No matter how you look at it,Matlockis a hit. This is true forboth versions of the legal drama. In the 2024 fall season, the show debuted withKathy Bates(American Horror Story) as the lead and has already done impressive numbers, whichprompted an early renewalfor Season 2. The original series, which starredAndy Griffith(A Face in the Crowd) in the title role, was not only a success but also ran for a whopping nine seasons. This January, you’ll be able to check out all those episodes as Paramount+ welcomes the whole original show into its catalog.
In the original version, Ben Matlock (Griffith) is a Harvard Law School alum and a widower who goes out of his way to investigate the cases he’s working on. This way, he’s able to come up with different approaches in court and deliver some “gotcha” moments with witnesses on the stand. Of course, this is pretty common in courtroom dramas, but as several other showshave already demonstrated, it never gets old.
Aside from Griffith, the cast ofMatlockalso featured several stars, which includedKene Holiday(who also voiced Roadblock inG.I. Joe),Nancy Stafford(Christmas For a Dollar),Julie Sommars(Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo),Clarence Gilyard Jr.(Walker, Texas Ranger),Daniel Roebuck(Terrifier 3),David Froman(Hanky Panky), andRichard Newton(Burke’s Law). The series was created by Emmy winnerDean Hargrove, who also worked onColumbo,The Name of the Gameand the originalPerry Masonfranchise.
‘Matlock’ Is the Perfect Companion for… ‘Matlock’
The newMatlockisn’t a simple reboot of the original series. New showrunnerJennie Snyder Urman(Jane the Virgin) decided to give a little twist to the franchise and make Matlock an alias for Madeline Kingston (Bates). In the new version, “Matlock” is a lawyer who decides to return to the practice at 75 years old to seek justice after her daughter died in theopioid epidemic. The bigger twist is: she starts to work for the law firm that she believes was responsible for burying evidence that could have prevented her daughter’s death. Madeline decides to use the last name “Matlock” because her daughter loved to watch the ’80s series.
Whether the newMatlockwill be as prolific as the original series, only time will tell. However, if the CBS show manages to retain its popularity in the coming years, it’s possible that it will stay on air for a pretty long time. Procedurals tend to do well on network television, as titles likeLaw & Order,Blue Bloodsand theOneChicagoseries have proved, soMatlockcould very well become a member of that list.
You’ll be able to stream the originalMatlockon Paramount+ starting on January 15.
Georgia-based attorney Ben Matlock, a shrewd and seasoned lawyer, defends clients in complex criminal cases. Known for his folksy charm, sharp cross-examinations, and unwavering sense of justice, Matlock often unearths hidden truths and confronts the real culprits.
