Kathy Bates' Matlock Premiers to 7.73 Million Viewers

Kathy Bates' new legal drama 'Matlock' premiered to impressive ratings, attracting 7.73 million viewers, marking CBS's largest audience for a non-Super Bowl series premiere in over five years. The show, a reimagining of the classic series, features Bates as Madeline Matlock, who returns to the legal workforce under a guise while hiding her true motives. It premiered after '60 Minutes,' contributing to its strong ratings, and has garnered positive reviews, currently holding a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In Canada, the episode also topped viewership charts with nearly 1.2 million viewers. 'Matlock' will continue airing Thursday nights starting October 17, and episodes are available for streaming on Paramount+. The show's success validates CBS’s decision to cast an older lead and signals a potential resurgence for the network's drama offerings.