Why Kathy Bates Chose MATLOCK Over Retirement
By Movieguide® Contributor
Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates explained why she took on the role of Madeline Matlock and how she hopes the show will speak to all generations.
MATLOCK was promoted as a reboot of the classic ’80s legal drama, but by the end of episode one, fans of the show found out this wasn’t exactly the case. In the final minutes of the pilot, the show revealed that Bates’ character was a wealthy lady avenging her daughter, rather than the doting widow she was pretending to be. This twist not only captured audiences’ attention — boosting the show to be CBS’s most-watched pilot in over five years — but Bates’ as well.
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“The main thing was the script, as always, and the twist of the end,” Bates told The Hollywood Reporter when asked why she pursued the role. “When I read it, I realized that it wasn’t just an episodic — it had a serious story to tell, but also a mission that would run throughout the whole arc of the season. And so that very much attracted me. When I’m acting, I like to have something that has substance, that has meaning, something that I can really dig into. And then I met Jennie Urman, and I liked her tremendously, and I felt that we would have a good collaboration.”
The intriguing twist and engaging storyline not only caught Bates’ attention but caused her to come out of a semi-retirement that she was just beginning to settle into.
“Quite frankly, I was thinking about going into semi-retirement, and just waiting to see what came along that I might like to do. So I really wasn’t looking to do anything for a while. So this came as a total surprise to me, and continues to be because of the latest numbers that we’ve gotten,” Bates said.
“We’re all just so excited about everything, and CBS is excited,” she continued. “There have been some wonderful articles about the network and how they’ve really pulled ahead, and been very wise in their programming and marketing. I just feel so lucky to have such a strong foundation behind us and the show. It’s a miracle; we all keep pinching ourselves. The crew loves it. The actors love it. I know everyone says that when they’re marketing a show, but this is really unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I really can’t believe all this, especially at my age.”
Beyond the shock twist at the end, Bates believes the show is so popular because it has characters for every generation to connect with. After the pilot premiere, the cast received countless notes from people of all ages thanking them for providing them with a series they could relate to.
“When [Maddy] meets the kids, and they’re so different, they come from different walks of life. It’s interesting to her at first. I think she wonders if she can fit in,” Bates said. “She finds herself in a law firm where there are various lawyers at various ages, and the world has changed. She doesn’t understand some of their Gen Z speak. I’m not sure I’m even calling it the right generation. I really don’t know.”
“Then in Olympia, I think she doesn’t expect to find such a formidable adversary. So I love the variety…” Bates continued. “So it’s a whole panoply of people of different ages, and I think that’s one of the reasons why it appeals to so many people. They’re all from different walks of life, and that’s one thing that has excited all of us. All of us have had calls and emails from friends or people that we know, and they’re all completely different, different ages, different walks of life, like the people in the firm. They’ve all found something within the show they can relate to. That’s very powerful to be able to reach all those people.”
MATLOCK continues to release new episodes on Thursdays at 9 p.m. on CBS.
A portion of Movieguide®’s review of the first episode reads:
Episode 1 of MATLOCK is a reboot of a classic legal drama on CBS-TV. It stars Kathy bates as Madeline Matlock, an aging female lawyer who returns from retirement. Matty finagles her way onto a major law firm and onto a case about a black man falsely accused of rape 26 years ago. The law firm is trying to get a multimillion settlement from the city, but it’s hit a snag just before the case goes to trial. Matty must help the young lawyers find a former prostitute who may have been attacked after the man was arrested.
The pilot episode of the new MATLOCK is fun and compelling, with a clever performance by Kathy Bates as the title character. The episode places strong emphasis on justice and family. For example, Matlock wants to hold those responsible for her daughter’s death. Also, the specific case reunites a father and a daughter. However, MATLOCK’s first episode has some foul language. Also, two eyewitnesses are former prostitutes. One doesn’t regret her lifestyle but the other one has reformed her life with help from God.
