Lowdown: episode guide

Series 1 | Series 2

Wasp in Translation

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Episode 1.01
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 (ABC1)
Ratings: 469,000 viewers
Written by Amanda Brotchie & Adam Zwar
Directed by Amanda Brotchie

Celebrity tabloid journalist and Lowdown columnist Alex Burchill scores a highly coveted interview with the environmentalist, Tantra-loving, Buddhist rock God, Wasp Warneke on one condition… he doesn't ask about Tantra.

In an effort to impress his artist girlfriend Rita, Alex offers her the job as photographer. But when his actual photographer and loyal friend, Bob, finds out he's been sidelined on the Wasp job, his heart is broken.

When the time comes to meet Wasp, Alex has to battle car trouble, traffic jams, road rage incidents and some disturbing news from Dr James regarding a shadow on his arse, and ends up having to 'do a phoner' instead of a 'face-to-face'. But suddenly, his luck changes. Wasp opens up about tantra, the traffic starts moving and Alex ends up getting his face-to-face meeting after all — and so much more…

Special Guests: Craig McLachlan as Ben Hollander, Anthony Ahern as Wasp Warneke

With: Anna Jennings-Edguist as Sharma, Rebecca Massey as Trudy, Cindy Waddingham as Andrea, Martin Sharpe as Cody, Susie Dee as Janine, Raj Sidhu as Satish, Amanda Brotchie as Susan, Melissa Anderson as Vanessa, Jessica Clarke as Trudy's Assistant, Emily Wheaton as Waitress, Neale Blanden as Angry Driver, James Campbell as Fan

Bonk Bonk! Who's There?

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Episode 1.02
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Ratings: 545,000 viewers
Written by Amanda Brotchie, Trudy Hellier & Adam Zwar
Directed by Amanda Brotchie

Publicist to the stars Hope van der Boom, briefs Alex before he interviews actor, sex-symbol and family man Oliver Barry.

The interview is awkward and uncomfortable, despite the fact that Alex and Oliver share a birthday. But soon after, Alex and Bob find themselves providing refuge for Oliver Barry who is on the run from a bunch of paps — one of whom he found hiding in his hotel room wardrobe.

That night, Rita, keen to make up with Alex after the Wasp Warneke debacle, climbs through his window and into his bed. The only problem is Alex lent his bed to the besieged Oliver. Rita is obliged to take full advantage of the mix-up, much to Alex's despair.

Next day the editor encourages Alex to document family man Oliver's shenanigans in his column. Although excited by this prospect, Alex can't help feeling depressed about Rita. He visits Dr James who diagnoses him as having a broken heart. Brilliant! Dr James also prescribes a medicinal visit to a strip club where Alex's circumstances inevitably go from bad to worse.

Special Guests: Sullivan Stapleton as Oliver Barry, Julia Zemiro as Hope, Ashley Zukerman as Dylan

With: Anna Jennings-Edguist as Sharma, Cindy Waddington as Andrea, Martin Sharpe as Cody, Susie Dee as Janine, Ray Sidhu as Satish, Amanda Brotchie as Susan, Joel Tito as Photographer #1, Colin Mowbray as Photographer #2, Sally McLean as Gallery Owner, Heidi Koster as Stripper #1, Brooke Rushby as Stripper #2, Sarah Jenkins as Stripper #3, Monika Shantova as Dancer, Andrew Goodone as Reporter #1, Des Dowling as Reporter #2, Radu Emanuel Marcus as Reporter #3, Max Hutchins as Steven Oyston

Zirco Goes Berko

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Episode 1.03
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Ratings: 601,000 viewers
Written by Amanda Brotchie & Adam Zwar
Directed by Amanda Brotchie

Temperamental tennis star Mitch 'Zirco' Zicopoulos has pulled out from a warm-up tournament citing a sore finger, leaving 20,000 fans out of pocket. Alex's editor is convinced Zirco is faking his injury and sends Alex and Bob to find the truth. But gaining access to the code-protected restricted-access floor at Punt Hill Hotel, where Zirco is staying, proves harder than they thought.

