Media: The Matlock Expressway

[DanaK]

1 hour ago, Irlandesa said:

That also suggests to me that they're only doing 13 episodes this season because, normally, a full-season pickup would be the step before a full renewal.

Hmm, possibly. Maybe Kathy didn’t want to do more than 13 episodes given her age

[Ms Lark]

Well, she did say she wants to retire after this show. I wondered how she'd feel if it kept getting renewed season after season. Another year to go Kathy!

[shapeshifter]

49 minutes ago, Ms Lark said:

Well, she did say she wants to retire after this show. I wondered how she'd feel if it kept getting renewed season after season. Another year to go Kathy!

In a later interview (I think maybe on Colbert?) she walked back the wanting-to-retire-after-this-show remarks.

[Bastet]

7 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

In a later interview (I think maybe on Colbert?) she walked back the wanting-to-retire-after-this-show remarks.

Yes, a bad experience on a film (she didn't say which one, and she had several out at the same time so you can't tell from her credits) completely soured her on the business and she was done.  Then this offer came along, and she decided to take it as her last role.  It has been such a good experience, she no longer wants to retire afterward.  So even if I quit watching somewhere along the way, I'll be thankful to this show for that.

[DanaK]

51 minutes ago, Bastet said:

Yes, a bad experience on a film (she didn't say which one, and she had several out at the same time so you can't tell from her credits) completely soured her on the business and she was done.  Then this offer came along, and she decided to take it as her last role.  It has been such a good experience, she no longer wants to retire afterward.  So even if I quit watching somewhere along the way, I'll be thankful to this show for that.

And this show seems a far better fit for her than “Harry’s Law”, the previous lawyer show she did for NBC 

[shapeshifter]

3 hours ago, DanaK said:

And this show seems a far better fit for her than “Harry’s Law”, the previous lawyer show she did for NBC 

Yes, Harry’s Law didn't really have much to it. IIRC, the premise was opening a law office in a poor neighborhood where there were none. It was in a shoe store? I think there was something about the timing of the show that didn't help either. Maybe opposite too many popular shows and/or a strike? 

This show definitely has a unique premise for a procedural law series. 
But I get the impression that if Kathy Bates hadn't signed on it would never have gotten this far. It's just a little too far fetched (IMO) for such a mostly dramatic series. So Help Me Todd had the comedy holding up the unbelievable.

[andromeda331]

7 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

Yes, Harry’s Law didn't really have much to it. IIRC, the premise was opening a law office in a poor neighborhood where there were none. It was in a shoe store? I think there was something about the timing of the show that didn't help either. Maybe opposite too many popular shows and/or a strike? 

Yeah, then they changed it into a regular lawyer firm in the second season with a bunch of new people. It was a terrible change.

[DanaK]

Give Me My Remote talked with the showrunner about Episode 3's closing argument scene by Matty. Some pretty good stuff and possible spoilers

https://www.givememyremote.com/remote/2024/10/24/matlock-matty-closing-argument-jennie-snyder-urman/

On 10/24/2024 at 2:12 AM, andromeda331 said:

Yeah, then they changed it into a regular lawyer firm in the second season with a bunch of new people. It was a terrible change.

And I recall Kathy complaining about the show being canceled or striking out at the Cancel Bear for predicting it would be canceled and saying the large viewership should be valued (the 18-49 demo numbers weren't good). Fortunately she's at CBS now which does more or less value viewership over the 18-49 number

[DanaK]

More on the latest episode from the showrunner and Kathy in regards to MeToo stuff and Matty learning new things compared to how things were

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/matlock-metoo-kathy-bates-jennie-snyder-urman-1236044856/

 

[Percysowner]

For those who have been wondering we will finally be getting a look on why Skye and Julian are getting divorced this week Matlock’s Skye P. Marshall Previews ‘Magical’ Flashbacks, Mulls Olympia’s Eventual Reaction to Matty’s Secret Marshall also talks about the casting process for the show.

[Bastet]

29 minutes ago, Percysowner said:

Marshall also talks about the casting process for the show.

Very interesting information there.  It's no surprise that Kathy Bates would get to pick who, among the finalists, would play Olympia, but I am pleasantly surprised by the rest:

Quote

Kathy Bates did chemistry read auditions with multiple Olympias when she chose me. And then I did chemistry read auditions with multiple Julians before I chose Jason Ritter, and David [Del Rio, who plays Billy] did the same for Sarahs before he chose Leah Lewis. It was very intentional, making sure that every actor felt a chemical bond to their costar that they would be spending the most scenes with, and that’s the magic that everyone has seen on the screen. It wasn’t just a bunch of decision-makers choosing who had “the most followers” or the biggest resumé or the biggest story, because nobody knew who Skye P. Marshall was; I had to sneak my name through.

 

[DanaK]

The show returns from hiatus Jan 30

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2024/11/13/cbs-announces-winter-premiere-dates-for-2024-25-primetime-season-152310/20241113cbs03/

[peachmangosteen]

And it looks like after tonight's episode there will be a break until December 5th and then there will be another episode on December 12th and then I guess the break until January 30th.