Cult Classic Corner! Jack Gets Caught In Some Barb Wire When He Meets The Titular Star Ms. Pamela Anderson! 1990’s Superhero Goodness!

This is just one reason why I love Jack’s Cult Classic Corner, I would never have put Barb Wire in that category. However, when I look at it, it totally fits. Funny enough, when I was four apples high, my parents and I visited Hollywood living in Los Angeles and they had just taken down the Barb Wire sets as we were touring one of the backlots. What bizarre memories get stuck in your head. LOL…

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Certain celebrities are known more for their figure rather than their body of work. Whether it’s a femme fatale or a pinup, these ladies are usually larger than life characters and Pamela Anderson is one such beauty. In the 1990s, almost everyone had a crush on Pam at one point or another. Her on again, off again relationships with musicians like Kid Rock, Brett Michaels and Tommy Lee through the years are just as infamous as her bouncing on Baywatch and a certain video. However, there are two projects that truly stand out in her filmography for me, “Stripperella” and “Barb Wire.”

Created by Stan Lee, the short-lived “Stripperella” aired on Spike TV (in its early years) and told the story of Erotica Jones, an exotic dancer who fought crime. Just imagine a more adult version of Batman, but with a stripper fighting crimes. However, it was her role in “Barb Wire” that won my heart. In her first starring role, Pam was billed for the first and only time as Pamela Anderson Lee in “Barb Wire,” an adaptation of the Dark Horse comic book. Pam stars as the titular mercenary/bounty hunter Barb Wire, who also owns the popular nightclub The Hammerhead set against the backdrop of the Second American Civil War. Steel Harbor is the “The last free city” in the United States and everyone, especially Barb, has to make difficult decisions to survive in the year 2017.

One night, The Hammerhead is raided by the chief of police for a fugitive, Cora D, who is trying to flee the United State with information for a bioweapon. Cora later arrives at the Hammerhead with freedom fighter/husband Axel and he asks his former flame, Barb, for help to escort them to Canada. In order to pass through the airport undetected, they need to obtain contraband contact lenses for Cora and need to call in some big favors. However, at what price will Barb help out?

After re-watching the film recently I couldn’t help, but laugh what a blatant Casablanca rip-off the film turned out to be. Still, it’s one of those cheesy comic book adaptations you can’t help, but love. This Razzie winning film is cheesy cult classic cinema at its finest. When you have a chance, re-watch some of the early 90s comic book adaptations and tell me they aren’t TV movie worthy. Despite the abundant flaws, “Barb Wire” is a film I will always cherish. Around the early 2000s I stumbled across a gorgeous glossy chrome “Barb Wire” 22 x30 film poster and picked it up for purely sentimental reasons. Heck, I even fantasized about meeting Pam one day and getting her to sign it.

A few years later I got my wish to meet the Baywatch Bombshell. Back in November 2006, I received my opportunity after receiving a notification from Virgin Megastore that Pamela Anderson would be doing a signing at their Hollywood Blvd location (Remember the Virgin Megastores and the two stores located in Hollywood? Gosh I miss those stores).

(Editor’s Note: I miss the Virgin Megastore! I met so many awesome people there and there were so many awesome events they had… Sigh… Grrrr… M-)

Pam was out promoting the DVD release of “Baywatch” Season 1 and 2, a show I had never even watched (fully, but then again who has?) and immediately bought both seasons. Thanks to a Best Buy rewards coupon I also picked up an extra copy of Season 2 (since Pam was on the cover) for $10. The event was a few weeks away, but I wanted to be prepared for the big day with my DVDs and wristband. 



When the day approached I also brought along my copies of “Barb Wire” and “VIP,” another cheesy Pamela Anderson TV show, and hoped for the best. I arrived 90 minutes early and was surprised no one was there. In the meantime I loitered around inside the store to pass the time. About an hour before the event, they started forming a line, which I became #5 behind some creepy John Waters looking guys. I passed the time talking to a book dealer in line, who was hoping to get Pam to sign copies of “Star,” her fictional book, which is really a thinly veiled biography of her.

Pam arrived almost on time, but spent about 45 minutes posing for pictures and granting interviews. She even took pictures with some disabled kids before starting the signing. To say we were disappointed waiting almost an hour for paparazzis to finish taking pictures is an understatement. Finally, our time came. Slowly one by one, we approached the table and a big Burly black security guard stood by. I placed my three “Baywatch” DVDs on the table, when Pam politely stopped me, “I’m actually not in the first season,” and I shamefully informed her I didn’t know that.

As she was signing I professed my love of her on “Home Improvement” and “Barb Wire,” which she seemed to enjoy. I politely then asked if she could sign a “VIP” and “Barb Wire” DVD for my friends in San Diego and New York respectively, which she enthusiastically grabbed.

“I Love V.I.P! Of course I can sign those for you, but don’t let anyone else see. I don’t think I’m supposed to sign anything else,” she said smiling, which really irked the security guard. She signed them both beautifully and handed them back to me.

I thanked her immensely and went on my way with four Pamela Anderson autographs. After “five minutes,” the signing was over and I had a quick turnaround. I later gave away “The Baywatch” DVDs as “thank you” gifts for my friends helping me meet Charlize Theron and Jennifer Love Hewitt at Comic Con. Unable to return my opened Season One DVD I gave it away after attempting to watch the pilot episode. It was just too awful. Instead I kept the “V.I.P” (since my friend preferred “Baywatch”) and kept “Barb Wire” for my collection.

To this day I still can’t believe I met Pam (in such a calm setting) and have to say she is a complete sweetheart. Who would have guessed she is more proud of her “V.I.P.” work than “Baywatch”? Reminiscing about the event brought back fond memories of previous in-store signings, but I guess those days are long gone with polite staff and organized events. I’m curious, who has been you’re most surprising signer? Until the next time, happy autograph hunting!