The anti-terrorist elevators only allow three incorrect attempts at entering the code before sleeping gas is emitted from its vents. The celebrity acquaintances that Alex encounters in the foyer give him the slip, and Alex and Bob's preposterous efforts to get to Zirco come to naught.

Meanwhile, Alex is grappling with the various hair-raising diagnoses that Dr James rings through regarding a pimple on his 'groinal area'. Yep, it seems for now that the whole world has been designed to ruin Alex's day, and when our boys eventually encounter Zirco, it only gets worse.

Special Guests: Judith Lucy as Herself, Rob Sitch as Himself, Alex Tsitsopoulos as Zirco

With: Anna Jennings-Edguist as Sharma, Rebecca Massey as Trudy, Ashley Zukerman as Dylan, Cindy Waddington as Andrea, Martin Sharpe as Cody, Susie Dee as Janine, Ray Sidhu as Satish, Amanda Brotchie as Susan; Frank Magree as Hotel Porter, Justin Fleming as Zirco Security

Hart of Darkness

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Episode 1.04
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Written by Amanda Brotchie & Adam Zwar
Directed by Amanda Brotchie

When plagiarising popstar Sofia Corelli is assaulted on the eve of her Melbourne tour, Alex suspects that the renowned torch singer Abi Hart has something to do with it. After all, Sofia has totally ripped-off Abi's sound and look.

Alex learns that drug-addicted Abi is holed-up at a maximum security rehab centre, but Dr James refuses to write a referral for Alex, despite diagnosing him as an alcoholic, since the rehab centre is strictly for celebrities or people with exotic addictions.

Alex and Bob make the perilous journey up the Yarra river to the remote rehab centre, a formidable compound with trigger happy security guards. Cunningly disguised as a doctor and maintenance guy respectively, Alex and Bob are able to infiltrate the centre and get to the unsuspecting Abi. Alex eventually manages to win Abi's confidence to extract the confession, but when Rita turns up, all hell breaks loose.

With: Emily Barclay as Abi Hart, Nicole Gulasekharam as Sofia Corelli, Charlotte Gregg as Selina, Dan Purdey as Dallas, Fiona McLeod as Trish, Melissa Madden Gray as Receptionist, Brandan Guerin as Norton, Ming Loi as Dr Wang, Damian Rocher as Security Guard #1, Eddy Scott as Security Guard #2; Abi Hart Film Clip: Ben Hendry on Drums, Ryan Monroe on Bass, Brent Turner on Guitar, Aaron Farrugia as Guy

Cooper Scooper

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Episode 1.05
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Written by Amanda Brotchie & Adam Zwar
Directed by Amanda Brotchie

It's late Friday night, and the editor is thrilled to hear via the police scanner that prominent businessman Jack Cooper has been busted drink driving. A reluctant Alex, with Bob and Rita in tow, heads to Cooper's Toorak home for a foot-in-door interview. Cooper isn't there, but the gang is invited inside the old-style mansion by lonely Mrs Cooper, a former actress and eisteddfod regular who still dreams of the spotlight.

Inside the Cooper residence, Dr Who fan Bob learns that Mrs Cooper once worked with Tom Baker and she's only too happy to show off her Dr Who memorabilia, while Bob shows off his likeness to Tom Baker. Not long after, a drunk and belligerent Mr Cooper finally arrives home and in no mood for company. When Alex brings up the drink-driving and Bob shoves a camera in his face, Cooper sets his dogs on them and a terrifying chase ensues. Bob and Alex manage to propel themselves to safety. But where's Rita?

Special Guests: Caroline O'Connor as Mrs Cooper, Steve Bisley as Jack Cooper

With: Eliza Szonert as Clare, Benn Joiner as Police Officer #1

A Lavish Swinger

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Episode 1.06
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Story by Amanda Brotchie & Adam Zwar
Written by Amanda Brotchie & Trudy Hellier
Directed by Amanda Brotchie

Australia's number one golfer Mike Lavish arrives in town to promote his new golf DVD. Armed with video evidence of Lavish taking an alleged air-swing at the Australian Masters, Alex confronts Lavish at a press conference and is quickly ejected by a 'hormonal' Hope.

