Fat Tony & Co.

Fat Tony & Co. is a nine-episode Australian television series focusing on Tony Mokbel and covers the manhunt which lasted 18 months and dismantled a drug empire. It premiered on 23 February 2014[1] and concluded on 6 April 2014 on the Nine Network. It is technically a part of the Underbelly franchise, with various actors reprising their role from previous series.

Fat Tony & Co.
GenreCrime
Drama
Directed by
  • Peter Andrikidis
  • Andrew Prowse
  • Mitchell Sariovski
  • Bethany Chinn
  • Karl Zwicky
  • Shirley Barrett
Starring
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes9 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Des Monaghan
  • Greg Haddrick
Producers
  • Jo Rooney
  • Andy Ryan
  • Peter Gawler
  • Elisa Argenzio
Production locationMelbourne
Running time48 minutes
Production companyScreentime
Release
Original networkNine Network
Original release23 February (2014-02-23) –
6 April 2014 (2014-04-06)

Production

Conception

Fat Tony & Co. has been marketed as a sequel to the first series of Underbelly, however due to changes in funding with Screen Australia it was not branded as an Underbelly series.[2] Fat Tony and Co actually runs chronologically alongside of Underbelly, with the storyline being told from the point of view of Mokbel. The first few episodes chronicle his rise while the "Melbourne gangland war" is taking place but the later episodes focus on his disappearance and arrest in Greece, and other events that unfolded after the original series of Underbelly concluded.

After a rumour in November 2012, Fat Tony & Co. was officially announced on 3 August 2013.[3] Production for the series began on 5 August 2013.[2]

Fat Tony & Co. was directed by Peter Andrikidis, Andrew Prowse and Karl Zwicky, with Jo Rooney, Andy Ryan, Peter Gawler and Elisa Argenzio Lambert serving as producers.[4]

While most of Fat Tony & Co. was shot in Melbourne, some sequences were filmed in Athens, Greece.[2]

Casting

Most of the cast from the first series of Underbelly return to play the same characters, although some were unavailable to reprise their signature roles such as Kat Stewart who played Roberta Williams, replaced by Hollie Andrew; Caroline Gillmer who played Judy Moran, replaced by Debra Byrne and Callan Mulvey who played Mark Moran, replaced by Jake Ryan.[2]

Cast

Regular

Recurring and guest

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		Aus. viewers
(millions)
1"The Tony Special"Peter AndrikidisPeter Gawler23 February 2014 (2014-02-23)235400-11.621[5]
In the opener of this series dramatizing the manhunt of drug kingpin Tony Mokbel, Detective Inspector Jim O'Brien observes Mokbel as the Carlton Crew contend with internal affairs. Meanwhile, Carl Williams vows revenge on the Morans after being injured in a skirmish with them.
2"The Mexican Job"Peter AndrikidisPeter Gawler23 February 2014 (2014-02-23)235400-21.401[5]
Tony and the Carlton Crew import a huge hash shipment; the Victoria Drug Squad shares intelligence with Australian Federal Police agent Jarrod Ragg in a bid to bring down Mokbel and the Carlton Crew.
3"When the Dogs Bark"Andrew ProwseAdam Todd2 March 2014 (2014-03-02)235400-31.275[6]
Tony fears for his own safety as mate Carl Williams ramps up his campaign of underworld murders. After being released from prison, Tony considers going straight as a property developer. Jason Moran has a final showdown with Carl Williams.
4"Killers, Thieves & Lawyers"Andrew ProwseAdam Todd9 March 2014 (2014-03-09)235400-41.095[7]
When a hitman alleges Tony is involved in murder, Tony decides to skip bail and become Australia's most wanted man. Tony takes a massive gamble when he recruits a pair of cleanskins to run his drug empire while he is on the run.
5"Where's Tony?"Karl ZwickyAdam Todd16 March 2014 (2014-03-16)235400-51.153[8]
After skipping bail, Tony hatches a risky plan to flee Australia and start a new life in Greece. With Tony on the run, the fight is on for control of his drug empire. The police face a wall of silence in their search for Fat Tony.
6"A New Life"Karl ZwickyJeff Truman23 March 2014 (2014-03-23)235400-61.106[9]
Tony fights sea-sickness as he sails from Perth to Athens to avoid capture by the police. Tony's pregnant girlfriend is followed by police as she travels through Europe to meet him. The police manhunt finally gets a break-through.
7"The Incorruptibles"Peter AndrikidisJeff Truman30 March 2014 (2014-03-30)235400-70.601[9]
Tony attempts to create a new drug empire whilst hiding in Athens, unaware that Detective Sergeant Jim Coghlan and Australian Federal Police agent Jarrod Ragg have arrived in Greece to work with the local Athens police – known as The Incorruptibles – to arrest Tony and return him to face justice in Australia.
8"A Chip & a Chair"Peter AndrikidisMichaeley O'Brien30 March 2014 (2014-03-30)235400-81.177[10]
While Tony fights extradition in Athens, police swoop on his drug operations in Australia.
9"Drawing Dead"Peter AndrikidisMichaeley O'Brien6 April 2014 (2014-04-06)235400-90.631[10]
Tony has a major victory against the police, but suspects his former mate Carl Williams has betrayed him. Carl's double-dealings with the police backfire when he is brutally murdered by a fellow inmate. Judy Moran takes revenge on Des 'Tuppence' Moran with disastrous consequences. Tony plays his final hand as the police close in, but it looks like he is 'drawing dead'.

Series ratings
TV Season No. of Episodes Season
Premiere		 Season
Final		 Average
Audience
(millions)		 Most Watched Episode
Episode Viewers
(millions)
2014 9 23 February 2014 6 April 2014 1.206[11] "The Tony Special" 1.621[12]

See also

References
  1. Knox, David (17 February 2014). "Airdate: Fat Tony & Co". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  2. Knox, David (4 August 2013). "Underbelly cast reunite for Fat Tony & Co". TV Tonight. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  3. Knox, David (2 November 2012). "Rumour: Tony Mokbel drama". TV Tonight. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  4. "Fat Tony & Co". Screentime Pty Ltd. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  5. Knox, David (5 March 2014). "Timeshifted: Sunday 23 February 2014". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  6. Knox, David (11 March 2014). "Timeshifted: Sunday 2 March 2014". TV Tonight. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  7. Knox, David (19 March 2014). "Timeshifted: Sunday 9 March 2014". TV Tonight. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  8. Knox, David (25 March 2014). "Timeshifted: Sunday 16 March 2014". TV Tonight. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  9. "Timeshifted: Sunday 23 March 2014". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  10. "Timeshifted: Sunday 30 March 2014". TV Tonight. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  11. "TV Ratings First Series Average". Screen Australia. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  12. "TV Ratings Most Watched Series Episode". Screen Australia. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
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