Here’s what we know about The Thing About Pam.
What is The Thing About Pam about?
The Thing About Pam is based on the brutal Dec. 27, 2011, murder of Betsy Faria, the Troy, Missouri police department’s sloppy investigation, the district attorney’s desire to get a conviction at all costs and Betsy’s husband Russ’ wrongful conviction. Thankfully, his conviction was later overturned. This brutal crime set off a chain of events that ultimately exposed a diabolical scheme deeply involving Pam Hupp.
Where is Troy, Missouri?
Troy, Missouri is a suburb of the greater St. Louis area. Troy is the county seat of Lincoln County, Missouri. In 2019, the population was 12,820.
Is The Thing About Pam based on a true story?
Yes! The Thing About Pam details the 2011 murder of Betsy Faria and Pam Hupp’s involvement in the stabbing.
Where is the real Pam Hupp now?
The real-life Pam Hupp is currently serving a life sentence for the 2016 murder of Louis Gumpenberger. Her testimony played a key role in the conviction of Russ Faria, who was exonerated in a second trial in 2015. In July 2021, Pam Hupp was charged with first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of Betsy Faria. Hupp has also been investigated for the death of her mother, Shirley Neumann.
Is The Thing About Pam based on a podcast?
The Thing About Pam is based on Dateline episodes covering the case as well as a 2019 podcast of the same name.
Who’s in The Thing About Pam cast?
Renee Zellweger (Pam Hupp)
This is Renee Zellweger’s first broadcast television role. In 2019, the four-time Academy Award nominee and two-time winner portrayed Anne Montgomery on Netflix’s What/If. Best known for roles in Bridget Jones’s Diary and Chicago, Zellweger apparently asked for the role. “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.’" executive producer Chris McCumber said at TCA panel.
Josh Duhamel (Joel Schwartz)
Josh Duhamel portrays Joel Schwartz, Russ Faria’s St. Louis-based defense attorney who doggedly followed the case years after the initial trial. Best known for his role on Las Vegas, Duhamel most recently appeared in the superhero series, Jupiter’s Legacy and rom-com, The Lost Husband, both on Netflix.
Judy Greer (Leah Askey)
Leah Askey was the county prosecutor who tried Russ Faria twice for the murder of his wife, Betsy Faria. The comedic actress is best known for her supporting roles in 13 Going On 30 and Ant-Man and for her voice work on Archer and Family Guy.
Katy Mixon (Betsy Faria)
Mixon was the lead in ABC’s American Housewife. She was a series regular on Mike & Molly and Eastbound & Down and has made guest appearances on Wilfred and Psych.
Glenn Fleshler (Russ Faria)
Faria was convicted of the murder of his wife, Betsy Faria, but the conviction was later overturned. Fleshler has had recurring roles on Barry, Billions, Boardwalk Empire, and Law & Order: SVU, playing multiple roles in the latter.
Sean Bridgers (Mark Hupp)
Mark is Pam’s husband. Bridgers has had guest spots on Justified, Hart of Dixie, and The Mentalist. He played Louis Darnell on the TV series, Get Shorty.
Keith Morrison (Narrator)
Canadian broadcast journalist and longtime Dateline correspondent Keith Morrison serves as the narrator for the series. Morrison is also the narrator for The Thing About Pam podcast. Fun fact: Morrison is the stepfather of Friends star Matthew Perry.
When does The Thing About Pam premiere?
The Thing About Pam premiered Tuesday, March 8 at 10 p.m. ET on NBC. New episodes premiere weekly at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesdays on NBC.
How many episodes are there about The Thing About Pam?
There are six episodes of The Thing About Pam.
Will there be a second season of The Thing About Pam?
Unfortunately, no. The Thing About Pam is a limited series. Next, The 30 Best True-Crime Documentaries