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A14 PEOPLE & ARTS
Thursday 2 February 2023
Pamela Anderson captivatingly tells her own story

By LINDSEY BAHR was even fun.
AP Film Writer There is a breeziness to
Pamela Anderson was al- Anderson, who, despite
ways a bit of an open book everything, does not think
in interviews. No one ever of herself as a victim. She
told her not to be, or that doesn’t regret marrying
because she talked about Tommy Lee after four days
some things that she didn’t of knowing him — her ac-
have to talk about every- count of the quick court-
thing. She didn’t know that ship is quite amusing. At a
she could draw her own certain point, though sick
line in the sand if a question of always having to talk
made her feel uncomfort- about her breasts, she used
able. her image for a cause she
And so she answered all cared about: PETA. She
manner of questions about even sat through a roast
her breasts, her body, her under the condition that a
image, her boyfriends par- sizable donation be made
tially because she was gra- This image released by Netflix shows Pamela Anderson in a scene from the documentary “Pamela, to the organization. She is
cious and self-deprecating, A Love Story.” a hopeful romantic who is
partially because her body Associated Press hard not to root for.
was, in some ways, her seemed all that horrified on way. She is still that open molested her for years. At She has made peace with
meal ticket and partially her behalf. They couldn’t book, disarmingly funny age 12 she was raped by many, many things, some
because the people asking even fake it when speaking and candid and uncyni- a 25-year-old. She learned simply by refusing to dwell,
these questions were more to her. cal, sitting there beautifully early to leave her body but one thing that still stings
often than not respected She wasn’t a person; She makeup free, letting the and make her own little is the tape such a clear
journalists working for re- was just an object. And filmmakers and audience world, she says, and she violation of her privacy that
spected outlets. then, in some ways, it was peer into her soul through knew from a young age you wonder what sort of
From the moment that au- done all over again many many pages of journals go- that she had to get off of culture and legal system
dience camera zoomed in years later when the Hulu ing back to her childhood. that island. would allow it to get as out
on her in the Labatt T-shirt series “Pam & Tommy” was It is a captivating watch, Like many women before of control as it did.
at a Canadian football made without her involve- especially for those who and after her, Anderson That a series would attempt
game in 1989, the image ment or consent. never thought much about didn’t feel beautiful grow- to make entertainment
of Pamela Anderson was, “ Pamela, a Love Story,” her at all. ing up and after the sexual out of it just reopened old
essentially, no longer her a new documentary from Anderson’s life was and is trauma, her body was a wounds and traumas. Even
own. It belonged to every- filmmaker Ryan White, gives immensely complex. Her source of secret shame. if it was done out of some
one else. Anderson the chance to parents’ relationship was Ironic that it was her body altruistic motive to reframe
By the time private home tell her story her own way, volatile and sometimes vio- that would be her ticket the recent past, for Ander-
videos showing her and from her earliest days to her lent. They lived on welfare out, ultimately. But model- son, it was another group of
husband Tommy Lee hav- Playboy debut, her “Bay- for a time and she still re- ing felt like playing a char- people making money off
ing sex were stolen, re- watch” fame, her many members the taste of the acter, she said. Even when of, what her son calls, the
produced and distributed marriages and up through powdered milk. She had mostly nude, it didn’t feel worst thing that’s ever hap-
for sale globally, no one her recent run on Board- a female babysitter who like herself. Sometimes it pened to her. q

Dr. Phil’ talk show to end daytime TV

run after 21 years

‘NEW YORK (AP) — Day- addiction and marriage to won’t be made, the show
time television psychologist mental wellness and raising won’t disappear from TV.
“Dr. Phil” McGraw says he children,” McGraw said in CBS Media Ventures, which
plans to end his talk show a statement. syndicates his program,
after 21 years in the com- “This has been an incred- said it will offer stations a
ing months, but viewers ible chapter of my life and package of reruns with oc-
haven’t seen the last of career, but while I’m mov- casional new wraparound
him. ing on from daytime, there content for future seasons.
“Dr. Phil” was the most is so much more I wish to That’s a cost-saving path
prominent spinoff from do.” blazed by “Judge Judy,”
Oprah Winfrey’s show, The traditional broadcast which aired its last original
which once dominated TV season ends in spring; show in June 2021 but con-
daytime TV. The Texan’s there was no date given for tinues to be popular in re-
program debuted in Sep- Phil’s final show. runs.
tember 2002 after he’d McGraw, 72, said he wants “We plan to be in the ‘Dr.
been featured as a regular to focus on prime-time pro- Phil’ business with the library
guest on Winfrey’s. gramming and is planning for years to come and wel-
Robin McGraw, left, and Dr. Phil McGraw arrive at the 50th “With this show, we have an unspecified project for come opportunities to work
annual Academy of Country Music Awards at AT&T Stadium on helped thousands of guest early next year. together in the future,” said
Sunday, April 19, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. and millions of viewers In the meantime, while Steve LoCascio, president
Associated Press through everything from new “Dr. Phil” episodes of CBS Media Ventures.q