Premiering in 1986, the TV series "
Matlock" enjoyed a successful run until the year 1995. The series belongs to the genre that includes the popular "
Murder, She Wrote", starring
Angela Lansbury, and the relatively new "
Diagnosis Murder", starring
Dick Van Dyke.
"
Matlock" features criminal defense attorney
Ben Matlock (
Andy Griffith of "
The Andy Griffith Show" fame) seeking to prove the
innocence of his
client as he takes on his/her case, of which most involve
murders. He does this with the help of a team of
people, which changed from season to season but included over the years
Conrad McMasters (
Clarence Gilyard Jr., now more known for his role as
Jimmy Trivette in "
Walker, Texas Ranger"), daughter
Charlene Matlock (
Linda Purl), and Cliff Lewis (
Daniel Roebuck).
This show has been taken up by
TBS,
UPN, and
CourtTV in
reruns in the past and might be currently seen on any one of these (check your
local listings).