Episode 5 of “Pam & Tommy,” titled “Uncle Jim and Aunt Susie in Duluth,” follows the rapid and inevitable airing of the tape’s infamous leak from the titular couple’s residence. Pamela faces an increasingly bleak outcome to the whole affair and, despite her best efforts to remain optimistic, feels powerless to contain the private recording. This is the turning point where the video goes from underground novelty to national media coverage, portrayed in all its nostalgic 1990s glory.
A few new characters enter the scene, and we even catch a glimpse of a stoic Hugh Hefner. There’s a lot to unpack in Episode 5 of “Pam & Tommy,” as it looks like things will never be the same for everyone involved. Let’s take a closer look. FRONT SPOILERS.
Pam and Tommy episode 5 recap
The episode opens with the titular couple in the throes of a recent tragedy. The drama unfolds at a media event shortly after, as Tommy struggles after someone brings up the sex tape. This is the first of many instances in the episode where Pamela and Tommy grow increasingly bewildered by the number of people who watched their private recording. The fight at the event gets press coverage, which makes Tommy, and by extension Pamela, even more newsworthy.
Meanwhile, Tommy is going through his own crises and doesn’t seem to grasp how serious the situation is. His frustrations grow when he discovers that the Mötley Crüe have been ousted from the biggest recording studio and replaced by a younger group. Finally, the bombshell drops when the pair are informed that Penthouse, an adult magazine, has a copy of the tape and plans to publish stills from it. Again trying to “deal with” the situation, Tommy decides to sue the publication.
End of episode 5 of Pam & Tommy: what is in the court order that Pamela receives?
In a meeting with the lawyers, surrounded by a roomful of men, Pamela’s reasoning that a lawsuit will make the tape better known is quickly suppressed. Sure enough, every major publication is soon running a story about the case and, by extension, the not-so-private video. The actress feels frustrated and helpless as her publicist informs her that the lawsuit was the wrong decision.
Tommy continues to claim he did the right thing, but is silenced shortly after when they overhear a late-night talk show host (a startling portrayal of Jay Leno) joking about the bandaged. From then on, the break between the couple grew. Finally, the episode ends when Pamela receives a confusing court order summoning her.
The court order Pamela receives is a subpoena, reportedly for the lawsuit the titular couple launched on Penthouse Magazine. What turns out to be confusing (but also predictable in a very shady way) is that only Pamela was called in to give an oral deposition. When she asks Tommy why he’s not being called as well, the rockstar shrugs and fumes that the plaintiffs shouldn’t be called in the first place. However, that doesn’t change the fact that Pamela, on top of the humiliation she already faces, including being called out on the Jay Leno show, now faces the prospect of speaking out about her private life in front of a panel of strangers.
It seems like every step the couple takes puts them in a worse situation. Things go particularly badly for Pamela as she finds herself alone in the eye of the storm. Despite the wise advice of her publicity consultant, the situation continues to spin out of control. The fact that Tommy doesn’t seem to help, or even understand what Pamela is going through, further frustrates the actress. With the upcoming deposition, it looks like things will only get even more public.
Who is threatening to post images of the sex tape? Are the images published?
The whole affair really breaks out and becomes public knowledge when Tommy files a lawsuit against Penthouse Magazine, resulting in widespread media coverage of the now “juicy” story. The lawsuit follows the adult magazine’s promise to publish stills from the couple’s private recording, which constitutes a violation of personal property, according to Tommy’s attorneys.
Of course, the head of Penthouse Magazine, Bob Guccione, has nothing to do with it and affirms loud and clear that he will not see his freedom of expression restricted. From the summons Pamela receives at the end of the episode, it appears that Bob is fighting the case. Since there appears to be a temporary injunction on the images, it appears that Penthouse Magazine has yet to publish them.
However, this could all change depending on how the legalities play out. Of course, it doesn’t slow down the underground streaming of the video either. In fact, the whole affair getting national media coverage probably made the infamous recording more popular than ever.
Where are Rand and Uncle Miltie?
Rand and Uncle Miltie remain conspicuously absent throughout the episode, and we don’t hear that much mention of their names. It seems that Tommy’s private investigator and his bullying biker friends actually scared off the two men responsible for originally leaking and spreading the tape. Of course, scaring Rand and Uncle Miltie into hiding doesn’t slow the spread either since the recording is in the hands of countless smugglers. Pam and her publicist also find links to online video, a concept hitherto foreign to the early Internet age.
Rand’s last known location is at his ex-wife Erica’s house, where he is apparently hiding with the last of the recorded tapes that have yet to be sold (or shipped). Uncle Miltie has a more extravagant plan and is last seen on a flight to Amsterdam. It is unclear whether he plans to return.
Read more: How accurate are Pam and Tommy?
