Matlock
In this legal drama, Andy Griffith plays Ben Matlock, a criminal-defense lawyer based in Atlanta. Matlock typically identifies and confronts the perpetrator in a dramatic courtroom scene. His goal, most often, is to prove reasonable doubt of his client's guilt. Rumor suggests that the character is based on lawyer Bobby Lee Cook, Georgia's colorful "dean of criminal-defense attorneys."
- Metascore36
- 1986-1995
- 9 seasons
- NBC
- Suspense, Drama
- TV-PG
In this legal drama, Andy Griffith plays Ben Matlock, a criminal-defense lawyer based in Atlanta. Matlock typically identifies and confronts the perpetrator in a dramatic courtroom scene. His goal, most often, is to prove reasonable doubt of his client's guilt. Rumor suggests that the character is based on lawyer Bobby Lee Cook, Georgia's colorful "dean of criminal-defense attorneys."
Season 9 Episode Guide
15 Episodes 1994 - 1995
Episode 1
The Accused
Thu, Oct 13, 1994 120 mins
In part 1, a writer is accused of murdering someone who knew she had plagiarized a book for a prize winning series of articles. An old friend of Ben's calls the police to report she has killed someone to see if he'll take the case. Billy suddenly finds a land developer who keeps offering money to buy his sister's house, but he won't sell it for less than a million dollars, much to Cliff's annoyance.
Episode 2
The Scandal
Thu, Oct 20, 1994 60 mins
Lisa Swift works as a attorney for attorney Bruce Parmelee. They go out to dinner with a wealthy Japanese client. Lisa is surprised when Bruce starts fondling her knee under the table. Later, he asks her to drive the client back to his hotel. The client said that Bruce promised she'd sleep with him. Lisa turned him down. She confronted Bruce the next morning. He tells her to come to his house at 9pm that evening to discuss it. Lisa goes to his house, but finds Bruce dead. Someone stabbed him in the chest with a letter opener. Bruce's wife returns, and finds Lisa, who gets arrested. Lisa asks Ben to defend her. Ben, who had been a friend of Bruce's, has a hard time believing that his friend could sexually harass someone.
Episode 3
The Dare
Thu, Oct 27, 1994 50 mins
Wealthy philanthropist Malcolm Engle reveals his plan to murder someone close to Ben Matlock at a certain time and place and challenges Matlock to try and prove he did it. When Lt. Bob Brooks becomes the victim, Matlock struggles to break Engle's alibi and link him to the murder.
Episode 4
The Tabloid
Thu, Nov 3, 1994 50 mins
When the editor of a tabloid newspaper is murdered, a senatorial candidate is accused of murdering him after he smeared her in his newspaper.
Episode 5
The Coach
Thu, Nov 10, 1994 60 mins
Gol' dang shenanigans in college basketball leads to the murder of a car dealer and college booster, Red Tolman. Matlock has to defend the basketball coach who is indicted for the crime. The case hinges on a Haliburton briefcase and Matlock, once again, proves that clean living and Geritol keeps the wily, old buzzard bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
Episode 6
The Dating Game
Thu, Nov 17, 1994 50 mins
Cliff's friend Fred is accused of killing the woman he met through a video dating service, so Jerri goes undercover as a client of the service in order to catch the real killer. Meanwhile, Matlock tries his own luck at video dating.
Episode 7
The Confession
Thu, Dec 1, 1994 60 mins
Former Atlanta assistant district attorney Julie March fears she may have convicted an innocent man several years ago.
Episode 8
Dead Air
Thu, Dec 8, 1994 50 mins
Matlock meets his match with Pat, a klutzy Italian gum-shoe cop. Together they solve the mystery of a murdered DJ host who disliked his on-air partner.
Episode 9
The Getaway
Thu, Jan 5, 1995 50 mins
Matlock defends an ex-con in a bank robbery trial, which hinges on the testimony of a kid who claims he can identify the real bandits.
Episode 10
The Verdict
Thu, Jan 12, 1995 60 mins
Katie Clark and her two kids are on their way from St. Louis to Chattanooga, where she is to be the new ADA. Meanwhile, her old friend, Jack Gibson, fires one of his workers, Rusty Stambler. Rusty knocks Jack to the floor, where he is found by his son, Mike, a corporate lawyer. Rusty is strangled by an unidentified assailant and Jack is accused. Katie is assigned to the case. Matlock reluctantly takes the case. Matlock finds a makeup kit in Jack's bedroom. Matlock visits Katie and tells her about the kit. In court, Jack is accused by a witness of having committed fraud in his business on which Rusty was going to blow the whistle. Matlock never loses, but there are no more details, or the killer would be revealed.
Episode 11
The Deadly Dose
Thu, Feb 2, 1995 50 mins
A malpractice suit is followed by a murder and Matlock must defend the accused killer--investigator Jerri Stone's sister.
Episode 12
The Target
Thu, Feb 9, 1995 60 mins
After a judge is killed in a deliberate explosion, Matlock suspects he was the actual target of the killer. He looks back on past cases to find someone who has a motive to kill him in revenge.
Episode 13
The Assault
Thu, Feb 16, 1995 50 mins
After Matlock's car breaks down in the bad part of Atlanta, he befriends a tenant of run down apartment complex in the same area. His new friend is accused of assaulting the slum lord owner of the building and Ben serves as his lawyer.
Episode 14
The Heist
Thu, Apr 27, 1995 120 mins
When Billy comes into money, he takes Ben on holiday - only to encounter agent Ed Wingate from the FBI on an undercover mission.
Episode 15
The Scam
Thu, May 4, 1995 120 mins
Ben sidelines plans to attend a class reunion when Cliff is accused of murder.