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9 things you might not know about 'Matlock'
To toast Andy Griffith's canny, charming defense attorney, we gathered some fascinating facts you might not know about the show. So slip on a gray suit, grab a hot dog, and study these notes.
1. The Fulton County Courthouse was actually the Second Church of Christ, Scientist in Los Angeles.Matlock's stomping grounds of Atlanta were filmed in Los Angeles, because it's television. This impressive domed structure is located in the West Adams neighborhood of L.A., just blocks north of the USC campus. In 1987, after the first season of Matlock, it was added to the national register of historic places. But not because of Matlock.
2. Ben Matlock is reputed to have been based on Georgia lawyer Bobby Lee Cook. Cook was known for his legal skill and folksy charm. He notably defended Bobby Hoppe in a cold case. Hoppe, a former running back on the championship 1957 Auburn football team, was tried in 1988 for the murder of a bootlegger 31 years prior. The trial ended in a hung jury.
3. Andy Griffith was onscreen as Matlock more than he was as Andy Taylor. Though Griffith filmed more episodes in his role of Mayberry's beloved sheriff, Matlock's hour-long format meant that the actor logged more screen time as Matlock than as Taylor.
4. The show's highest Nielsen Ratings finish was #14.
Just below Alf and L.A. Law. Can't win 'em all.
7. Matlock and Monk exist in the same fictional universe.
Just below Alf and L.A. Law. Can't win 'em all.
5. Matlock appeared on two networks.
After beginning on NBC in 1986, the series moved to ABC in 1992.
6. Jake and the Fatman was its spin-off.
William Conrad appeared on the first season of Matlock as a prosecuting attorney. Producers liked the character so much, they based a CBS series off him. Therefore, the world of Matlock reached to three major television networks. What other shows can boast that? Of course, Conrad portrayed Matt Dillon on the radio version of Gunsmoke. Ironically, he was deemed too fat for the role, and James Arness was cast as the U.S. Marshall.
7. Matlock and Monk exist in the same fictional universe.
Diagnosis: Murder was a spin-off of Jake and the Fatman which was a spin-off of Matlock. Dick Van Dyke's Diagnosis proved so popular that it spawned a series of mystery novels. Characters from the second book, The Death Merchant, later reappeared in author Lee Goldberg's Monk novelizations. Hence, all these fictional sleuths are in the same shared universe!
8. Both Matlock and Andy Taylor always drove a Ford.
Ben Matlock loved to cruise in a gray Crown Victoria (three different models of them over the years). The squad cars on The Andy Griffith show were Galaxie 500 sedans, as the Ford Motor Company provided vehicles for Mayberry.
9. Theme song composer Dick DeBenedictis penned music for many other classic TV shows.
The brassy, Dixie intro is one of Matlock's most memorable elements. The veteran television composer behind the theme also contributed scores to Columbo, Quincy, M.E., The Carol Burnett Show and Perry Mason (though, it should be noted, not the theme song).
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In the final episode of "Psych", Chief Vick and Detective O'Hara have moved to San Francisco and now are with the SFPD, with Karen Vick as Chief. Shawn goes up and offers to perform in his same "psychic" role with the SFPD as he had in Santa Barbara; Chief Vick tells him that they already have a "psychic" consultant, and that he is in the kitchen putting all the supplies in alphabetical order. Monk! And the two shows were both on USA Network, the last 4 years of Monk and the first 4 years of Psych overlapping. Kind of puts those two shows in the same universe!
Characters from the second (Diagnosis Murder) book, The Death Merchant, later reappeared in author Lee Goldberg's Monk novelizations. Hence, all these fictional sleuths are in the same shared universe!
Novels, comic books, etc. are notoriously known for NOT being considered canon in a series. For Monk to be in the same universe characters from one have to appear in the other series. Just being created or produced or whatever by the same person is not enough.
Novels, comic books, etc. are notoriously known for NOT being considered canon in a series. For Monk to be in the same universe characters from one have to appear in the other series. Just being created or produced or whatever by the same person is not enough.
Matlock's stomping grounds of Atlanta were filmed in Los Angeles, because it's television.
What does television have to do with it? Scenes in movies set in other cities/countries are also filmed near Los Angeles to save money.
What does television have to do with it? Scenes in movies set in other cities/countries are also filmed near Los Angeles to save money.
Can you buy Metv shows on Dvd or Blue ray?
Sure you can. But not BECAUSE they're on MeTV. Just like reruns on any other network (Antenna TV, Cozi, etc.)
I love Andy Griffith... I grew up watching Matlock and Golden Girls and all the classics with my grandma. Wouldn't change it for the world. Ben Matlock is definitely an iconic man!!!! ❤
Additional: Matlock didn't always win. I'm watching "The Convict" (S01E17) and Ben loses the opening case, resulting in his client Lester Matthews being convicted of murder.