Justina Machado in Matlock. Image via CBS By Giovana Gelhoren Published Sep 8, 2026, 11:32 PM EDT Giovana Gelhoren is a High-Trending Topics Writer at Collider, covering the most-talked-about stars, movies, and TV shows. Before joining Collider, she was a Digital News Writer at People Magazine and served as Associate Editor at SheKnows, where she honed her expertise in celebrity coverage and entertainment journalism.
A proud Latina from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Giovana graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Journalism and International Studies. She has interviewed countless celebrities, including Anne Hathaway, Halle Berry, Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Brenda Song, and is known for her encyclopedic knowledge of film, TV, and pop culture.
on Google Preferred Source Google News Like Like follow Follow followed Followed Listen Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap When you're a big TV fan, it's par of the course to receive some bad news every once in a while in between seasons. From shocking show cancellations to cast exits with little to no explanation, the TV world can be as unpredictable as it is entertaining. That's been especially the case for CBS shows, as the network recently made some bold moves to its lineup, which is leaving audiences as nervous as ever.
Despite drawing in millions of viewers in its first two seasons, Matlock got some not-so-great news from its network. For starters, not only will the series premiere only in early 2027 and skip the fall 2026 schedule altogether, but Season 3 will be significantly reduced to only 13 episodes . The news is discouraging, especially for a series that has been doing so well, and the pressure is now certainly on for Season 3.
While Season 1 of Matlock had 19 episodes, and Season 2 had 16, Season 3 will be its shortest yet with only 13 episodes. As for its schedule, Matlock will be joining other beloved CBS shows, including NCIS: Origins and Fire Country , as it gets pushed to early 2027. And while the push alone might justify the shorter season, both decisions from CBS go hand in hand. According to Deadline , the decision to push the series is for creative reasons alone. Per the outlet, the team behind the show needs more time for a " creative revamp after wrapping the major Wellbrexa storyline that dominated the first two seasons ."
Kathy Bates and Skye P. Marshall star in the twisty lawyer drama.
Plus, with other shows receiving the same fate, it seems CBS is changing their strategy altogether . Instead of this being a targeted downgrade to Matlock directly, there's a notable change in the network's planning. After a record number of new scripted shows in 2025–2026, the network is reportedly trying to fit them all in a way that feels steady and cohesive .
Kathy Bates as Madeline 'Matty' Matlock in Matlock via CBS Skye P. Marshall as Olympia and Kathy Bates as Matty in Matlock via CBS Danielle Larracuente and Kathy Bates in Matlock Season 1, Episode 3. Image via CBS Jason Ritter, Ayesha Harris, and Veronica Diaz Carranza sit together during a courtroom scene in Episode 6 of Matlock Season 1. Image via CBS Jason Ritter as Julian standing next to Kathy Bates as Matty in the office in Matlock Season 2 Image via CBS Close Kathy Bates as Madeline 'Matty' Matlock in Matlock via CBS Skye P. Marshall as Olympia and Kathy Bates as Matty in M…