The original “Matlock” was a long-running network television series in the 1980s and 1990s. Television legend Andy Griffith plays lawyer Ben Matlock.
Matlock debuted on NBC in 1986 and remained with the network until 1992, when it moved to ABC, where it remained until 1995.
Matlock is a popular legal program created by Dean Hargrove, the man behind the original Perry Mason.
Ben Matlock is a defense attorney who regularly exonerates his clients, usually in dramatic courtroom moments.
A Matlock reboot has been in the works since early 2023, airing not on the original show’s network but on CBS.
Another big change is that the Matlock character in this version is female, played by Kathy Bates.
RELATED: Courtroom Crusaders: The TV Lawyer You Want
Matlock was greenlit as a planned mid-season replacement more than a year ago, but its arrival was delayed due to a strike in Hollywood. Matlock is ultimately set to debut on CBS in the fall.
What is Matlock about?
Much like the original series, the new “Matlock” tells the story of a lawyer older than most on television who often emerges victorious in dramatic courtroom moments.
According to the official description on the CBS website, Bates’ version of the character is named Madeline Matlock.
The premise also looks similar to older versions of the show, with a few differences.
Matlock “rejoins the staff of a prominent law firm, where she uses her unassuming demeanor and cunning tactics to win cases and expose corruption within.”
“Inspired by the classic TV series of the same name,” reads the CBS website.
Who stars in Matlock?
According to a report from Deadline in February, Kathy Bates has been cast in “Matlock” alongside Skye P. Marshall, who plays another lawyer at the firm.
Jason Ritter plays Marshall’s character’s ex-husband.
Veteran actor Beau Bridges will also play the head of the law firm and father of Ritter’s character.
Another actor, Jamey Sheridan, whose credits include “Homeland,” played the role of Bridges in the show’s pilot episode.
RELATED: 9 TV Lawyers We’d Hire If Our Lives Depended on It
David Del Rio and Leah Lewis are also among the cast of the firm’s young attorneys.
In the CBS description, Del Rio’s character is described as “charismatic,” while Lewis’s character is described as “super ambitious.”
Who is behind Matlock?
The new Matlock series was developed by Jennie Snyder Urman, whose credits include “Jane the Virgin” and “Charmed.”
Executive producers include Ullman, Bates, Joanna Klein, Eric Christian Olsen and John Weir.
The series is produced by CBS Television.
Matlock’s original writer, Dean Hargrove, is still alive but not involved in the new series.
What car would Matlock drive?
In the original series, Ben Matcock always drove a Ford Crown Victoria, although the model changed throughout the run.
It has not yet been announced what car, if any, Bates’ version of Matlock will drive in the new series.
RELATED: The Age of Nostalgia: Why Young Viewers Are Looking for Old TVs
When does Matlock premiere?
CBS plans to premiere Matlock on Sunday, September 22nd.
The show will then air in its regular time slot on Thursday 17 October at 9pm.
The long hiatus following the debut is a bit unorthodox, but we think it shows how excited the network is about this long-awaited reboot.
How many episodes are there in Matlock?
CBS has not yet announced how many episodes it has selected Matlock for.
Is there a trailer for Matlock?
Yes. A three-minute trailer for Matlock emerged in the summer of 2023, more than a year before the series’ eventual premiere.
The trailer opens with Matlock, played by Baez, arriving at a business office and lamenting that when women reach a certain age, they “become almost invisible.”
“It helps,” she added, “because no one sees us coming.”
The trailer also shows Matlock appearing in a crowded meeting at a law firm and chiming in to tell the lawyers that the latest settlement offer could be bigger.
Later in the trailer, it’s clear she was right.
RELATED: When Cheating Makes Great TV
The clip establishes that Bates will speak in an approachable voice similar to Andy Griffith’s version of the character.
She also mentioned “Matlock, like the old TV show”, indicating that it has a different setting than the old TV show.
The trailer indicates that the character has not practiced law since 1991.
A shorter two-minute trailer was released in September 2024:
The song features Britney Spears’ classic song “Oops!” …I Did It Again” sample to establish a funkier tone.
But the overall impression is the same:
Like Elsbeth before her, Matlock will center on a quirky, lovable female crime fighter.
It’s not a new formula, but one we’ll never tire of.
What else is in the fall lineup for CBS?
“Matlock” is one of several new shows coming to CBS this fall. Other films include “Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage,” “NCIS: Origins,” “Poppa House,” “The Summit” and “The Watson.”
While “Young Sheldon” has ended its long run on television, several of CBS’s more established shows will return in the fall.
These include 48 Hours 60 Minutes, Blue Bloods, The Equalizer, FBI, FBI: International, FBI: Most Wanted, Fire Nation, Ghost ”, “NCIS”, “The Neighbors”, “Survivor” and “S.W.A.T.”
“The Equalizer,” like “Matlock,” is a reboot of a hit TV series from the 1980s.
Will the new Matlock be a hit?
Of course, no one will know until the series arrives.
However, the name Matlock means a lot to viewers of a certain age, and CBS is known for shows that try to cater to older viewers.
RELATED: CBS excels in billions of game minutes watched
Kathy Bates is also a renowned and respected actress.
CBS viewers may remember her from her memorable guest appearance on “Two and a Half Men” as Charlie Sheen’s character “Ghost.”
Will you be listening to the new version of this classic series?
Have your say in the comments below!
