“Matlock” has scored an early Season 2 renewal at CBS, Variety has learned.
The news comes just ahead of the series airing its third episode at the broadcast network. Kathy Bates stars in the series, which serves as a reimagined version of the series of the same name starring Andy Griffith. Skye P. Marshall, Jason Ritter, David Del Rio, and Leah Lewis also star.
“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,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “The audience reception and critical acclaim for it has been overwhelming. We can’t wait to get started on a second season.”
“Matlock” has proven popular with critics and audiences since its launch on Sept. 22. The series currently has a 100% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The first episode drew a 0.44 rating and 7.7 million viewers in the Nielsen Live+Same Day ratings, with that rising to a 0.62 and 10.4 million viewers in Live+7.
Bates as stars in the series as Madeline “Matty” Matlock, described as “a brilliant septuagenarian who achieved success in her younger years and decides to rejoin the work force at a prestigious law firm where she uses her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases all while investigating a deeply personal secret of her own.”
Jennie Snyder Urman developed “Matlock” and serves as executive producer. Joanna Klein, Eric Christian Olsen, Kat Coiro, and Bates also executive produce. CBS Studios produces. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.
New episodes of “Matlock” air Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and are available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.