All articles tagged with #matlock
CBS asks a California court to dismiss parts of Matlock writer John Lowe's lawsuit, arguing that ending Lowe's contract was a creative decision protected by the First Amendment, while detailing alleged performance issues and denying Lowe's claim of a hostile, discriminatory environment stemming from racist comments.
CBS has moved to dismiss ex-Matlock writer John Lowe’s racial and sexual harassment lawsuit, arguing the allegations are fabrications and that his non-renewal was a creative decision protected by California’s anti-SLAPP statute; Lowe claims discriminatory conduct including a Juneteenth slur and a late-night call, but CBS contends he was hired in October 2023 and left in July 2024 and that the accusations lack witnesses or substantiation.
Matlock writer John Lowe has filed a California state court suit against CBS Television Studios and Matlock’s top producers, alleging a hostile work environment defined by sexually explicit and racist conduct in the writers’ room, including a supervisor calling Juneteenth “Coonteenth.” Lowe says he faced racially charged and sexually explicit remarks, and was fired in July 2025 after reporting the issues. He names showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman and executive producers Nicki Renna and Jeffrey Lieber as defendants and seeks damages; CBS says its investigation found no support for the allegations and plans to vigorously defend the case.
John Lowe, a former Matlock writer, filed a lawsuit against CBS Television Studios, showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman, and executive producers Nicki Renna and Jeffrey Lieber, alleging a hostile workplace with racially charged comments about Black staff, including an incident where Urman allegedly called Juneteenth 'Coonteenth' and a dog in the writers’ room used to humiliate him; Lowe says he was terminated in retaliation after reporting the incident. CBS says its investigation found no substantiation and will vigorously defend; the suit follows another arbitration claim against CBS over a firing on the show.
CBS is shortening episode counts for Fire Country (13-episode Season 5) as well as NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney for the 2026–27 slate, with Matlock Season 3 returning midseason; Ghosts remains on a full-season order. The network is also planning new series (Cupertino, NCIS: New York, Eternally Yours) and shuffling primetime, including a notable showrunner departure from Fire Country.
Matlock returns midseason 2027 for season 3 as a creative reboot, picking up 6–9 months after season 2’s finale with a time jump, new dynamics and stakes, while keeping a case‑of‑the‑week rhythm; Kathy Bates returns as Matty Matlock alongside Skye P. Marshall, Jason Ritter and Leah Lewis, with creator Jennie Snyder Urman calling it a continuation rather than a pattern.
Gina Rodriguez guest-stars on Matlock as federal agent Lida Gutierrez in the Season 2 finale, a casting choice by Jane the Virgin showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman that leans on Rodriguez and other Jane alums to broaden crossovers; Yael Grobglas, Justina Machado, Yara Martinez, and Bridget Regan have already appeared, with Urman hinting more appearances—including Jaime Camil—could come, and suggesting Lida’s future is up in the air.
Deadline's interview with Matlock showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman reveals the Season 2 finale wraps the Wellbrexa case but sets up a six-month to one-year time jump and a fresh mystery for Season 3, with regulars returning and new additions on the way.
Bridget Regan will guest star in Matlock's Season 2 finale on CBS (April 23, 9 p.m.), reuniting with Jane the Virgin alums Gina Rodriguez and Justina Machado. Regan plays Ada Marcia, Rodriguez is Lida Gutierrez, and Machado returns as Eva. The episode also features continued involvement from Jane the Virgin creator Jennie Snyder Urman and marks the conclusion of the Wellbrexa storyline spanning two seasons, with Season 3 to follow midseason.
CBS's 2026-27 primetime plan largely preserves the lineup but shifts Ghosts and Matlock to midseason to accommodate two new series, Eternally Yours (a vampire-family comedy) and Cupertino (a Silicon Valley legal drama). The network orders NCIS: New York for fall with LL Cool J returning, while FBI moves to the 8 p.m. slot on Mondays and CIA plus Harlan Coben’s Final Twist fill the hour; Einstein is introduced midseason. The Neighborhood ends and DMV is canceled as CBS drops Monday comedy, but keeps Wednesday and Friday lineups, with NCIS spinoffs and other changes shaping the fall slate.
CBS unveiled its 2026-27 primetime plan, moving Matlock and Ghosts to midseason while adding three new series—Cupertino (Silicon Valley legal drama), Eternally Yours, and Einstein (midseason)—alongside returning staples like NCIS and Survivor. The network described the lineup as a strategy to launch new concepts and grow audiences on CBS and Paramount+, with additional renewals and specials highlighted in the mix.
CBS unveils a tightened Fall 2026 lineup with only two half-hour comedies and a four-franchise block layout: FBI on Mondays, NCIS on Tuesdays and Fire Country on Fridays, plus a Thursday King-pair block. Ghosts and Matlock are benched for midseason (along with NCIS: Origins), while new midseason dramas NCIS: New York, Cupertino and Einstein join, along with Eternally Yours. Ghosts will still run a full 22-episode season with Halloween and Christmas specials. A renewed emphasis on franchise-driven scheduling marks the network’s approach for 2026-27.
Maria O'Brien, an actress known for Protocol and Matlock and a longtime acting coach on Days of Our Lives for 15 years, died on Feb. 24 at age 75. Born in Los Angeles in 1950 to Oscar-winning actor Edmond O'Brien and Olga San Juan, she began her screen career in 1963 on Sam Benedict and appeared in films including Protocol (1984), Smile, and The Incredible Shrinking Woman, as well as TV series such as Viva Valdez, The Love Boat, and L.A. Law. She also coached on Sunset Beach and Passions, won a Drama-Logue Award for The Maids, and testified before Congress in 1983 about Alzheimer’s after her father’s diagnosis. She is survived by her brother and three children.
Former Matlock actor David Del Rio has filed an arbitration claim against CBS Studios to challenge his firing from the CBS legal drama following sexual assault allegations involving an unnamed female cast member. He says evidence undermining the accusations wasn’t fully considered and will present new communications and materials that contradict prior public characterizations of the incident. His lawyer, Shawn Holley, says the matter should be resolved in the appropriate legal forum; CBS declined to comment. Del Rio had already filmed seven episodes of season two before being escorted off the set in October.
David Del Rio has filed an arbitration claim against CBS Studios over his termination from Matlock, arguing that new evidence will contradict public characterizations of the incident as he was written off the show following sexual assault allegations; the case proceeds under his employment agreement.