Matlock (1986)
The classic legal drama starring Andy Griffith as Ben Matlock, America’s most tenacious criminal defense attorney, delivering justice one courtroom at a time.
Matlock - Series Information
- Original Title: Matlock
- First Air Year: 1986
- Last Air Year: 1995
- Created by: Dean Hargrove
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, Crime
- Content Rating (US): TV-PG
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (53 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 9
- Number of Episodes: 194
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: March 3, 1986 (United States - TV-PG), March 3, 1986 (Canada - PG)
- Networks: NBC, ABC
- Alternative Titles: Ματλοκ (GR)
- Production Companies: Viacom Productions, Dean Hargrove Productions, Fred Silverman Company, The Matlock Company
- Production Countries: United States of America
Matlock - Plot
Matlock is an American television legal drama, starring Andy Griffith in the title role of criminal defense attorney Ben Matlock. The show, produced by The Fred Silverman Company, Dean Hargrove Productions, Viacom Productions and Paramount Television originally aired from September 23, 1986 to May 8, 1992 on NBC; and from November 5, 1992 until May 7, 1995 on ABC. The show’s format is similar to that of CBS’s Perry Mason, with Matlock identifying the perpetrators and then confronting them in dramatic courtroom scenes. One difference, however, was that whereas Mason usually exculpated his clients at a pretrial hearing, Matlock usually secured an acquittal at trial, from the jury.
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Matlock - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Dean Hargrove
Main Cast
- Andy Griffith
- Nancy Stafford
- Julie Sommars
- Clarence Gilyard Jr.
- Kene Holliday
- Daniel Roebuck
- David Froman
- Richard Newton
- Brynn Thayer
- Kari Lizer
Writers
- Robert Schlitt
- Joel Steiger
- Gerry Conway
- Michael Scheff
- Dean Hargrove
Executive Producers
- Andy Griffith
Matlock - FAQs
Where can you watch Matlock online?
Matlock is available to stream on Philo and Paramount Plus Essential (both with a flat-rate subscription). Episodes can also be purchased individually on Amazon Video. Check JustWatch for the most up-to-date streaming availability in your region.
Who played Ben Matlock in the original series?
Andy Griffith played Ben Matlock, the folksy yet razor-sharp criminal defense attorney at the heart of the series. Griffith also served as executive producer throughout the show’s run, making the character very much his own personal and professional project.
How many seasons and episodes does Matlock have?
Matlock ran for 9 seasons and a total of 194 episodes. Season episode counts ranged from 18 to 24 per season. The series aired from 1986 to 1995, first on NBC for six seasons, then on ABC for its final three seasons.
Is Matlock similar to Perry Mason?
Yes, Matlock closely mirrors the Perry Mason format: a defense attorney investigates crimes and confronts the true culprit in a dramatic courtroom showdown. The key difference is that Matlock typically secured a full jury acquittal at trial, whereas Mason usually resolved cases at pretrial hearings.
What network originally aired Matlock?
Matlock originally aired on NBC from September 23, 1986 through May 8, 1992. After six seasons, the series moved to ABC, where it continued from November 5, 1992 until its finale on May 7, 1995, completing a nine-season, nearly decade-long run.
What is the content rating for Matlock?
Matlock carries a TV-PG content rating in the United States, making it suitable for general audiences with parental guidance suggested for younger viewers. Its tone is largely lighthearted and dramatic rather than graphic, consistent with its broad primetime network appeal throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Who created the original Matlock TV series?
Matlock was created by Dean Hargrove, who also served as a writer on the series. The show was produced by Dean Hargrove Productions alongside The Fred Silverman Company, Viacom Productions, and The Matlock Company, with Andy Griffith himself serving as executive producer.
Did Matlock win any awards during its run?
Matlock earned several award nominations during its run, with Andy Griffith receiving Golden Globe and People’s Choice Award recognition for his portrayal of Ben Matlock. The series was a consistent ratings success, regularly ranking among the top-watched primetime dramas throughout its nine-season broadcast run.
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