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Fat Cow Motel

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Australian comedy/drama television series

Fat Cow Motel
Genre
Created by
  • Tracey Robertson
  • Nathan Mayfield
Written by
  • Graeme Koetsveld
  • Marissa Cooke
  • Annette Moore
  • Andrew Kelly
Directed by
  • Robert Klenner
  • Daniel Nettheim
  • Nathan Mayfield
Starring
ComposerCameron McKenzie
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes13
Production
Producers
  • Tracey Robertson
  • Nathan Mayfield
CinematographyRobert Humphreys
Running time25 minutes
Original release
NetworkABC
Release10 July (2003-07-10) –
2 October 2003 (2003-10-02)

Fat Cow Motel is an Australian comedy/drama television series, created by Nathan Mayfield and Tracey Robertson and starring Kate Atkinson and Brendan Cowell. Described as an interactive drama viewers could register online for access to the shows website and to sms and email messages sent onscreen during the show Each episode ends in a mystery cliffhanger which can be solved with help from the interactive content. Two final episodes were filmed and the audience could vote for their desired alternative.

The show was filmed in Harrisville, Queensland with the town's Royal Hotel standing in for the titular Fat Cow Motel.

Synopsis

The owner of the Fat Cow Motel makes up a story that a famous rock star died in one of the rooms in her motel which attracts a journalist to town.

Cast

  • Kate Atkinson as Cassie Brown
  • Brendan Cowell as Jack Green
  • Sally McKenzie as Eleanor Rigby
  • Julie Forsyth as Penny Lane
  • Roy Billing as Bill Butler
  • Charlie Koranias as Ronnie McDonald
  • Henrik Gangsater as Ian Johanssen
  • Johan Gangsater as Martin Johanssen
  • Steven Grives as Dennis Dreeble
  • Carita Farrer Spencer as Wilma Morrow
  • Iain Gardiner as Phil Morrow
  • Eugene Gilfedder as Arthur Cassley
  • Catherine Miller as Tracey Cassley
  • Peta Brady as Diane
  • Robbie McGregor as Narrator

Reception

Nicole Brady of the Age wrote "It looks great on paper, but two weeks in and this Australian comedy-mystery series is feeling a little clunky." Illawarra Mercury's Glen Humphries notes "The two lead actors in this weekly whodunit are both very watchable and there's a certain charm here. Shame it's hampered by the show's over-emphasis on interactivity."

Summing up the fate of Australian made dramas Greg Hassall of The Sydney Morning Herald wrote "A comedy/drama set in a rural town, billed as our first interactive drama because viewers could follow clues on the show's website to solve a mystery each week. But the interactive angle felt gimmicky and the show lasted only one season."

References

  1. Edmonds, Mike; Dennehy, Luke; Danaher, Carla (7 July 2003), "Motel's twin-share", Herald Sun
  2. Warneke, Ross (10 July 2003), "Bad cop makes for great viewing", The Age
  3. Butler, Dianne; McCullough, James (23 June 2003), "Milking time for Fat Cow", The Courier Mail
  4. Manketelow, Nicole (12 July 2003), "Udder magic", The Sydney Morning Herald
  5. Barclay, Alison (12 July 2003), "Complete Change", The Mercury
  6. "Free to air", The Gold Coast Bulletin, 28 August 2003
  7. Wilson, Ashleigh (2 February 2002), "TV's Fat Cow Motel has town off pat", The Weekend Australian
  8. "Check in at Fat Cow Motel", NT News, 2 February 2002
  9. Brady, Nicole (10 July 2003), "Turn on, turn off", The Age
  10. Humphries, Glen (24 July 2003), "Thumbs down - television channel surfing", Illawarra Mercury
  11. Hassall, Greg (15 November 2004), "Tale enders", The Sydney Morning Herald
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