Matlock (season 3)

The third season of Matlock originally aired in the United States on NBC from November 29, 1988 through May 16, 1989.

Matlock
Season 3
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes20
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseNovember 29, 1988 (1988-11-29) 
May 16, 1989 (1989-05-16)
Season chronology

Cast

Cast notes
  • Julie Sommars joined the cast this season
  • Kene Holliday departed at the end of the season, but appeared twice more early in Season 4. He missed 7 episodes, because he was sent to a rehabilitation clinic, for his drug and alcohol abuse.
  • Kene Holliday was absent for 8 episodes
  • Julie Sommars was absent for 14 episodes
  • Nancy Stafford was absent for 6 episodes

Episodes

No. in
season
No. in
series
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
481"The Lemon"Leo PennDiana Kopald MarcusNovember 29, 1988 (1988-11-29)

Matlock's new neighbor (Don Knotts) gets confused when he is faced with two competitive car salesmen, and gets framed for the murder of one of them, T.J. Cassidy (John McCann), who sold him a lemon.

Notes: This is the first appearance of Don Knotts in the role of Les Calhoun. It was the first time in over twenty years that Griffith and Knotts had worked together on a television series, since The Andy Griffith Show. (They had reunited two years earlier in the popular TV reunion-movie Return to Mayberry.) Julie Sommars does not appear in this episode.
492"The Ambassador: Part 1"Christopher HiblerStory by: Dean Hargrove & Joel Steiger
Teleplay by: Anne Collins
December 6, 1988 (1988-12-06)

British ambassador Anthony Stewart (Neil Dickson) is charged with the murder of his lover's husband (Charles Bateman). When he has diplomatic immunity, he was accompanied by Alex Winthrop (Daniel Roebuck) who in turn called Matlock to travel to New York City to represent him.

Other guest stars: John Rubinstein as Dr. Douglas Clark, David Ogden Stiers as Thomas Baldwin, Michael C. Gwynne as Lt. Rosetti, Albert Hall as a prosecutor, Akio Mitamura as Judge Raymond Kawai

Note: Nancy Stafford and Julie Sommars do not appear in this episode. Don Knotts appears as Les Calhoun.
503"The Ambassador: Part 2"Christopher HiblerStory by: Dean Hargrove & Joel Steiger
Teleplay by: Anne Collins
December 13, 1988 (1988-12-13)

After Stewart (Neil Dickson) is nearly killed in a hit and run accident, Matlock notices that the only way to get him off is to locate the woman (Lisa Hartman) who accused the client of this crime.

Other guest stars: John Rubinstein as Dr. Douglas Clark, David Ogden Stiers as Thomas Baldwin, Michael C. Gwynne as Lt. Rosetti, Albert Hall as a prosecutor, Akio Mitamura as Judge Raymond Kawai

Note: Nancy Stafford and Julie Sommars do not appear in this episode.
514"The Mistress"Harvey S. LaidmanRobert HamiltonDecember 20, 1988 (1988-12-20)

Matlock and Julie both agree to defend a jealous woman (Pamela Galloway) who's charged with murdering her husband.

Note: Nancy Stafford and Kene Holliday do not appear in this episode.
525"The D.J."Tony MordenteBill DanaJanuary 3, 1989 (1989-01-03)

Michelle's poetic, corruptive boyfriend, Arthur Saxon (S.A. Griffin) has a job as a DJ at a radio station, infamously known for his poisonous personality that everyone loves to hate, who later, is framed for the murder of his arch rival, Robby Moore (Robert Krantz). When Arthur gets arrested, Michelle asks Matlock to take the case. However, Matlock soon learns to just plain hate his client, because Arthur's on-the-air radio personality is his genuine one off-the-air, and offers just a glimpse of an all-around apathetic egomaniac whose temper is even more venomous than his tongue.

Note: Julie Sommars and Kene Holliday do not appear in this episode. Don Knotts appears as Les Calhoun
536"The Captain"Frank ThackeryLincoln KibbeeJanuary 10, 1989 (1989-01-10)

Matlock's old friend, Capt. Edward Hanna (Richard Herd), was once a fine cop and had won many honors. Unfortunately, his actions after his wife was murdered took on a vicious tone, and had earned him the nickname 'The Mad Hatter'. Sgt. Jim Shanley (David Niedorf) had come to suspect that the Captain was murdering suspects who had gotten off on technicalities, and he had compiled a list, and had confronted Hanna, saying that if the Captain did not retire gracefully, he would report him to Internal Affairs. (Captain Hanna was the arresting officer on 5 suspects, who were murdered shortly after being acquitted.) So Sgt. Shanley had to be killed, and Hanna did a beautiful frame, setting up Sgt. Jerry Reese (Joe Urla) for the crime, who ironically thought Hanna should not be called "the mad hatter." Matlock had to prove that Reese was innocent and that the Captain was guilty.

