It’s not often that fans of the true-crime genre (myself included!) are blessed with a TV series that isn’t in a documentary format.
Granted, the raw quality of a docuseries drives the point home that this was a real case that happened to real people – an important factor to keep in mind when talking about victims of true crime.
However, not everyone can handle the emotional intensity of a documentary and that’s when a scripted series is needed instead – where we can still learn about the events surrounding the case in a setting that may be a safer space for some.
NBC will be bringing one such scripted true-crime series to our screens on March 8th with their newest limited series crime drama The Thing About Pam.
The series was first revealed back in May 2020 alongside an announcement that NBC would be partnering with production company Blumhouse Television.
The Thing About Pam, borrowing its title after the podcast, will be based on information from NBC’s very own Dateline coverage of the case – of which they had devoted several episodes outside (on top of the podcast).
Clearly, the true-crime murder case covered in The Thing About Pam will have much to unpack over its six episodes. Here’s everything that we know so far!
Who’s in charge?
Liz Cole, the executive producer for Dateline and president of NBC News Studio, will also be executive producing The Thing About Pam.
Other executive producers include Mary Margaret Kunze, Carmella Casinelli, Noah Oppenheim, Jeremy Gold, Chris McCumber, and Jessika Borsizcky.
Scott Winant directed the first two episodes and also is an executive producer.
From Blumhouse Entertainment is, of course, Jason Blum as executive producer and Jenny Klein as executive producer, writer, and showrunner.
What’s the show about?
Cole had this to say about The Thing About Pam: “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.”
The case in question is the 2011 murder of Betsy Faria.
In most cases, it’s always easiest to point the finger at the husband. That’s exactly what happened here: Russ Faria was immediately suspected, arrested, and found guilty but his wrongful conviction is what leads us to the core of The Thing About Pam.
Pam was her close friend and the last to see her alive; despite her constantly changing story, how was she not considered a suspect? The limited series will dive into the story of Pam Hupp’s involvement with Betsy’s murder – a cross between “a whodunit and a character study”.
Who will we see on The Thing About Pam?
Pam Hupp will be played by Oscar-winning actress Renée Zellwegger, who is also producing the series.
Betsy Faria is to be played by Katy Mixon, and her husband Russ will be played by Glenn Fleshler.
Joining the cast are Josh Duhamel (as Russ’ attorney), Judy Greer, Gideon Adlon, Sean Bridgers, Suanne Spoke, and Mac Brandt. Additionally, Dateline journalist Keith Morrison will narrate the series.
The Thing About Pam premieres on Tuesday, March 08 at 10/9 central.