CBS has greenlighted a second season of its new legal drama Matlock, starring Kathy Bates, following the strong performance of its first two episodes. The series, a reimagining of the 1980s-90s classic originally led by Andy Griffith, has impressed both viewers and critics.
The show’s premiere on 22nd September, which aired after an NFL doubleheader and 60 Minutes, attracted 7.73 million same-day viewers, marking CBS’s most-watched series debut in over five years. With three days of cross-platform viewing, the audience grew to 10.67 million. The second episode, which aired on October 17 in its regular Thursday slot, drew 6.38 million viewers—up 44 percent from the average viewership for the time period last season.
CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach expressed enthusiasm about the series, said, “This reconceived Matlock was devised by Jennie Snyder Urman with a brilliant surprise plot twist, and we knew we had something very special the moment we saw the first episode brought to life by the incredibly talented Kathy Bates. The audience reception and critical acclaim for it has been overwhelming. We can’t wait to get started on a second season.”
The new version of Matlock was developed for the 2023-24 season, but due to labor strikes, CBS chose to delay the premiere to 2024-25. The current season is set for 18 episodes.
Bates, who portrays an attorney re-entering the legal world after decades away, shared her excitement about the project, admitting she was considering semi-retirement before the role came along. “It’s a miracle; we all keep pinching ourselves,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “The crew loves it. The actors love it. I really can’t believe all this, especially at my age.”
The show’s ensemble cast includes Skye P. Marshall, Jason Ritter, David Del Rio, and Leah Lewis, with recurring roles from Beau Bridges, Sam Anderson, Eme Ikwuakor, and Aaron D. Harris.
Matlock is produced by CBS Studios, with Jennie Snyder Urman, known for Jane the Virgin, serving as the show’s developer and executive producer alongside Joanna Klein, Eric Christian Olsen, Kat Coiro, and Kathy Bates.
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