A good friend of mine is a successful tv writer, known particularly for one very good program in the 2010s. He told me the other day about a meeting he had with a network executive about a new show my friend was pitching, The exec made it clear: the kind of show my friend wrote for ten years ago isn't something the networks want now. Ten years ago, plots could be intricate, story lines required attention to follow, endings involved surprises. The exec explained that now all the networks wants are shows that are easy to follow, don't cause confusion, and are the essence of predictability. That's unfortunately the perfect description of the new Matlock. It's like watching the butterscotch candy that Matlock pulls out of her purse to convince those around her she's old: sweet, sticky, and dull. There isn't a moment of suspense, surprise, or twists. It's just a long smooth drink of milk of magnesia, diluted enough so even the most idiotic of viewers can follow the action. And such a shame, because how many actresses are better than Kathy Bates? Imagine if she was given a really great show -- that would be a real treat.

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