Note: Andy Griffith is the only main cast member to appear in this episode.
547"The Vendetta"David SolomonRobert SchlittJanuary 17, 1989 (1989-01-17)

When Ned Billings, the brother of a dead convict Matlock had helped put in jail, appears at his office intending to kill him, he ends up holding Michelle, Tyler and Julie hostage.

Note: This episode is featured in an anthology-style, reviewing the pilot episode "The Diary of a Perfect Murder", season two episodes "Blind Justice" and the 2-part "The Investigation", followed by the rest of the season one episodes "The People Vs. Matlock", "The Stripper", "The Court-Martial", "The Seduction", and "The Sisters" – all episodes as to explain how Michelle, Julie and Tyler enjoyed working for Matlock. It concludes with "The Professor", the only episode within the context of trying to find out why Ned's brother had hung himself in jail, after he was found guilty for the murder. Andy Griffith appears briefly at the end of the episode. Don Knotts appears as Les Calhoun
558"The Mayor: Part 1"Harvey S. LaidmanStory by: Dean Hargrove & Joel Steiger
Teleplay by: Robert Schlitt
January 31, 1989 (1989-01-31)

When a man (Tony Maggio) who is determined to bring back the sixties is accused of murdering the mayor, Matlock travels to Chicago to represent him.

Other guest stars: Georg Stanford Brown as Judge Stuart Franklin, Ford Rainey as Judge Donald Powell, Mel Stewart as Sgt. Lou Marshall, Dennis Franz as Jack Brennert

Note: Julie Sommars does not appear in this episode.
569"The Mayor: Part 2"Harvey S. LaidmanStory by: Dean Hargrove & Joel Steiger
Teleplay by: Robert Schlitt
February 7, 1989 (1989-02-07)

After Paul O'Neill (Tony Soper) found Jackie Chan (Evan C. Kim) dead, he fled to Matlock in asking him for money to go to Texas to follow Eddie Lomax (Alan Stock), knowing he'd be the real killer, before his own murder in prison. In Chicago, Matlock notices that the real estate scam is responsible for everything, and enlists the mayor's wife as his main ally.

Other guest stars: Georg Stanford Brown, Ford Rainey, Mel Stewart, Dennis Franz, Leonard Donato as an Assistant D.A.

Note: Julie Sommars does not appear in this episode.
5710"The Black Widow"Christopher HiblerGerald SanoffFebruary 14, 1989 (1989-02-14)

Being convicted for seven years for killing his wife Ann (Debra Stipe), Ken Wilson (Jeff Allin) approaches a woman in Los Angeles, only to discover that she is Ann, still alive under the name Kelly Manning. When she is killed a second time, Ken is arrested again, forcing Ben, who originally defended him seven years earlier, to travel to Los Angeles to defend him again. In Atlanta, Les is more than happy with his new girlfriend Bernice, whom he met at Ray Templin's bar.

Note: Nancy Stafford and Julie Sommars do not appear in this episode. Don Knotts appears as Les Calhoun.
5811"The Other Woman"Robert ScheererPhil MishkinFebruary 21, 1989 (1989-02-21)

After an abusive and controlling man (Peter Mark Richman) is murdered, his wife's therapist (James Sloyan) is arrested for the crime and Matlock takes the case. He begins to notice that Erin Whitley (Nana Visitor) had a series of psychiatric problems, and is shocked to finally discover the identity of the killer.

Note: Julie Sommars does not appear in this episode.
5912"The Starlet"Harvey S. LaidmanMarvin KupferFebruary 28, 1989 (1989-02-28)

Matlock's old friend (Anne Francis) seeks him out to prove that her daughter (Rebecca Staab) did not murder her rival Morgan Girard (Nia Peeples). Roddy McDowall also appears (his second appearance in a Matlock episode after appearing in Season 1's The Chef.)

Note: Kene Holliday does not appear in this episode.
6013"The Psychic"Beth AustinStory by: Sue Downey
Teleplay by: Beth Ronald & Ronald Austin
March 7, 1989 (1989-03-07)

Matlock agrees to take on the case of Jennifer Holtz (Camilla More), a psychic who claims to have seen the murder before it ever took place. When the murder does take place, she hires Matlock. Les, who was with Matlock when Jennifer revealed her prediction to him, really believes in her powers, and is upset when she tells him that he won't live to see the outcome of the trial.

