MATLOCK TV Series on CBS Stars Kathy Bates It's First Rate

For those who remember the original TV MATLOCK series starring Andy Griffith you probably remember Opie as Ron Howard. Congratulations, you qualify as old. The two MATLOCK series are not related but they do share the same namesake, legal profession, and are legal drama genres. A charming running gag in the series which premiered last night on CBS dishes up the generational divide.The star of is the incomparable Kathy Bates as an older attorney, Madeline "Matty" Matlock, returning to work after a long hiatus. Anything Bates is in is worth checking into. But, would the weekly TV drama be worthy of returning to on Sundays (following CBS' "60 Minutes")? I was engrossed by this glossy, high powered legal drama set in NYC. The series is "lawyered- up" with a smart cast including Beau Bridges as the plaid shirt-wearing head of the firm. His son Julian (Jason Ritter) is a partner who sports tailored suits and Julian's soon to be ex-wife, Olympia (Sky Marshall) with whom he shares twins is also counsel for the firm. Matty eluded security and slipped into the firm's board meeting without being discovered because, as she puts it, "older women are invisible, and I like it that way." In addition to being cunning, clever, resourceful and unflappable, we discover she's a smooth liar and serious sleuth with a mission. But, I object to my own preemptive spoiler. Matty won over Bridges and he assigns her to assist Olympia and her team. Olympia's two young associates are Billy (David Del Rio) and Sarah (Leah Lewis). They're smart, ambitious and obsequious to Olympia. Matty meanwhile, shows gumption, street smarts and quickly earns the support of the young duo. The three band together and banter. Sometimes, they baffle one another with references to technology or past and present pop culture. The current case involves a settlement for a man who served three decades behind bars for a murder he didn't commit. Despite Billy and Sarah's best advice not to proffer an opinion to a client in front of Olympia, she does just that. Matty advises the client "to take their case to court; the settlement offered was an insult." The detective work and courtroom scenes are entertaining despite being duplicitous, incredulous and sensationalized. As in the first episode of any new series, allowances must be made for being overladen with backstory and character development.  After having considered all the evidence presented, I found the show a bit slow and predictable. At least I did until the surprise ending. Matty's real life story is revealed and not what she testified to at the office. Without providing spoilers that would be objected to, the 11th hour testimonial renders evidence to indicate positive potential for a TV series to lock into on Sunday nights. Nonetheless, I objected to Bates admonishing the audience to be gagged on the ending.  Still, I find football foul (thus "60 Minutes") and henceforth, MATLOCK on Sunday evenings.