# 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.

## 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 air 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 |
| 3 | 3 | "The Affair" | John Llewellyn Moxey | Paul Savage | October 7, 1986 (1986-10-07) | 19.6/30 |
| 4 | 4 | "The Seduction" | Nicholas Sgarro | Anne Collins | October 14, 1986 (1986-10-14) | 18.1/27 |
| 5 | 5 | "The Don: Part 1" | Nicholas Sgarro | Anne Collins | October 28, 1986 (1986-10-28) | 17.6/27 |
| 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 |
| 7 | 7 | "The Sisters" | Alan Cooke | Doc Barnett | November 11, 1986 (1986-11-11) | 16.6/24 |
| 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 |
| 9 | 9 | "The Angel" | Larry Elikann | Robin Bernheim | November 25, 1986 (1986-11-25) | 17.1/26 |
| 10 | 10 | "The Professor" | Bill Duke | Donald Ross | December 2, 1986 (1986-12-02) | 17.0/24 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 13 | 13 | "The Author" | Michael O'Herlihy | Gerald Sanoff | January 13, 1987 (1987-01-13) | 19.8/28 |
| 14 | 14 | "The Rat Pack" | Nicholas Sgarro | Anne Collins | January 20, 1987 (1987-01-20) | 20.2/29 |
| 15 | 15 | "The Nurse" | Charles S. Dubin | Robert Hamilton | February 3, 1987 (1987-02-03) | 19.7/29 |
| 16 | 16 | "The Convict" | Daniel Haller | Marvin Kupfer | February 10, 1987 (1987-02-10) | 19.3/29 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 19 | 19 | "The Therapist" | Christopher Hibler | Robert Hamilton | March 3, 1987 (1987-03-03) | 20.3/30 |
| 20 | 20 | "The People vs. Matlock" | Charles S. Dubin | Robert Hamilton | March 24, 1987 (1987-03-24) | 20.3/31 |
| 21 | 21 | "The Photographer" | Bob Sweeney | Robin Bernheim | March 31, 1987 (1987-03-31) | 21.2/32 |
| 22 | 22 | "The Widow" "The Reporter" | Charles S. Dubin | Robert Hamilton | May 5, 1987 (1987-05-05) | 18.1/31 |
| 23 | 23 | "The Doctors" | Tony Mordente | Dean Hargrove, Robin Bernheim & Joel Steiger | May 12, 1987 (1987-05-12) | 18.3/30 |