-Video Era (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- Steinberg, Brian (May 19, 2020). "NBC News, Blumhouse Set Scripted Series Based on Dateline Story (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- Andreeva, Nellie (February 4, 2021). "Renée Zellweger To Star In NBC True-Crime Limited Series The Thing About Pam From Blumhouse". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- White, Peter (May 4, 2021). "The Witcher Writer Jenny Klein Strikes First-Look Deal With Blumhouse TV, Boards The Thing About Pam". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- Andreeva, Nellie (October 2, 2020). "Marci Wiseman Exits As Co-President Of Blumhouse Television". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- Andreeva, Nellie (August 20, 2021). "Josh Duhamel Joins Renée Zellweger In NBC Limited Series The Thing About Pam". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- Andreeva, Nellie (August 24, 2021). "The Thing About Pam: Jenny Klein Named Showrunner Of NBC Limited Series As Jessika Borsicsky Exits". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- Andreeva, Nellie (August 27, 2021). "The Thing About Pam Pauses Pre-Production In New Orleans As Hurricane Ida Looms". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- Petski, Denise (August 30, 2021). "The Thing About Pam: Judy Greer & Katy Mixon Join NBC Limited Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- Andreeva, Nellie (September 24, 2021). "The Thing About Pam: Gideon Adlon, Sean Bridgers & Glenn Fleshler Among 5 Cast Additions To NBC Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- White, Peter (September 28, 2021). "The Thing About Pam: Scott Winant To Direct First Two Episodes Of NBC Drama". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- Malec, Brett (October 1, 2021). "How Renée Zellweger Is Preparing to Play 'Diabolical' Killer Pam Hupp in New True Crime TV Series". E! Online. Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- Willeke, Becky (October 6, 2021). "Renee Zellweger spotted in 'fat suit' playing Pam Hupp in true-crime series". KTVI. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- Garner, Glenn (October 15, 2021). "Renée Zellweger Is Unrecognizable as Convicted Killer Pam Hupp on Set of The Thing About Pam". People. Archived from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- Scheidt, Michael (October 29, 2021). "NBC Limited Series filming less than one hour from Baton Rouge". WVLA-TV. Archived from the original on November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- Scott, Walter (March 4, 2022). "Renée Zellweger on Bringing Murderer Pam Hupp To Life, Why We Love True Crime and How She Physically Prepared for the Role". Parade. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- Tangcay, Jazz (March 3, 2022). "The Thing About Pam Makeup and Hair Team Detail Renee Zellweger's 80-Minute Prosthetics Application And More". Variety. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
- Knolle, Sharon (February 11, 2022). "The Thing About Pam Producers Defend Putting Renée Zellweger in a Fat Suit to Play Pam Hupp". TheWrap. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- "Sonya Belousova & Giona Ostinelli Scoring NBC's The Thing About Pam". Film Music Reporter. February 3, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
- Burlingame, Jon (March 23, 2022). "Why Renée Zellweger Drinking a Slurpee Was Integral to The Thing About Pam's Score". Variety. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
- Pedersen, Erik (November 12, 2021). "NBC Midseason Premiere Dates: This Is Us Final Season, Law & Order Thursdays, Kenan On Mondays". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- Grobar, Matt (February 3, 2022). "The Thing About Pam Promo, First-Look Photos: Renée Zellweger Transforms Into Murderer Pam Hupp In NBC Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- Hill, Libby (February 3, 2022). "Why Can't We Cast Actual Fat Actresses to Play Fat Roles? — Opinion". IndieWire. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- Khalifeh, Mona (March 1, 2022). "Renée Zellweger Recalls Seeing Her Thing About Pam Transformation for the First Time (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
- Chuba, Kirsten (March 1, 2022). "The Thing About Pam Team on Renee Zellweger's Transformation, Current Crime Show Wave". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
- "The Thing About Pam". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- "The Thing About Pam: Season 1". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- Potts, Kimberly (March 8, 2022). "The Thing About Pam Review: Renée Zellweger Gives Killer Performance in NBC True-Crime Series". TheWrap. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- Doyle, John (March 7, 2022). "The Thing About Pam: Making fun of murderous women". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- Travers, Ben (March 7, 2022). "The Thing About Pam Review: Renée Zellweger's True-Crime Cartoon". IndieWire. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- Hadadi, Roxana (March 8, 2022). "Renée Zellweger Makes The Thing About Pam Inexplicable". Vulture. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- D'Addario, Daniel (March 7, 2022). "Renée Zellweger's The Thing About Pam Is a Crime Story Without Pop: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- Lowry, Brian (March 8, 2022). "The Thing About Pam dresses up Renée Zellweger for an odd Dateline drama". CNN. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- Mathews, Liam (March 7, 2022). "The Thing About Pam Review: Renée Zellweger Is Entertainingly Evil in Uneven True Crime Limited Series". TVGuide. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- Wardlow, Ciara (March 8, 2022). "NBC's The Thing About Pam Should Have Been a Feature Film". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- Ihnat, Gwen (March 8, 2022). "Impressive performances steer the twisty true-crime story of The Thing About Pam". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- Maas, Jennifer (March 21, 2022). "The Thing About Pam Premiere Ratings Jump Nearly 400% With a Week of Delayed Viewing (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
- Del Rosario, Alexandra (April 27, 2022). "The Thing About Pam Marks NBC's Top Newcomer, Gives Dateline's Pam Hupp Episode Boost". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 27, 2022.