Began Tuesdays on NBC 9/23/86
Moved to Thursdays on ABC 1993-95
Derived from 1986 TV Movie, Diary of a Perfect Murder
Season 1 — 1986
Starting Cast:
Ben Matlock – Andy Griffith
Charlene Matlock, daughter – Linda Purl
Tyler Hudson, investigator – Kene Holliday
Lt. Bob Brooks – David Froman
DA Lloyd Burgess – Michael Durrell
Judge Richard Cooksey – Richard Newton
1 – Diary of a Perfect Murder
2 – The Judge
3 – The Stripper
4 – The Affair
5 – The Seduction
6 – The Don Part-1
7 – The Don Part-2
8 – The Sisters
9 – The Cop
10 – The Angel
11 – The Professor
12 – Santa Claus
13 – The Chef
14 – The Author
15 – The Rat Pack
16 – The Nurse
17 – The Convict
18 – The Court Martial – Part 1
19 – The Court Martial – Part 2
20 – The Therapist
21 – People v. Matlock
22 – The Photographer
23 – The Reporter
24 – The Doctors
Season 2 — 1987-1988
New cast:
Michelle Thomas – Nancy Stafford
Julie March – Julie Sommars
Cassie Phillips – Kari Lizer
Charlene Matlock no longer Ben’s assistant.
25 – The Billionaire – Part 1
26 – The Billionaire – Part 2
27 – Blind Justice
28 – The Annihilator
29 – The Husband
30 – The Power Brokers – Part 1
31 – The Power Brokers – Part 2
32 – The Gambler
33 – The Network
34 – The Best Friend
35 – The Country Boy
36 – The Gift
37 – The Body
38 – The Reunion
39 – The Gigolo
40 – The Umpire
41 – The Investigation – Part 1
42 – The Investigation – Part 2
43 – The Hucksters
44 – The Lovelorn
45 – The Genius
46 – The Magician
47 – The Fisherman
48 – The Heiress
Season 3 — 1988-1989
New Cast:
Les “Ace” Calhoun – Don Knotts
49 – The Lemon
50 – The Ambassador – Part 1
51 – The Ambassador – Part 2
52 – The Mistress
53 – The D.J.
54 – The Captain
55 – The Vendetta
56 – The Mayor – Part 1
57 – The Mayor – Part 2
58 – The Black Widow
59 – The Other Woman
60 – The Starlet
61 – The Psychic
62 – The Thief – Part 1
63 – The Thief – Part 2
64 – The Thoroughbred
65 – The Model
66 – The Cult
67 – The Blues Singer
68 – The Priest
Season 4 — 1989-1990
New cast:
Conrad McMasters, investigator – Clarence Gilyard, Jr.
Tyler Hudson no longer Ben’s investigator.
69 – The Hunting Party – Part 1
70 – The Hunting Party – Part 2
71 – The Good Boy
72 – The Best Seller
73 – The Ex
74 – The Clown
75 – The Star
76 – The Con Man
77 – The Prisoner – Part 1
78 – The Prisoner – Part 2
79 – The Fugitive
80 – The Buddies
81 – The Scrooge
82 – The Witness
83 – The Student
84 – The Talk Show
85 – The Victim
86 – The Kidnapper
87 – The Pro
88 – The Informer – Part 1
89 – The Informer – Part 2
90 – The D.A.
91 – The Blackmailer
92 – The Cookie Monster
Season 5 — 1990-1991
93 – The Mother
94 – Nowhere to Turn – Part 1
95 – Nowhere to Turn – Part 2
96 – The Madam
97 – The Personal Trainer
98 – The Narc
99 – The Secret – Part 1
100 – The Secret – Part 2
101 – The Brothers
102 – The Cover Girl
103 – The Biker
104 – The Broker
105 – The Fighter
106 – The Critic
107 – The Parents
108 – The Man of The Year
109 – The Arsonist
110 – The Formula
111 – The Trial – Part 1
112 – The Trial – Part 2
113 – The Accident
114 – The Celebrity
Season 6 — 1991-1992
115 – The Witness Killings – Part 1
116 – The Witness Killings – Part 2
117 – The Strangler
118 – Nowhere to Turn
119 – The Marriage Counselor
120 – The Dame
121 – The Suspect – Part 1
122 – The Suspect – Part 2
123 – The Defense
124 – The Game Show
125 – The Foursome
126 – The Picture – Part 1
127 – The Picture – Part 2
128 – The Outcast – Part 1
129 – The Outcast – Part 2
130 – The Big Payoff
131 – The Abduction
132 – Mr. Awesome
133 – The Evening News – Part 1
134 – The Evening News – Part 2
135 – The Assassination – Part 1
136 – The Assassination – Part 2
Season 7 — 1993-ABC
New Cast:
Leanne McIntyre, daughter – Brynn Thayer
Cliff Lewis – Daniel Roebuck
Billy Lewis – Warren Frost
Michelle Thomas no longer Ben’s assistant.
137 – The Vacation – Part 1
138 – The Vacation – Part 2
139 – The Legacy – Part 1
140 – The Legacy – Part 2
141 – The Ghost
142 – The Class
143 – The Singer
144 – The Mark
145 – The Juror
146 – The Fortune – Part 1
147 – The Fortune – Part 2
148 – The Debt
149 – The Revenge
150 – The Obsession
151 – The Divorce
152 – The Final Affair – Part 1
153 – The Final Affair – Part 2
154 – The Competition
Season 8 — 1993-94
Conrad McMasters no longer Ben’s assistant.
155 – The Play
156 – The Fatal Seduction – Part 1
157 – The Fatal Seduction – Part 2
158 – The Diner
159 – The View
160 – The Last Laugh
161 – The Capital Offense
162 – The Haunted – Part 1
163 – The Haunted – Part 2
164 – The Conspiracy
165 – Matlock’s Bad, Bad, Bad, Dream
166 – The Defendant
167 – The Kidnapping – Part 1
168 – The Kidnapping – Part 2
169 – The Temptation
170 – The Crook
171 – The Murder Game
172 – Brennen
173 – The P.I.
174 – The Godfather
175 – The Idol – Part 1
176 – The Idol – Part 2
Season 9 — 1994-95
177 – The Accused – Part 1
178 – The Accused – Part 2
179 – The Scandal
180 – The Dare
181 – The Tabloid
182 – The Coach
183 – The Dating Game
184 – The Confession
185 – Dead Air
186 – The Getaway
187 – The Verdict
188 – The Deadly Dose
189 – The Target
190 – The Assault
191 – The Heist – Part 1
192 – The Heist – Part 2
193 – The Scam – Part 1
194 – The Scam – Part 2