Note: Kene Holliday does not appear in this episode. Don Knotts appears as Les Calhoun.
6114"The Thief: Part 1"Harvey S. LaidmanGerald SanoffMarch 28, 1989 (1989-03-28)

A coin dealer (John Harkins) finds out that Rob Casey (Tom Henschel), a man who had been working for him, is stealing. Michael begs Rob to give him all of his coins back or Michael will press charges against Rob. When the employee was found dead, he was charged for his murder. Matlock represents the boss, as is Linda, the private investigator (Cindy Morgan), whom Tyler is less than happy after his boss hired her, himself, for the time being. Tyler's also very suspicious of Linda's plots.

Guest star: Henry G. Sanders as Mitchell Sands

Note: Julie Sommars does not appear in this episode.
6215"The Thief: Part 2"Harvey S. LaidmanGerald SanoffApril 4, 1989 (1989-04-04)

Matlock and Tyler both found out that part of Linda's deception is in location of the kidnapping of her own son. While Tyler finds the son, Matlock finds the rare coins he needs to put together to close the case.

Guest star: Henry G. Sanders as Mitchell Sands

Note: Julie Sommars does not appear in this episode.
6316"The Thoroughbred"Leo PennMary Ann Kasica & Michael ScheffApril 18, 1989 (1989-04-18)
When Sandra Taylor (Susan Walden), the manager of a thoroughbred farm is murder, her father (Claude Akins) strongly insists to Matlock that he represent the mentally handicapped young man (Don Swayze) accused of the murder.
6417"The Model"Tony MordenteRobert SchlittApril 25, 1989 (1989-04-25)

Matlock has a breakthrough in the case he was struggling with, but he forgets it all when he is then hit by a car. While in the hospital he reads over the material he has, much to the annoyance of the nurse Gertrude, who wants him to rest. As he reads over the statements of the three suspects attending the party, where the murder occurred, the statements are reenacted, and of course they differ slightly from one another (which Matlock is intrigued by). One of them is the murderer, but which one? Nurse Gertrude puts a patch on him to cure his headache, and suddenly Ben knows how the murder was committed.

Note: Julie Sommars and Kene Holliday do not appear in this episode.
6518"The Cult"Harvey S. LaidmanMarvin KupferMay 2, 1989 (1989-05-02)

An outraged parent (Jack Dodson) arrives from Chicago to Atlanta in pursuit of looking for his son (Wallace Langham), who was grabbed by the cult. Dennis told his father to leave him alone, because the cult was his place, as he turned his back on his father. The head of the cult, Joshua Bradbury (Roger Davis) encourages William to accept his son's decision by leaving him alone. Austin refuses to go anywhere else without his son, and the police escort William outside the mansion, yelling, threatening Mr. Bradbury he will have his head torn off. In the mansion, Dennis learned there was a shot, but then tells the police that his father had shot him. When the father had found out Dennis has signed his trust fund and his life's savings over to the cult, Matlock confronts him, and is shocked to hear Dennis deny his father. Matlock goes to an expert in de-programming cult victims, who tells him that Dennis may believe he saw his father, but he is probably so brain-washed by the cult that he can't really be sure what he saw. Under Matlock's orders, Tyler infiltrates the cult, but he might be getting himself in over his head when he seems to be falling for their line.

Note: Julie Sommars does not appear in this episode.
6619"The Blues Singer"Leo PennJoel SteigerMay 9, 1989 (1989-05-09)

When a rock singer is murdered, Matlock must defend Eddie Haynes (Joe Seneca), a old blues musician he once idolized (as did the murder victim.)

Note: Julie Sommars and Kene Holliday do not appear in this episode. At the end of the episode, Andy Griffith, Joe Seneca, and blues singer Brownie McGhee (listed as The Bluesmen in the closing credits) perform a duet of the song The Midnight Special (a song Griffith had previously performed on The Andy Griffith Show.)
6720"The Priest"Harvey S. LaidmanMax EisenbergMay 16, 1989 (1989-05-16)

After a local mobster (Robert Miranda) is accused of murdering a priest (Leo Penn), Alex Winthrop (Daniel Roebuck) from New York, visits Matlock in Atlanta, for help with the case because he knows that he can't do it on his own. It doesn't take long before Matlock realizes that the church is covering something up.

Note: Nancy Stafford and Julie Sommars do not appear in this episode.
gollark: The most persecuted religions are the ones you don't know about.
gollark: What if I become God too?
gollark: Since I might dispose of all those who did earlier.
gollark: But since there's a nonzero probability I will become supreme world dictator, you shouldn't insult me.
gollark: I would accept a democracy where I have the vote.
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