You know I got excited when this chyron banner popped up during today's Perry Mason movie #Junesploitation

June 1, 1926: Andy Griffith, a TV actor beloved for his reassuringly folksy and gentle characters, is born in Mount Airy, N.C., the town that inspired the fictional Mayberry. He played the sheriff on the top-rated “The Andy Griffith Show” of the 1960s and starred as “Matlock” in the ’80s and ’90s.

This has me thinking: when did overarching seasonal/series arcs really take off? I know THE X-FILES is one of the first ones to come to mind, for me (Mythology vs Monster of the Week). But I can't imagine a lot of the shoes I grew up on doing this. Reccuring characters, sure, but not seasonal arcs

Just popping in to say that A Face In The Crowd is an amazing movie and if you only know Andy Griffith from his show you are in for a treat.

And the other guy is from TNG. He was an asshole engineer who thought he was hot shit but it was really the Traveller..

Got a surprise Brion James cameo in tonight's episode

So much food in this one! It ends with a courtroom recreation of the veal stew that was used as the means for the murder to take place. Ben is stopped by food critic Christopher Hoyt (McDowall) before taking the bite.

Another meal! This time it's roast pork, mashed potatoes, gravy, and greens.

Not 1... Not 2... We got a montage of 3 meals! Ben, with Lt Frank Daniels, visits with each of the 3 suspects over food (one is a food critic, one owns an Italian restaurant, and one owns a bakery)

We got one! Ben is sitting down to eat one of his favorite meals: corn bread, country fried steak, cream corn, and tomatoes.

Roddy McDowall alert!

Tonight's episode is THE CHEF, so I'm hoping to see Matlock eat something tonight 💚

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Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

Time for the first of 7 episodes that doesn't begin with the word "THE" Also, time to get in the holiday spirit, as Pat Hingle plays SANTA CLAUS

Drop something from the 1980s.

Two TNG classic roles too

Some fun guest stars in this one as well.

Tonight's episode (S1E10, THE PROFESSOR) is directed by Bill Duke!

Matlock, baby! (The episode in question, which is S1E23)

S1E9 - The Angel - doesn't have Ben drinking or eating. It does contain a small subplot of Tyler buying 2 tons of pecans, and he is seen removing them from their shells in a scene. I thought maybe Ben would snag one, but he did not. Charlene did.

A wild Jonathan Frakes appears!

We've got a while (9 seasons!) but this crossover will be eventually covered, not just as the final appearance of Ben Matlock, but also as some Matlock lore is dropped in this 2-parter

Tonight, Kari Lizer shows up as rock star Angel. She'll return in season 2 as Ben's assistant Cassie Phillips

He's at it again!!! Hot dog count: 2

We've got our first hot dog!!!! Hot dog count: 1

The Cop (S1E8) This episode's guest stars: Hector Elizondo! Andrew Bloch (Josh from JASON GOES TO HELL) Charles Cyphers (Brackett from HALLOWEEN)

While we don't see him eat, Ben is back in the kitchen in this episode! Wanna know a little secret? He puts cream cheese in his eggs. Make them a little richer!

The Sisters (S1E7) is a top-tier episode of the series for me. Watching how Ben puts it together is so good

I wonder how good police station coffee is? 🤔

S1E6 - The Don, Part 2 - is the first episode without Ben eating or drinking anything on screen.

Ben enjoying a mineral water while visiting Phillip Kovak, the son of the murder victim

And we've reached our first 2-parter of the series, THE DON. Guest starring Joe Penny and William Conrad, who would go on to star in JAKE & THE FATMAN together. (This is not a backdoor pilot though, as they both play completely different characters)

Forgot she played a call girl who Ben plans a visit with (it's relevant to the case)

Charlene and Ben carrying drinks of some kind

Charlene and Ben carrying drinks of some kind

That's my guy!

Ben sitting at a table eating breakfast: eggs with salsa, toast, hash browns, and bacon with coffee & orange juice

When my fandoms collide! 💚⚖️🦇

Ben's a coffee drinker 💚

Why does PlutoTV think I would want to skip one of my all-time favorite theme songs?

Love that MATLOCK had Dick Van Dyke as the first killer for the show. One of the few villainous roles I'm aware of for him.

Ben and Judge Carter sharing 2 Napoleon cognacs at The Windsor

Ben eating a chicken bologna sandwich that his secretary Hazel brought to him

While we don't get to see him enjoy it, the first time we meet Ben Matlock he is collecting eggs from his chicken coop and then making himself breakfast!

Was Matlock a foodie from the very beginning? Let's find out together, as I watch the TV movie that launched the series!

Missed that this premiered 40 years ago earlier this month (3.3.86). Will have to make time to give it a watch soon!