1. IT WAS TAILOR-MADE FOR ANDY GRIFFITH.
2. GRIFFITH GOT A STANDING OVATION FOR HIS TRIAL SCENES.
In most episodes ofMatlock , the attorney is able to feel the real attacker during crossbreeding - examination of a witness . These scenesrequiredGriffith to pass considerable clock time standing — owingto Guillian - Barré Syndrome , he fatigue knee joint braces due to impermanent paralysis of his low-spirited legs — and delivering drawn-out monologue . The actor also carry notes to serve him recall dialogue and spent weekend rehearse . When he polish off , the crew would typically applaud the actor for boom the complex and hard “ gotcha ” speeches . grant to co - asterisk Nancy Stafford , Griffith almost always receive the speech right on the first take .
3. GRIFFITH WANTED MATLOCK TO GET DARK.
playact morally ambiguous characters was nothing new for Griffith , who had a bout as a superpower - hungry television personality in 1957’sA Face in the Crowd . But most of America identified him as Andy Taylor , the Mayberry sheriff who double as a moral range for viewers . DoingMatlock , Griffith sometimesbutted headswith Hargrove , with the actor arguing for his part to delve into the sleazy side of law practice . Matlock , he argued , should have a drinking trouble , or mayhap land himself in jail . Hargrove fielded character tips , but blanched when Griffith wanted to alter the secret plots of the series .
4. PEANUT BUTTER WAS A SOURCE OF FRICTION ON THE SHOW.
As the star of a strike show , Griffith was entitled to certain amenities . But he reportedly did n’t have much pastime in overgenerous trailer or special treatment . The only affair he expect the production to cater was peanut butter , which Griffith consider one of his pet foods . The thespian would reportedly get extremelyupsetwhen he went to fetch some to habituate as a dip for his apples and found it missing . “ Andy would get straiten sometimes because people who were not part of the crew would come on and eat the peanut butter and the apples , ” Hargrove state author Daniel de Vise . “ Andy was a war hawk - eye on it , too . ”
5. ALF MADE A GUEST APPEARANCE.
In 1987,Matlockattempted to lure viewer of other NBC shows to sample Griffith ’s by concocting a plot in which Matlockdefendsa Hollywood manufacturer accused of murdering a meshwork executive . Betty White , Jason Bateman , and Malcolm Jamal - Warner made appearances , and so did the star of one of the meshing ’s biggest hits : the alien - marionette sitcomALF . The visual aspect come at the end of the sequence , with ALF think back the manufacturer ’s abrasive demeanor on set . Whether he may have been a creature or an actual alien inMatlockcontinuity is left for the audience to make up one’s mind .
6. IT LAUNCHED A SPINOFF OF A SPINOFF.
A television spinoff serial launch by an live serial is nothing novel , withFrasierfilling the nihility left byCheersbeing one of the most notable object lesson . ButMatlockpulled off a uncommon double spinoff : Hargrove used a 1986Matlockepisode to put in Joe Penny and William Conrad as the criminal offence - solve duoJake and the Fatman . That show run from 1987 to 1992 . In one episode , the “ Fatman ” receivedhelpon a case from Mark Sloan , a physician with an instinct for probe . depict by Dick Van Dyke , Sloan got his own show , diagnosing : Murder , in 1993 . This byzantineMatlocktelevision universe come full Mexican valium in 1997 , when GriffithvisitedSloan onDiagnosis : Murderto assist him with a aesculapian malpractice plot .
7. NBC GAVE IT THE BOOT.
After six seasons , Matlockwas in worry . Incoming NBC entertainment president Warren Littlefield was looking to back off from series that skewed to older audience . In summation toIn the Heat of the Night , he cannedMatlock , which still ranked a sizable 40th out of 123 internet shows of the era . Griffith and producersmanagedto move it over to ABC , separate them the show could move film to North Carolina and save money on production . The show ran three more time of year before going off the zephyr for good in 1995 .
8. IT WAS RESURRECTED AS PART OF A PROTEST.
In 2013 — long after the serial publication depart the airwaves and a year after star Griffith ’s death — an NBC affiliate in Clevelanddecidedto resurrect a two - hourMatlockand aviation it in seat of the meshwork ’s received Thursday nighttime lineup : The Office , fight sitcom1600 Penn , andLaw & Order : SVU . amazingly , it did about as well in the Cleveland market as the sitcoms did across the nation , thoughLaw & Orderdrew a better overall military rating . The affiliate , WKYC , settle to airMatlockas a protest to Griffith being excluded from an Oscars “ In Memoriam ” section the premature Sunday . medium wall socket looking to nibble on NBC ’s new offer think it was amusing that1600 Penn , a White House comedy , was trump out by a 21 - year - sometime television movie . The deterrent example : Never underestimate Matlock .
