Will ‘Matlock’ Be Renewed? Season 2 Ratings Check
What To Know
- Matlock has not yet been renewed for Season 3. What the Season 2 ratings could mean for its future.
- The show faced controversy this season after cast member David Del Rio was fired.
- Stars Kathy Bates and Skye P. Marshall received Critics’ Choice Award nominations for their performances, further highlighting the show’s continued critical and audience success.
Matlock had a shocking start to its second season. David Del Rio was fired following an investigation into a report of an alleged sexual assault in October. His character, Billy Martinez, will be written out of the series, and will likely have exited by the time of the midseason premiere in February. Outside of that, how are Matlock‘s ratings doing?
Matlock has not been renewed for Season 3 as of the time of publication. In 2024, it scored the first renewal of the fall broadcast TV season. This year, freshman dramas Boston Blue and Sheriff Country were the first to be renewed. The Blue Bloods spinoff is a top-performing show for CBS each week, according to the network, hence its early renewal after airing just six episodes. While Matlock didn’t get that first early renewal this season, that doesn’t mean the show is in trouble. In fact, its weekly viewership is higher than Boston Blue‘s.
Matlock‘s Season 2 ratings are holding strong at around 4 million viewers per week, according to Nielsen data. The Season 2 premiere had the highest viewership, unsurprisingly (premieres and finales tend to be the hits).
It opened on October 12 with 6.58 million viewers with a 0.51 rating in the 18-49 demo. Episode 2, which came out the same week on October 16, decreased in viewership to 4.203 million and a 0.18 rating. Episode 3 had 4.440 million with a rating of 0.24. Episode 4 increased to 4.682 million viewers but decreased to a 0.20 rating. Episode 5 had a slight viewership decrease to 6.643 million, but it had a big ratings increase to 0.30. Episode 6 decreased again to 4.479 million viewers and a 0.26 rating.
For comparison, Boston Blue opened with 4.681 million viewers and a 0.23 rating in the 18-49 demo. Episode 2 had a slight decrease to 4.140 million and a 0.20 rating. Episodes 3-6 all have viewership in the 3 million range, and the ratings range between 0.15-0.21.
Matlock stars Kathy Bates and Skye P. Marshall were also nominated for Critics’ Choice Awards for their performances in Season 2 (Bates won a Critics’ Choice Award for Matlock Season 1). The numbers are stronger than new shows that got renewed, so we’d bet that a Matlock Season 3 renewal is only a matter of time.
Matlock, Thursdays, 9/8c, CBS
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G
Matlock should have been number one for renewal. The show is fantastic and Kathy Bates outstanding as well as the rest of the cast
14
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J
On one hand I'd love the show to keep going, it's so cleverly written with all sorts of twists and turns. On the other hand, I think the Welbrexa story is coming to a close, and the writers can't/shouldn't draw it out indefinitely, and I really don't want to get started on another 'mystery.'
12
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T
I totally agree with you, I think welbrexa needs to be wrapped up. I also agree they should not start another mystery. They can keep us entertained with some office politics though.
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C
Matlock should have beeb renewed already. Best show.
7
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R
I love this show. Keep it going please. Bring back the sister. She’s funny.
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S
So glad to have Kathy Bates in this series. Love the premise of an older person who has tricks up her sleeve and experience that younger lawyers don't have. Sick and tired of the Wellbrexa story however. Just get some new, varied cases to work on.
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G
Revised Matlock is great and I have a pole view from England y it is 288.00000 People in in England and they love it thanks signed off Gary cook obe
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G
I hope the fired actor wins his lawsuit I don’t believe he’s guilty of anything except jealousy from the actress, both her and her character leaves a lot to be desired
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G
I’m not a fan of the storyline, it needs to come to a close. Matty Matlocks know it all character is annoying. Her long grey hair is Bates way of shoving her age in everyone’s face. Show could go on without Bates
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W
Since it appeared within this article..... I won't watch the sellout with the new series that was mentioned.
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