Fat Cow Motel is an Australian comedy/drama television series, created by Nathan Mayfield and Tracey Robertson and starring Kate Atkinson and Brendan Cowell.[2] Described as an interactive drama[3] viewers could register online for access to the shows website and to sms and email messages sent onscreen during the show[4] Each episode ends in a mystery cliffhanger which can be solved with help from the interactive content.[5] Two final episodes were filmed and the audience could vote for their desired alternative.[6]

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 (2003-07-10)[1]

The show was filmed in Harrisville, Queensland with the town's Royal Hotel standing in for the titular Fat Cow Motel.[7]

Synopsis

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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.[8]

Cast

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  • 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
  • Robbie McGregor as Narrator

Reception

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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."[9] 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."[10]

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."[11]

References

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  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