Alex later approaches Lavish in the gents, apologises for his harsh line of questioning — "I was ordered to do it" — then accidentally clubs Lavish in the face while showing him his swing. While Alex rushes to Dr James for medical attention on his hand, Lavish passes out, hits his head on every possible hard surface on the way down and falls into a coma.

CCTV footage of the incident is damning and Alex is apprehended by police and charged with grievous bodily harm, with a likely upgrade to murder if Lavish doesn't pull through. Only Lavish knows what really happened, but will he regain consciousness to tell the tale?

Special Guests: Bert LaBonté as Mike Lavish, Julia Zemiro as Hope, Ashley Zukerman as Dylan

With: Anna Jennings-Edguist as Sharma, Cindy Waddington as Andrea, Martin Sharpe as Cody, Susie Dee as Janine, Ray Sidhu as Satish, Amanda Brotchie as Susan, Paul Lum as Gary Duffy, Ross Daniels as Paul Mountfoot, Andy McPhee as Cracker, Richard Vette as Lavish's Manager, Simon King as Police Officer, Jill Singer as Herself, Mark Allen as Himself, Gareth Yuen as Gold Administrator, Paul O'Neill as Max

Who's Your Baddy?

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Episode 1.07
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Written by Amanda Brotchie & Adam Zwar
Directed by Amanda Brotchie

Alex is heavied into writing a puff piece on underworld crime boss Tony Marino and drags Bob along to take the pics. Blindfolded, they are taken to meet Tony at a seedy hotel. During the interview, a nervous Alex suffers an anaphylactic reaction from eating the complimentary peanuts. Tony's henchmen dump him at Dr James's surgery, leaving Bob with the Marino gang.

Days later, Bob still hasn't returned and Alex fears the worst. The editor pushes Alex to write the story of Bob's demise. Alex is miserable, but is consoled by Bob's replacement, perky photographer Janet. Janet is everything Alex could possibly want and fills the void perfectly, but when Bob turns up bound and gagged on the riverbank, Janet's true nature is revealed.

Special Guests: Geoffrey Rush as God, Martin Sacks as Tony Marino

With: Anna Jennings-Edguist as Sharma, Cindy Waddington as Andrea, Martin Sharpe as Cody, Susie Dee as Janine, Ray Sidhu as Satish, Amanda Brotchie as Susan, Paul Lum as Gary Duffy, Rebecca Denny as Janet, Paul Moder as Carlo, Mark Davis as Himself, James Lawson as Policeman, Russell Boyd as Henchman

Project Runaway

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Episode 1.08 (finale)
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Written by Amanda Brotchie & Adam Zwar
Directed by Amanda Brotchie

Project Starsearch finalist Joss Miller has absconded from the show's compound, jeopardising the multi-million dollar TV final. Editor Howard Evans offers $10,000 of his own money to the first journalist able to locate Joss and get the story — the Sunday Sun's future depends on it.

With a holiday to a luxury resort planned, Alex spurns the offer, telling Howard he doesn't even watch Project Starsearch. At the resort, Bob meets the girl of his dreams, Sam and things quickly get hot and heavy, while Alex takes a mud-bath, and ends up rescuing Sam's sister, Lucy, from drowning.

Alex and Lucy hit it off, and Alex feels that he has finally met his future wife. Life for our boys is blissfully perfect, but when the boys discover that Lucy is actually Project Starsearch runaway Joss Miller, Alex must decide whether to go with his heart… or with his journalist instincts, and write up a story that could possibly save the Sunday Sun.

Special Guests: Jane Harber as Joss Miller, Kate Jenkinson as Sam, Ashley Zukerman as Dylan

With: Cindy Waddington as Andrea, Martin Sharpe as Cody, Susie Dee as Janine, Ray Sidhu as Satish, Amanda Brotchie as Susan, Paul Lum as Gary Duffy, Scott Brennan as Concierge, MArk Davis as Himself, Erin Cornell as Bianca, Jacob Griffiths as Raymond