Matlock

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ABC (ended 1995)
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Show Summary

  • Ended
Although Matlock is no longer producing episodes, it still airs in many locations as re-runs. Although it's best to check your television guide for times and channels, some of the following networks carry the program, the show is current carried on CMT Canada, ABC (WXYZ Detroit), TNT, WGN, Hallmark, and KDOC. Some networks may only be available in certain areas, so check your local listings. Andy Griffith is back, playing as Benjamin Leighton Matlock, a widower, yet popular, folksy, turned annoying lawyer who is worth every dollar of his $100,000 fee. He in turn also has the knack of solving and winning almost every case he has taken, especially to others whom they felt the client is guilty, when the murderer is actually found guilty at the end of each episode (similiar to that of Perry Mason). He wears his signature light gray suit, and drives three generations of his Ford Crown Victoria automobile. He basically owned his law firm, where he shared his client's cases with his partners --- his associates, Charlene Matlock, his younger daughter, and Tyler Hudson, a black market whiz whom Matlock lured away from his work. At the beginning of its second season, Charlene left her father's work, where she was being replaced by Michelle Thomas, a young, attractive legal partner who tried her hand in baseball after she majored in Physical Education, but was against it or might've done better. She met Matlock on his business trip in England, and immediately hired her on the spot, after a cocky law student graduate, Cassie Phillips also applied for the same job, but he obviously turned her down, because Charlene was already working with her father at the time. Since he wasn't offering any associates, the only job he could give her was a file clerk, the next year, she disappeared. Often at times, no prosecutor would compete with Ben, except Julie March, a redheaded, feisty district attorney, and good friend of Ben's, who left Nebraska to work for the D.A.'s office. After Tyler left, during the fourth season, Matlock went on a business trip to North Carolina, where he met Conrad McMasters, a young, handsome former deputy who actually has a lot in common with his boss, from playing music to a fond in camping, as he gave him the job as a private investigator. He also drives the same brand of automobile that his boss drives, as well. Known to be a serious detective and one of Matlock's loyal partners, Conrad also falls in love with a number of girlfriends, who in turn, also had the passion of riding horses, when he used to work as a cowboy. During the first series finale on NBC (which is actually the sixth season finale on Matlock), Michelle gave the job away to Matlock's older daughter, Leanne MacIntyre, an older divorced daughter who wanted to give her father a chance to work, after years of working at her sister's law firm in Philadelphia. At the beginning of the seventh season on ABC, law school graduate, Cliff Lewis, approaches Matlock in pursuit of working for him, complements of his dad, Billy Lewis, who is Ben's nemesis. After Conrad left, Lewis not only became a partner but also a private investigator to Matlock, while he hired his last private investigator Jerri Stone to help out in each of the cases, duting its ninth and final season. Unlike her boss's ex-employee, Conrad, they both have at least something in common, from driving Ford automobiles to singing classic songs, esp. lullabies. Broadcast History: September 1986 - May 1992: Tuesday on NBC November 1992 - May 1995: Thursday on ABCmoreless
8.3
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Episode Guide

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S 9 :  Ep 18 Aired 5/7/95
S 9 :  Ep 17 Aired 5/7/95
S 9 :  Ep 16 Aired 4/27/95
S 9 :  Ep 15 Aired 4/27/95
S 9 :  Ep 14 Aired 2/16/95

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Fan Reviews (21)

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  • Never gets OLD

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By phylira, May 11, 2012
    I just love this show. I watch it daily. I just canceled my Direct TV due to a recent upcoming deployment, but as long as I can get it on my laptop, I will not have any Matlock withdrawals. Thank you TV.com.

  • Matlock - is my hero. I currently still watch and record Matlock daily on my TiVo at 9 & 10 EST on Channel 307. I would love to meet him in person. I have been a faithful watcher since I was a little girl. I have imagined him to be my husband.moreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By ColquittGrand, Jul 18, 2011
    The thing I like most about Matlock is the fact that he is Matlock. I love the fits he throws. I love how he pouts when he can't have his way with his daughter or a case. I love his stubborn and determined attitude to win. I like how much he charged for his time because yes he was worth it. Yet he was humble enough to take case pro bono. I wish the show never goes off. This show has gone down in history with in my house.moreless

  • Um...

    5.5
    "Mediocre"
    By cactusjack39, Feb 06, 2009
    This show was very confusing and also very boring. I just never understood it. I mean in the sense of what's the point? I couldn't ever let myself watch an entire episode because it was so boring and uneventful. The acting was good, but it was just the storylines, plots, and action that was lacking. If there was positives, it was the acting. That basically saved the show from being rated any lower by me. I felt that it was decent stuff and they had some decent actors and actresses. But it was the rest that made this show a snooze. Thank you.moreless

  • Grampa Simpson's favorite.

    7.0
    "Good"
    By jamoon2006, Dec 05, 2007
    Though "Perry Mason" is the better show, I'll always have a soft spot for old "Matlock." Played by Andy Griffith, this folksy sly fox of a lawyer was a great TV character and provided hours of solid (but predictable) courtroom mysteries.

    Like most older shows (including "Mason"), "Matlock" is formulaic. A murder is committed, the accused turns to Matlock and after 45 minutes or so of sleuthing, Matlock elicits a witness stand confession from the real guilty party. This ain't "Law & Order," nor is it supposed to be. It's an armchair detective series, anchored by the performance of Andy Griffith. While there were ups and downs with his supporting cast, Griffith was always terrific. Yeah, he's a coot and a codger at times, but he's supposed to be. Much like Columbo, he's a brilliant mind masked in rumpled clothes and a charming, addled demeanor. It's great to see him in action in court, and those final scenes, no matter how cliche and hackneyed they may have been, were always engaging.

    "Matlock" is no classic and it has its flaws, but for a solid detective show and to see some great acting from Griffith, you can't go wrong.moreless

  • Matlock is a TV show that has helped my mother live with her Alzheimer's disease. She is able to focus on episodes when she is unable to talk. This is a request to locate VHS Matlock tapes for her.moreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By ruthlynn, Nov 02, 2007
    My mother has Alzheimer's Disease, and she loves to watch Matlock, but she can only operate a VCR-not a DVD player. I can't find her any VHS Matock tapes anywhere. I can't record off television for her, because commercials are a problem for her to fast forward through. Please! Does anyone know where I can buy a set of Matlock series on VHS tape? I would really love to buy many Matlock tapes for her at reasonable price. I didn't know where else to go to ask about this. I hope you don't mind me using this blog. Thanks so much.moreless
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altruistic behavior, cerebral, for the aarp crowd, for the nostalgic, last chance for hope

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