CBS' 'Matlock' Replacement Becomes a Certified Hit

Published Oct 19, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT

Denis is a news writer for Collider with close to five years of experience in the industry. He has analyzed shows across different genres, formats and styles. His favorite types of articles to write are exciting news updates and episodic deep-dives. He might say he doesn’t have a favorite show, but he has watched The Wire, Shameless, The Big Bang Theory, and The Blacklist more than once. Denis is increasingly becoming focused on the global streaming arena and how media connects with audiences in various markets. Find him on X tweeting about something random that occurred to him about a TV show or the industry in general.

When CBS’ legal drama Matlock premiered in September 2024, it did what many network dramas never achieve: it became a critical and ratings hit almost instantly. Critics lauded the Kathy Bates-led series for putting a unique spin on the series it was inspired by, leading to numerous award nominations for the actress. “Case closed — this Matlock reboot is a winner thanks to the ever reliable Kathy Bates and the intriguing wrinkle it puts on the legendary series’ original concept,” the critics’ consensus reads on the first season, rated fresh at 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. The series was renewed for an equally successful second season that premiered last year.

However, Matlock is not on CBS’ schedule this fall, as the network has given its slot to another show and also debuted a new legal drama. The drama has not been canceled and will return for a thirteen-episode third season in January. The series was held for a mid-season premiere alongside Matthew Gray Gubler’s new CBS drama Einstein, Ghosts Season 6, and NCIS: Sydney. Matlock’s delay also reflects a creative shift in the show after it wrapped up its Wellbrexa mystery, and the writers are now crafting a new one. The shorter episode order is also for creative reasons, as CBS balances numerous shows on its schedule.

For fans of legal dramas, however, Matlock’s absence is a bit easier to handle, since CBS has unveiled a highly rated replacement from The Good Wife creators **Robert **and Michelle King. The series is a timely exploration of an issue that is becoming more prevalent every day: the place of technology in our lives. Titled Cupertino, the drama follows two lawyers in the titular town as they navigate tech law in the age of AI. Evil star Mike Colter (Michael Price) reunites with the Kings as he leads this new show alongside Tokyo Vice’s Rachel Keller (Olivia Siffre). Cupertino has been a huge critical success, boasting a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes. CBS ratings show the series averaged 3.19m viewers in its Thursday, 10 PM ET, slot.

Your answers point to the iconic sci-fi hero who shares your instincts, your values, and your particular way of facing the impossible.

You carry a weight most people would crumble under — the knowledge of what you’re capable of, and the burden of what you might have to become.

You lead with instinct, warmth, and an absolute refusal to accept a no-win scenario — because you’ve always believed there’s a third option nobody else has thought of yet.

You are the kind of person who holds the line when everyone else is losing faith — not because you’re fearless, but because giving up simply isn’t something you’re capable of.

You are not reckless, not grandiose, and not particularly interested in being anyone’s hero — you just refuse to stop when it matters.

You have been through fire that would break most people — and what came out the other side is something the world underestimates at its peril.

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