Matlock's back! Kathy Bates to star and executive produce in new series

Madeline Matlock will take on new cases soon.

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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. 

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99 Comments

Mark 17 months ago
Hopefully, this will be better than the Ironside reboot.
Mannixishot 18 months ago
I'm not a fan of current tv series. Overall it's just reality crap or remaking old stuff with a twist--let's make Matlock a woman this go round! Might as well just watch the original because it'd probably still hold up in today's times.
Tradesman 18 months ago
I would be willing to give it a try There's been a few shows that have done remakes and it turned out pretty good so I'll give Kathy Bates a chance
AgingDisgracefully 18 months ago
Already planning to not watch it all over again.
joenic27 18 months ago
"Reimagining" (likely) = "Woke" plot lines infecting much of TV and movies these days. I'll likely pass on this one.
mugens joenic27 18 months ago
When you used the term "woke" you lost all credibility.
StrayCat joenic27 18 months ago
They couldn't pay me to watch this.
mugens 18 months ago
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Wiseguy70005 StrayCat 18 months ago
It's made for a new audience which already doesn't include you.
Sooner 18 months ago
So, if it's entirely its own thing and will totally ignore the real show, what's the point of calling in Matlock? Why not call it Fetlock?

I wouldn't watch this with a paid contract.
Wapkep1982 18 months ago
Another attempt to revive classic series with a pale imitation. It will have all the baggage of comparison with half the fun. What made the classics classic was the freedom to work without fear of offending some group. Will the new Matlock continue the conspiracy story lines of the old one? Seems like everyone except the accused was complicit in the murders in the Griffith-era iteration.
Pacificsun Wapkep1982 18 months ago
Nicely said!
FloridaTopCat 18 months ago
And the advantages of using the name, "Matlock", but not basing the show on moving ahead 30 years and throwing in references and maybe even remembering cases from Ben Matlock - those advantages are what?
Lacey 18 months ago
"re-imagining" of the classic series, so there won't be any mention of Ben Matlock or plot details"

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.
Pacificsun Lacey 18 months ago
Again, nicely said!
57Tbird 18 months ago
Hollywood can't leave things alone. AMC did a remake of Patrick McGoohan's classic The Prisoner in 2009. That was an epic fail.
mugens 57Tbird 18 months ago
Agree, that was a big disappointment.
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Pacificsun 18 months ago
Well. What actually happened, and why the phenomena (as was enjoyed in the day) will never return. Is that freedom of speech (incl. opinion and point of view/experiences) have been co-opted for purpose (and not discovery). The first and second generations of television writers (producers) came from the golden age of those who expressed themselves with authenticity. Everyone might not have agreed. But they weren't afraid. And the point was in being a platform for discovery, sharing, and complimenting one another's effort. Meaning, there was permission to build upon itself. And the reason why (if there are any at all) that so few exist in this day, as being utterly outstanding.

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.
JJK 18 months ago
They should made Kathy Bates Matlock's daughter, carrying on the business. The suits have no imagination!
Wapkep1982 JJK 18 months ago
Ben had two daughters in the original. Maybe a granddaughter?…wait! Kathy Bates is too old to be Ben’s granddaughter.
pbrez12 18 months ago
Big problem is that all these "creative geniuses" are products of the American educational system. They don't know how to think for themselves nor are they adept at critical thinking.
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Pacificsun 18 months ago
Never fond of her since she was in a movie about torturing somebody endlessly. Was it TV or a made for ... movie, not sure. But it was creepy.
texasluva 18 months ago
Misery 1990. She won an Oscar for it. I liked it because I wanted it to end in revenge. It did. Your biggest fan brings you back to health then tortures you when everything she wishes to hear doesn't go her exact way. I would have shown it by now except the quality was not so good. I do not remember much about her afterwards. You can say it was creepy as the movie unfolded.
bobcapps 18 months ago
Don't forget the worst remake of all time. M-A-S-H. Swit totally missed it on Hotlips, Alda wasn't Hawkeye, he was Bugs Bunny, and Morgan was some Alzheimer's imagining of the uncle on Arsenic and Old Lace
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Snickers 18 months ago
Heck, why not bring back Adam-12 with Pee Wee Herman and Jack Black as officers Reed and Malloy?
18 months ago
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justjeff 18 months ago
SNORE.......................................................................................................
Snickers justjeff 18 months ago
Wake up! Oh wait, never mind.
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