Matlock (1986-1995) starred Andy Griffith as an elderly attorney who represents clients charged with murder (all innocent, of course). I didn't watch: it aired opposite Who's the Boss (Tony Danza, sigh), and besides, who wanted to watch a oldster attorney clunking around?
"Me, dance with you?" Matlock repeats, horrified. Then "No-ooooo-oooo!!!!", shaking his head so vigorously that I'm surprised it didn't fall off. Geez, it wouldn't hurt you to be a little gracious, homophobe! How about "No, thanks, I'm working."
There was also an episode with a murderous drag queen, rather old fashioned in the 1990s.
30 years later, Matlock has been revived in the form of a retired lawyer (Kathy Bates) with the nickname Matlock or Mattie, because the show was big when she was first starting out. I'm not particularly interested -- again, who wants to watch an oldster attorney clunking around -- but I understand that this version has a bona fide gay character, so I'll take a look.
Episode 1: In a coffee shop, a cute but jerky businessman (Marcus Rosner, right) talks about closing on his phone. He overhears Mattie struggling with using the tap function, and hands the barista a $20 bill to pay, and keep the change. Mattie is pleased; "Isn't this a nice way to start the day." But I'm not pleased; I figured this guy would be a main character.
She enters the building at 450 5th Avenue in New York, in Midtown, about five blocks from the Empire State Building, and talks to the lady on the elevator about hard candy: she resisted, but when she turned 65, she had no choice but to buy some. "We become exactly what people expect us to be."
Into the office on the 21st floor, where she suspiciously looks at a floor plan and enters a conference room full of suit men talking about the Mets. Boss Elijah (Eme Ikwuakor, top photo) asks Olympia about the police corruption case; she needs more resources to get it done, but he tells her to close it now.
Next Julian (Jason Ritter) brags that they can get his case up to $19 million. Mattie interrupts that he can get a lot more.
"Who are you?"
Matlock. She's come to apply for an associates job, but she can't get an interview due to her age, so she barged into the meeting.
"How do you know how much he is willing to pay?"
She's been tailing his attorney, and "accidentally" overheard their phone conversation in the coffee shop earlier. Old people are invisible, and can get away with a lot of spying.
"Fine, you're hired. You can assist Olympia on the case she's been working on for six months."
Left: Jason Ritter's butt
Scene 2: Olympia is upset, but she has no choice. She introduces her other assistants. The woman complains that they should be working with senior associates, not senior citizens, but Billy (David Del Rio) befriends Mattie and gives her a tour of the snack station and back patio for crying (I've had jobs like that).
Left: David Del Rio is sort of swishy, and he pretends to be gay in several of his Instagram posts, but he announces right off that he's just joking: he's actually married to the most beautiful woman in the world, and they have two beautiful daughters. I hate it when straight guys jerk us around like that.
The case: Raymond Harris spent 26 years in prison for multiple rapes and a murder. He's been exonerated by DNA tests, thinks that the police suppressed evidence, and wants the State of New York to pay damages. Olympia has a tip: while Raymond was in custody, a prostitute escaped from the real killer, but the police report proving his innocence vanished. They have to track her down, but they have no name or description, and it was 26 years ago.
More after the break. Caution: Explicit.
