Matlock 1986
“AMERICA'S GREATEST LAWYER. CASE CLOSED.”
What is Matlock?
Matlock is an American legal drama television series that premiered with a sneak peek on September 22, 2024. The series follows Madeline Matlock, a brilliant lawyer portrayed by Emmy and Academy Award winner Kathy Bates.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1986
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 194
- Runtime
- 45 minutes
- First aired
- Mar 3, 1986
- Last aired
- May 7, 1995
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- NBC, ABC
- Genres
- Drama, Crime
- Updated
Where to watch
With ads
Pluto TVStream
Magenta TV+Stream
Now TV
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How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 194 episodes and an average 45-minute runtime.
Trailer
No official trailer is available for this title yet.
Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
Matlock is an American legal drama television series that premiered with a sneak peek on September 22, 2024. The series follows Madeline Matlock, a brilliant lawyer portrayed by Emmy and Academy Award winner Kathy Bates. The show features a cast including Skye P. Marshall as Olympia Lawrence and Jason Ritter as Julian. As a character, Matlock is described as thrifty, folksy, and cantankerous. She is known for charging a premium for her services while maintaining an uncanny knack for finding overlooked clues and exposing murderers during dramatic courtroom scenes. The character is often associated with a trademark light-gray suit and a Ford Crown Victoria. The series explores Madeline Matlock’s professional life and her hidden agenda. Following the resolution of the Wellbrexa cover-up in the season two finale, the show concluded its run despite a previous renewal for a third season. The production was created by Jennie Snyder Urman and aired on CBS, featuring high-profile legal cases and investigations throughout its tenure on television.
Should you watch it?
“A folksy yet sharp criminal defense attorney defends clients by uncovering overlooked clues and exposing true killers.”
- engaging courtroom confrontations
- charismatic lead performance
- high legal fees serve as a recurring plot point
Watch it if you enjoy classic legal dramas featuring clever investigators solving complex criminal cases.
The series features standard legal drama themes and courtroom mystery elements suitable for general audiences.
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Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 24 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 Diary of a Perfect Murder Mar 3, 1986
- E2 The Judge Sep 23, 1986
- E3 The Stripper Sep 30, 1986
- E4 The Affair Oct 7, 1986
- E5 The Seduction Oct 14, 1986
- E6 The Don (1) Oct 28, 1986
- E7 The Don (2) Nov 4, 1986
- E8 The Sisters Nov 11, 1986
- E9 The Cop Nov 18, 1986
- E10 The Angel Nov 25, 1986
- E11 The Professor Dec 2, 1986
- E12 Santa Claus Dec 9, 1986
- E13 The Chef Jan 6, 1987
- E14 The Author Jan 13, 1987
- E15 The Rat Pack Jan 20, 1987
- E16 The Nurse Feb 3, 1987
- E17 The Convict Feb 10, 1987
- E18 The Court Martial (1) Feb 17, 1987
- E19 The Court Martial (2) Feb 24, 1987
- E20 The Therapist Mar 3, 1987
- E21 The People vs. Matlock Mar 24, 1987
- E22 The Photographer Mar 31, 1987
- E23 The Reporter May 5, 1987
- E24 The Doctors May 12, 1987
Season 2 · 24 episodes
- E1 The Billionaire (1) Sep 22, 1987
