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 |
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| Written by |
|
| Directed by |
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| Starring | |
| Composer | Cameron McKenzie |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Producers |
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| Cinematography | Robert Humphreys |
| Running time | 25 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | 10 July 2003[1] |
The show was filmed in Harrisville, Queensland with the town's Royal Hotel standing in for the titular Fat Cow Motel.[7]
Synopsis
editThe 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
edit- 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
editNicole 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
edit- ^ Edmonds, Mike; Dennehy, Luke; Danaher, Carla (7 July 2003), "Motel's twin-share", Herald Sun
- ^ Warneke, Ross (10 July 2003), "Bad cop makes for great viewing", The Age
- ^ Butler, Dianne; McCullough, James (23 June 2003), "Milking time for Fat Cow", The Courier Mail
- ^ Manketelow, Nicole (12 July 2003), "Udder magic", The Sydney Morning Herald
- ^ Barclay, Alison (12 July 2003), "Complete Change", The Mercury
- ^ "Free to air", The Gold Coast Bulletin, 28 August 2003
- ^ Wilson, Ashleigh (2 February 2002), "TV's Fat Cow Motel has town off pat", The Weekend Australian
- ^ "Check in at Fat Cow Motel", NT News, 2 February 2002
- ^ Brady, Nicole (10 July 2003), "Turn on, turn off", The Age
- ^ Humphries, Glen (24 July 2003), "Thumbs down - television channel surfing", Illawarra Mercury
- ^ Hassall, Greg (15 November 2004), "Tale enders", The Sydney Morning Herald