Fat Cow Motel
{{Short description|Australian comedy/drama television series}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox television
| image =
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| genre = {{Plainlist|
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| creator = {{Plainlist|
- Tracey Robertson
- Nathan Mayfield
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| writer = {{Plainlist|
- Graeme Koetsveld
- Marissa Cooke
- Annette Moore
- Andrew Kelly
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| director = {{Plainlist|
- Robert Klenner
- Daniel Nettheim
- Nathan Mayfield
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| creative_director =
| starring = {{Plainlist|
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| composer = Cameron McKenzie
| country = Australia
| language = English
| num_series = 1
| num_episodes = 13
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer =
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Tracey Robertson
- Nathan Mayfield
}}
| cinematography = Robert Humphreys
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| runtime = 25 minutes
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| network = ABC
| first_aired = {{Start date|2003|07|10|df=y}}{{Citation | last1= Edmonds | first1= Mike | last2= Dennehy | first2= Luke | last3= Danaher | first3= Carla | title= Motel's twin-share | url= | periodical= Herald Sun | date= 7 July 2003 }}
| last_aired = {{End date|2003|10|02|df=y}}
| related =
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Fat Cow Motel is an Australian comedy/drama television series, created by Nathan Mayfield and Tracey Robertson and starring Kate Atkinson and Brendan Cowell.{{Citation | last= Warneke | first= Ross | title= Bad cop makes for great viewing | url= | periodical= The Age | date= 10 July 2003 }} Described as an interactive drama{{Citation | last1= Butler | first1= Dianne | last2= McCullough | first2= James | title=Milking time for Fat Cow | url= | periodical= The Courier Mail | date= 23 June 2003}} viewers could register online for access to the shows website and to sms and email messages sent onscreen during the show{{Citation | last= Manketelow | first= Nicole | title=Udder magic | url= | periodical= The Sydney Morning Herald | date= 12 July 2003}} Each episode ends in a mystery cliffhanger which can be solved with help from the interactive content.{{Citation | last= Barclay | first= Alison | title=Complete Change | url= | periodical= The Mercury | date= 12 July 2003}} Two final episodes were filmed and the audience could vote for their desired alternative.{{Citation | last= | first= | title=Free to air| url= | periodical= The Gold Coast Bulletin | date= 28 August 2003}}
The show was filmed in Harrisville, Queensland with the town's Royal Hotel standing in for the titular Fat Cow Motel.{{Citation | last= Wilson | first= Ashleigh | title=TV's Fat Cow Motel has town off pat | url= | periodical= The Weekend Australian | date= 2 February 2002}}
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.{{Citation | last= | first= | title=Check in at Fat Cow Motel | url= | periodical= NT News | date= 2 February 2002}}
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
- Charlotte Gregg as Cathy / Rhonda
- 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."{{Citation | last= Brady | first= Nicole | title=Turn on, turn off| url= | periodical= The Age | date= 10 July 2003}} 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."{{Citation | last= Humphries | first= Glen | title=Thumbs down - television channel surfing | url= | periodical= Illawarra Mercury | date= 24 July 2003}}
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."{{Citation | last= Hassall | first= Greg | title=Tale enders | url= | periodical= The Sydney Morning Herald | date= 15 November 2004}}