Matlock (1986 TV series) season 1

The first season of Matlock originally aired in the United States on NBC from September 20, 1986 – May 12, 1987. The two-part episode "The Don" served as a backdoor pilot for Jake and the Fatman.

Matlock
Season 1
No. of episodes	23
Release
Original network	NBC
Original release	September 20, 1986 (1986-09-20) – May 12, 1987 (1987-05-12)
Season chronology
List of episodes

Cast

Main

• Andy Griffith as Ben Matlock
• Linda Purl as Charlene Matlock
• Kene Holliday as Tyler Hudson

Recurring

• Kari Lizer as Cassie Phillips
• Julie Sommars as ADA Julie March

Cast notes

• Lori Lethin was replaced by Linda Purl
• Linda Purl departed at the end of the season
• Linda Purl was absent for six episodes
• Kene Holiday was absent for one episode

Episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date	Rating/share (households)
1	1	"The Judge"	Christopher Hibler	Robert Hamilton	September 20, 1986 (1986-09-20)	N/A
2	2	"The Stripper"	Daniel Haller	Story by : Rick Mittleman Teleplay by : Michael Petryni	September 30, 1986 (1986-09-30)	16.4/25[1]
3	3	"The Affair"	John Llewellyn Moxey	Paul Savage	October 7, 1986 (1986-10-07)	19.6/30[2]
4	4	"The Seduction"	Nicholas Sgarro	Anne Collins	October 14, 1986 (1986-10-14)	18.1/27[3]
5	5	"The Don: Part 1"	Nicholas Sgarro	Anne Collins	October 28, 1986 (1986-10-28)	17.6/27[4]
6	6	"The Don: Part 2"	Leo Penn	Story by : Dean Hargrove & Joel Steiger Teleplay by : Anne Collins	November 4, 1986 (1986-11-04)	17.3/25[5]
7	7	"The Sisters"	Alan Cooke	Doc Barnett	November 11, 1986 (1986-11-11)	16.6/24[6]
8	8	"The Cop"	Daniel Haller	Story by : Joel Steiger, Robert Schlitt & Dean Hargrove Teleplay by : Robert Schlitt	November 18, 1986 (1986-11-18)	17.0/25[7]
9	9	"The Angel"	Larry Elikann	Robin Bernheim	November 25, 1986 (1986-11-25)	17.1/26[8]
10	10	"The Professor"	Bill Duke	Donald Ross	December 2, 1986 (1986-12-02)	17.0/24[9]
11	11	"Santa Claus"	Daniel Haller	Story by : Joel Steiger & Dean Hargrove Teleplay by : Robert Schlitt	December 9, 1986 (1986-12-09)	17.9/27[10]
12	12	"The Chef"	Bob Sweeney	Story by : David R. Toddman, Joel Steiger & Dean Hargrove Teleplay by : Anne Collins	January 6, 1987 (1987-01-06)	19.6/28[11]
13	13	"The Author"	Michael O'Herlihy	Gerald Sanoff	January 13, 1987 (1987-01-13)	19.8/28[12]
14	14	"The Rat Pack"	Nicholas Sgarro	Anne Collins	January 20, 1987 (1987-01-20)	20.2/29[13]
15	15	"The Nurse"	Charles S. Dubin	Robert Hamilton	February 3, 1987 (1987-02-03)	19.7/29[14]
16	16	"The Convict"	Daniel Haller	Marvin Kupfer	February 10, 1987 (1987-02-10)	19.3/29[15]
17	17	"The Court-Martial: Part 1"	Charles S. Dubin	Story by : Joel Steiger & Dean Hargrove Teleplay by : Anne Collins	February 17, 1987 (1987-02-17)	20.6/30[16]
18	18	"The Court-Martial: Part 2"	Charles S. Dubin	Story by : Joel Steiger & Dean Hargrove Teleplay by : Anne Collins	February 24, 1987 (1987-02-24)	22.0/31[17]
19	19	"The Therapist"	Christopher Hibler	Robert Hamilton	March 3, 1987 (1987-03-03)	20.3/30[18]
20	20	"The People vs. Matlock"	Charles S. Dubin	Robert Hamilton	March 24, 1987 (1987-03-24)	20.3/31[19]
21	21	"The Photographer"	Bob Sweeney	Robin Bernheim	March 31, 1987 (1987-03-31)	21.2/32[20]
22	22	"The Widow" "The Reporter"	Charles S. Dubin	Robert Hamilton	May 5, 1987 (1987-05-05)	18.1/31[21]
23	23	"The Doctors"	Tony Mordente	Dean Hargrove, Robin Bernheim & Joel Steiger	May 12, 1987 (1987-05-12)	18.3/30[22]