Bad news,Matlockenthusiasts —the legal drama is taking a bit of a break, meaningCBS won’t air a new episode on March 20.Kathy Bates' show has been a massive successsince its premiere. Many have tuned in to watch Bates as the titular character as she solves cases and earns the trust of those around her at Jacobson Moore. AlthoughMatlock(2024) is vastly different from the 1986 series of the same name, it has gained a large, loyal following, many of who will be disappointed to learn the show is taking a break, especially after episode 15’s ending.
CBS renewedMatlockfor a second season in October 2024, less than a week after the premiere of season 1, episode 2. According toTVLine,Matlockis the 2024–2025 TV season’s most-watched new drama series. Plus, Kathy Bates was nominated for Best Actress – Television Series Drama at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards for her performance in the CBS TV show. So, its renewal is unsurprising.
Matlockseason 1, episode 15, “Game Face,” left viewers on a cliffhanger, making the wait for episode 16 all the more brutal. The previous hour’s final moments revealed thatMrs. Belvin, an administrative manager at Jacobson Moore, is the mysterious whistleblower/Wellbrexa informant.Before Matty gets a chance to talk with Mrs. Belvin, the episode fades to black, leaving viewers wondering what happens next in the CBS legal drama.
Why There Is No New Matlock Tonight (July 29, 2025)
Matlock Is On A Hiatus
CBS won’t release a newepisode ofMatlockseason 1tonight, Thursday, March 20, during its usual timeslot at 9 pm ET. The legal drama TV series is taking a break for a couple of reasons. Firstly,Matlockseason 1 consists of 18 episodes,meaning only two remain before the finale. Since networks typically like to air their TV shows' last episodes in May, CBS probably wants to spread the Kathy Bates-led series out to ensure it ends at least in late April. Meanwhile, the second reason behindMatlock’s hiatus pertains to what CBS has on its schedule in its place.
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Primarily,Matlockisn’t new this weekbecause of March Madness.The 2025 NCAA men’s and women’s Division I basketball tournaments kick off on Thursday, March 20,and CBS is airing a portion of the games. At 7:10 pm ET, Arkansas will face off against Kansas in the first round of the men’s basketball tournament on CBS. Following its conclusion, the network will broadcast the St. John’s vs. Omaha match, which is scheduled to begin at 9:45 pm ET. So, ifMatlockfans tune in to CBS at 9 pm ET tonight, they will only find college basketball games.
When Will Matlock Episode 16 Release?
Matlock Won’t Return Until April
Thanks to March Madness,Matlockviewers will have to wait a couple more weeks until the premiere of season 1, episode 16,“The Johnson Case.” The 2025 NCAA men’s Division I basketball tournament continues through the championship, scheduled for Monday, April 7. Unfortunately, forMatlockfans, CBS will continue to televise games throughout the next two weeks.
Andrea Londo
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However, the good news is that the network has penciledMatlockseason 1, episode 16’s release for Thursday, April 3, at 9 pm ET.So, at least fans won’t have to wait until the NCAA men’s Division I basketball tournament is over to watch the next installment. Afterward, episode 17 will reportedly premiere one week later, on April 10. As forthe highly anticipatedMatlockfinale, though, CBS hasn’t confirmed its air date. If season 1 has no more breaks, its last episode would drop on Thursday, April 17, but that remains to be seen.
What To Expect From The Upcoming Matlock Episode
“The Johnson Case” Picks Up After Episode 15’s Cliffhanger
Matlockseason 1 returns with episode 16, “The Johnson Case,” on Thursday, April 3, and it’s expected to pick up where episode 15 left off. The upcoming hour’s synopsis only reveals thatOlympia is taking on a “complicated” murder caseto impress the partnership board during “The Johnson Case.” As for any other plot details,Matlockviewers must wait until season 1, episode 16’s premiere in a couple of weeks to learn more about what’s to come.