- E2 The Billionaire (2) Sep 22, 1987
- E3 Blind Justice Sep 29, 1987
- E4 The Annihilator Oct 13, 1987
- E5 The Husband Oct 20, 1987
- E6 The Power Brokers (1) Oct 27, 1987
- E7 The Power Brokers (2) Nov 3, 1987
- E8 The Network Dec 1, 1987
- E9 The Best Friend Dec 8, 1987
- E10 The Country Boy Dec 15, 1987
- E11 The Gift Dec 22, 1987
- E12 The Gambler Dec 29, 1987
- E13 The Body Jan 5, 1988
- E14 The Reunion Jan 12, 1988
- E15 The Gigolo Jan 19, 1988
- E16 The Umpire Jan 26, 1988
- E17 The Investigation (1) Feb 2, 1988
- E18 The Investigation (2) Feb 9, 1988
- E19 The Hucksters Feb 16, 1988
- E20 The Lovelorn Feb 23, 1988
- E21 The Genius Mar 15, 1988
- E22 The Magician Mar 22, 1988
- E23 The Fisherman Mar 29, 1988
- E24 The Heiress May 3, 1988
Season 3 · 20 episodes
- E1 The Lemon Nov 29, 1988
- E2 The Ambassador (1) Dec 6, 1988
- E3 The Ambassador (2) Dec 13, 1988
- E4 The Mistress Dec 20, 1988
- E5 The D.J. Jan 3, 1989
- E6 The Captain Jan 10, 1989
- E7 The Vendetta Jan 17, 1989
- E8 The Mayor (1) Jan 31, 1989
- E9 The Mayor (2) Feb 7, 1989
- E10 The Black Widow Feb 14, 1989
- E11 The Other Woman Feb 21, 1989
- E12 The Starlet Feb 28, 1989
- E13 The Psychic Mar 7, 1989
- E14 The Thief (1) Mar 28, 1989
- E15 The Thief (2) Apr 4, 1989
- E16 The Thoroughbred Apr 18, 1989
- E17 The Model Apr 25, 1989
- E18 The Cult May 2, 1989
- E19 The Blues Singer May 9, 1989
- E20 The Priest May 16, 1989
Season 4 · 24 episodes
- E1 The Hunting Party (1) Sep 19, 1989
- E2 The Hunting Party (2) Sep 19, 1989
- E3 The Good Boy Sep 26, 1989
- E4 The Best Seller Oct 10, 1989
- E5 The Ex Oct 17, 1989
- E6 The Clown Oct 24, 1989
- E7 The Star Oct 31, 1989
- E8 The Con Man Nov 7, 1989
- E9 The Prisoner (1) Nov 14, 1989
- E10 The Prisoner (2) Nov 21, 1989
- E11 The Fugitive Nov 28, 1989
- E12 The Buddies Dec 12, 1989
- E13 The Scrooge Dec 19, 1989
- E14 The Witness Jan 2, 1990
- E15 The Student Jan 9, 1990
- E16 The Talk Show Jan 16, 1990
- E17 The Victim Jan 23, 1990
- E18 The Kidnapper Feb 6, 1990
- E19 The Pro Feb 13, 1990
- E20 The Informer (1) Feb 20, 1990
- E21 The Informer (2) Feb 27, 1990
- E22 The D.A. Mar 20, 1990
- E23 The Blackmailer May 1, 1990
- E24 The Cookie Monster May 8, 1990
Season 5 · 22 episodes
- E1 The Mother Sep 18, 1990
- E2 Nowhere to Turn (1) Sep 25, 1990
- E3 Nowhere to Turn (2) Sep 25, 1990
- E4 The Madam Oct 2, 1990
- E5 The Personal Trainer Oct 9, 1990
- E6 The Narc Oct 23, 1990
- E7 The Secret (1) Oct 30, 1990
- E8 The Secret (2) Nov 6, 1990
- E9 The Brothers Nov 13, 1990
- E10 The Cover Girl Nov 20, 1990
- E11 The Biker Nov 27, 1990
- E12 The Broker Dec 4, 1990
- E13 The Fighter Dec 11, 1990
- E14 The Critic Jan 8, 1991
- E15 The Parents Jan 15, 1991
- E16 The Man of The Year Jan 29, 1991
- E17 The Arsonist Feb 5, 1991
- E18 The Formula Feb 12, 1991
- E19 The Trial (1) Feb 19, 1991
- E20 The Trial (2) Feb 26, 1991
- E21 The Accident Mar 26, 1991
- E22 The Celebrity Apr 30, 1991
Frequently asked questions
Who created the series?
The series was created by Dean Hargrove.
Who plays the title character?
Andy Griffith stars as the criminal defense attorney Ben Matlock.
What is Ben Matlock's profession?
He is a criminal defense attorney who defends clients across the United States.
How much does he charge?
He is a very expensive attorney who charges one hundred thousand dollars to take a case.
When did the original series air?
The series debuted on March 3, 1986, and ran until 1995.