Matlock's back! Kathy Bates to star and executive produce in new series
Madeline Matlock will take on new cases soon.
Fans of wily septuagenarian lawyers are in (Mat)luck!
Television viewers are set to meet a new criminal-defending Matlock, this time named Madeline. According to MovieWeb, CBS has ordered the Kathy Bates-led Matlock pilot into a series. This will make CBS the third out of the Big Three networks to get a slice of Matlock action; The Andy Griffith-starring Matlock originally aired on NBC from 1986 to 1992. When NBC canceled that series, ABC opportunistically swooped in, picking up Matlock for an additional three seasons.
The new Matlock will follow a format similar to that of the original. As Madeline Matlock, Kathy Bates will again use unmatched smarts to get the best out of her cases, solving brand new weekly mysteries all while practicing law. The Academy and Emmy Award-winning Bates will be joined by a brand new cast of characters, played here by Skye P. Marshall, Jason Ritter, David Del Rio, and Leah Lewis.
The new Matlock will be classified as a "re-imagining" of the classic series, so there won't be any mention of Ben Matlock or plot details from the Andy Griffith series. While the Kathy Bates Matlock might contain some easter egg references to its predecessor, this new series will be entirely its own thing.
CBS has released the official Matlock description:
“After achieving success in her younger years, the brilliant Madeline Matlock (Bates) rejoins the workforce at a prestigious law firm where she uses her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases and expose corruption from within. Based on the classic television series of the same name."
In addition to Kathy Bates, pilot director Kat Coiro, Jennie Snyder Urman, Joanna Klein, Eric Christian Olsen, and John Will round out the list of executive producers.
99 Comments
I wouldn't watch this with a paid contract.
Then why do it? Why not try (again) to give Bates an original show?
"Well, we are going to call it Cheers but it is a re-imagining and will not feature a bar, Boston or any reference to the previous and beloved show. "
Good grief.
Streaming, rather than capitalizing on their (assumed) advantage, sold out to easy profit. As have they all. And it's only going to get worse from now on. Another reason why couching new development is under the (assumed) safety net of a reboot. The title is supposed to distract us from innate deficiencies (otherwise known as, excuses). Kathy Bates, as an executive, is going to have to work pretty ding hard to break through that wall.