‘Pam & Tommy’ on Hulu: Sebastian Stan and Jason Mantzoukas Make that Tommy Lee Penis Scene Work

Everything about Hulu’s Pam & Tommy is wild, from the real life horror story behind the show to the gorgeous performances. However one scene in Pam & Tommy Episode 2 “I Love You, Tommy” might stick with you the longest. I am, of course, talking about the moment where Tommy Lee (Sebastian Stan) has an intense “heart to heart” with his penis, voice by Jason Mantzoukas.

About halfway through Pam & Tommy Episode 2, Tommy Lee reveals he thinks Pamela Anderson (Lily James) is “the one.” Even though his divorce with Heather Locklear just went through and although he’s only known Pam a few days, he’s in love. Tommy’s penis is not convinced. He tries to talk “sense” into the rock star, noting that if they commit to Pam, they will miss out on the chance to sleep with other contemporary sex symbols like Jenny McCarthy and Denise Richards. Tommy doesn’t care. All this is treated seriously with a prosthetic penis puppet arguing with the naked Tommy.

It’s an absurd scene that only works because of the work that Sebastian Stan does and the added oomph Jason Mantzoukas’s voice acting lends it.

Pam & Tommy executive producer and the episode’s director Craig Gillespie told Decider that although it was “common knowledge” that Tommy talked with his penis, he “honestly didn’t really consider” being able to pull it off without Sebastian Stan.

“I think he’s such an amazing actor that he can pull off a scene that is that tricky. [He] still keeps you emotionally invested in the absurdity of what’s going on. And under all of it, there’s real sincerity to it and love. And you feel how committed he is to Pamela in this absurd situation,” Gillespie said. “I wouldn’t have considered it if it weren’t for Sebastian. I felt with him we would be able to keep the audience engaged.”

Gillespie added that the production team was keen that the scene “like it was just really conversational and two guys that can really have a heart to heart and argue.” Gillespie said they needed an actor to voice Tommy’s penis who could “walk that tone and Jason I thought did a good job with that.” Enter Jason Mantzoukas.

Mantzoukas might be almost too perfect to play the voice of Tommy Lee’s penis. The comic and actor is best-known for playing manic, dirtbag characters in projects like Big Mouth and The League. Mantzoukas is also a Greek-American actor which adds a fun layer considering how much the show’s Tommy Lee rails on about his Greek heritage.

The scene might be based on reality, but it could have been ludicrous without the performances of Stan and Mantzoukas anchoring it emotionally. Which is honestly a good way to sum up the charms of Hulu’s Pam & Tommy.

Where to stream Pam & Tommy