Pilot

I can imagine the pitch meeting at CBS -why not resuscitate the old Andy Griffith '80s hit TV series with a new version, after all, so many golden oldies have been resuscitated successfully for perhaps nostalgic Baby Boomers out there in TV land (like "Magnum P. I.", "Quantum Leap"). And how's this for a hook -we'll make the folksy old lawyer a woman this time! My musing was off-target, however, as the original show ran on NBC and later ABC -it wasn't a CBS property at all.

This typical high-concept Hollywood gimmick sounds dumb, but as with most properties, the secret is in the casting. Kathy Bates takes the role and runs with it Her folksiness is disarming and makes the pilot episode of her pulling many a fast one to finagle her way into a leading law firm job so much fun to watch. The twists and turns of the case are delightful, with a solid supporting cast fighting (mainly in vain) to compete with Kathy as center of attention. But that's obviously a lost cause -she completely dominates the screen and that spells HIT.

Watching the sneak peek preview of the pilot I was bowled over by the surprise ending which takes the series in a completely different and satisfying direction from the homespun set-up scenes preceding. And having Kathy herself make a Hitchcock (or William Castle?) styled plea to the audience not to reveal the surprise secret to anyone, as the actual series debut is several weeks away, was priceless.

A couple of things I think will help this show last longer than many today. Overall the show is interesting and engauging. Character developing is done well as we go but the direction seems turbulant. Perhaps with the hit/miss directors. It messes up the flow of the characters. It's like they have different personalities different directors. I feel that this retards character establishmen. Kat Coiro got it right in the beginning, so just let her take the lead direction. Please!? Also, on some of the episodes without Kat is that the timing is WAY too "on". Character placement within some scenes and dialog seems a bit too coincidental and contrived. But, I do love the show. Look forward to more. :)

FINALLY, a show that takes the "old lady as a punch line" and turns it inside out and upside down. Bates just burst through in this one-hour legal drama with wit, charm and a warrior's fierceness. And Hooray!! How wonderful to watch a show that has a lack of cliches. There is humor galore as all the old lady tropes get trotted out and turned into a weapon that opens doors and collects evidence. And the supporting characters are actually drawn as human beings. The abundance of sharp writing and a great story premise of the pilots proves this series has great promise. I can't wait to see the next episode.

Love the show. Brings a new style to the show. Kathy Bates is an awesome sweet character in this series. Wish she would have continued on. I think it would have made a good series. Please bring the show back.please please please bring it back. Matlock series has a great up to date feeling of humor and seriousness. Love her as the character, she is an awesome role player into the new direction of the series. A great modern direction towards a wonderful story line in the episodes. Has a great storyline of the characters and humor that grabs the audience attention towards each episode coming into play.

I never even saw an episode of the original "Matlock" sure I knew it was a thing but one doesn't (didn't?) watch much TV as young adults back in the day whenever that was.

I've always loved Kathy Bates and knew she had comedic as well as murderous acting chops. Here she can show them all. As a woman "of a certain age" I'm learning to make invisibility work for me too. Just like our new Matlock.

Check it out. The beginning sequence is perfect. Of course Matlock enjoys a white age-based privilege that not all have but that doesn't make the scene any less humorous.

Add in Beau Bridges who was fabulous in the comedy "Black-ish". I have high hopes and have now met the minimum character limit here.