The Amy Fisher Story

The Fisher / Buttafuoco story with winsome Drew Barrymore as Amy

Based on the infamous true story that caused media hysteria in the 90s, a 16 years-old girl (Barrymore) from Long Island foolishly enters into a relationship with a 35 years-old married man, Joey Buttafuoco (Tony Denison), just a few miles from Jones Beach. A year later she confronts his wife at her doorstep (Laurie Paton), shooting her in the side of the head.

“The Amy Fisher Story” was released by ABC on January 3, 1993, just 7.5 months after the shooting. The CBS version was simultaneously aired while the NBC rendition beat both by six days, airing at the end of 1992. Let’s compare the three:

The NBC version, “Amy Fisher: My Story,” aka “Lethal Lolita,” sticks to the bare facts with Amy narrating her experience from a jail cell. While it starts off too by-the-numbers, it becomes compelling in the second half with an outstanding depiction of the front door confrontation between Amy and Mary Jo. It features actors who most resemble their real-life counterparts. Moreover, arrogant Joey’s reasoning to justify his unfaithful actions are superbly presented.

The CBS interpretation, “Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story,” features Alyssa Milano in the role of Amy, but supports the Buttafuoco fiction that Joey never had sex with her, which he later admitted was false in light of the glaring evidence (e.g. motel receipts). As such, “Casualties of Love” depicts Joe as an irresistible stud who’s curiously stalked by an attractive girl that imagined their relationship, resulting in the shooting of Mary Jo.

This version by ABC has the star power of Drew Barrymore in the title role, only 17 years-old during filming. It’s based on the chronicling of New York Post writer Amy Pagnozzi (Harley Jane Kozak).

Like “Amy Fisher: My Story,” aka “Lethal Lolita,” I didn’t get the feeling that this version was unbalanced. Fisher’s flaws and foolishness are plainly revealed. A semi-abusive r...