After just two episodes, Matlock is already a big success for CBS, so it’s no surprise that the network has renewed the series for season 2. Looks like Kathy Bates will have to postpone her retirement a little longer.

Matlock premiered last month with a special sneak peek episode, which drew 7.73 million total viewers, giving CBS its most-watched non-post-Super Bowl series premiere in over five years. After a multi-week break, the second episode delivered 6.4 million viewers, making it the second most-watched series of the evening behind the premiere of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.

The series stars Kathy Bates as Madeline ‘Matty’ Matlock, “a brilliant septuagenarian who achieved success in her younger years and decides to rejoin the work force at a prestigious law firm where she uses her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases all while investigating a deeply personal secret of her own.” As the synopsis teases, ol’ Matty has a pretty big secret which surprised fans who were simply anticipating a gender-swapped version of the classic Matlock TV show.

“This reconceived Matlock was devised by Jennie Snyder Urman with a brilliant surprise plot twist, and we knew we had something very special the moment we saw the first episode brought to life by the incredibly talented Kathy Bates,” said Amy Reisenbach, President of CBS Entertainment. “The audience reception and critical acclaim for it has been overwhelming. We can’t wait to get started on a second season.“

Before Matlock came along, Kathy Bates had been considering semi-retirement. “Quite frankly, I was thinking about going into semi-retirement, and just waiting to see what came along that I might like to do,” Bates told THR. “So I really wasn’t looking to do anything for a while. So this came as a total surprise to me, and continues to be because of the latest numbers that we’ve gotten… I just feel so lucky to have such a strong foundation behind us and the show. It’s a miracle; we all keep pinching ourselves. The crew loves it. The actors love it. I know everyone says that when they’re marketing a show, but this is really unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I really can’t believe all this, especially at my age.” Although she loves working on Matlock, she considers it her “last dance” and will likely retire after it wraps up. “Everything I’ve prayed for, worked for, clawed my way up for, I am suddenly able to be asked to use all of it,” she said. “And it’s exhausting.“

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One month ago today, the Netflix streaming service unveiled a batch of images that gave us our first look at the upcoming romantic comedy A Family Affair, which is scheduled to begin streaming on June 28th. With that date now just one month away, a trailer for A Family Affair has been released, and you can check that out in the embed above.

The film was directed by Richard Lagravenese, whose previous credits include Living Out Loud, A Decade Under the Influence, Freedom Writers, P.S. I Love You, Beautiful Creatures, and The Last Five Years. Speaking with the Netflix promotional website Tudum, Lagravenese said he was drawn to the material because, “I saw in it a coming of age story for three different characters at three different stages of their lives. I was going through my own sort of transition into what Gail Sheehy called Second Adulthood, where after you’ve fulfilled all your expectations and you’ve been what you need to be for everyone else, and you’ve achieved something and children are grown and all that stuff, you get a chance of being who you are and the things that you lost along the way.“

The first produced screenplay by writer Carrie Solomon, A Family Affair has the following synopsis: A surprising romance kicks off comic consequences for a young woman, her mother and her movie star boss as they face the complications of love, sex, and identity.

Nicole Kidman (Moulin Rouge) stars as “Brooke Harwood, Zara’s writer mother who falls into bed with movie star Chris Cole… who just happens to be Zara’s former boss.” Zac Efron (The Iron Claw) is “moderately conceited movie star Chris Cole: Zara’s nightmare boss, the star of the blockbuster Icarus Rush franchise, and Brooke’s new paramour.” Joey King (The Kissing Booth) plays “Zara, the harried assistant to Chris Cole who finds herself in a horribly awkward position when he falls in love with her mother.” Liza Koshy (Players) is in the cast as Zara’s close friend, Eugenie, and Kathy Bates (Misery) plays “Leila, Brooke’s wisecracking mother-in-law and a voice of wisdom in Brooke and Zara’s lives.”

Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum produced A Family Affair, while Solomon served as an executive producer with Michelle Morrissey and Alyssa Altman.

What did you think of the trailer for A Family Affair? Will you be watching this movie when it starts streaming on Netflix next month? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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In between drags of cigarette smoke, Patty and Selma Bouvier are likely freaking out over the idea of a new Matlock series coming to CBS. The Matlock reboot gets a new star today with Beau Bridges (The Fabulous Baker Boys, Max Payne, Hit and Run) joining the cast. Bridges replaces Jayme Sheridan, who starred in the pilot, to act opposite Kathy Bates (Misery, Fried Green Tomatoes, Dolores Claiborne) in the updated version. CBS’ Matlock debuts in 2024-25 after the strike delayed production.

CBS’ Matlock hails from Jennie Snyder Urman (Something Borrowed, Charmed, Men in Trees) and stars Bates as Madeline “Matty” Matlock, a sharp-minded septuagenarian with a stellar track record for solving cases. After being away from the game for years, Matlock rejoins the workforce at a distinguished law firm, where she uses her years of experience and unique tactics to achieve justice. At her new place of employment, Matty teams up with Olympia (Skye P. Marshall), a senior attorney and key rainmaker who thirsts for fair play. Olympia’s ex-husband, Julian (Jason Ritter), the son of the head of the firm (Bridges), is fascinated by Matty and her precocious skills.

According to Deadline‘s exclusive report, Bridges plays Senior, “a managing partner of the firm, who has an indomitable presence that immediately alters the temperature of any room. The man’s influence reaches far and wide, and although he loves his son, Julian (Ritter), he might respect his daughter-in-law, Olympia (Marshall), more.”

David Del Rio and Leah Lewis join Kathy Bates, Skye P. Marshall, and Beau Bridges for CBS’ new Matlock series, with Urman, Joanna Klein, Eric Christian Olsen, John Will, and Bates executive producing.

Beau Bridges appears in the Apple TV+ series Lessons in Chemistry, starring Brie Larson (Captain Marvel) as Elizabeth Zott, whose dream of being a chemist is put on hold when she finds herself pregnant, alone, and fired from her lab. Lewis Pullman and Aja Naomi King star in Lessons in Chemistry, with Patrick Walker, Stephanie Koenig, Marc Evan Jackson, and more.

Talk about a blast from the past! What do you think about Beau Bridges joining the cast of CBS’ Matlock? Did you ever watch the original show in reruns or on DVD? Let us know in the comments below.

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After taking a look back at House II: The Second Story (a favorite of mine since childhood), House of 1000 Corpses (which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year), and the awesomeness of Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight, JoBlo’s own Lance Vlcek continues his The Best Scene video series by digging into what he feels is the best scene from the classic 1990 Stephen King adaptation Misery (watch it HERE). Lance’s choice for the best scene in this one is the leg breaking scene… Yeah, if you’ve seen Misery, you know exactly what we’re talking about. And you can hear all about it in the video embedded above.

Directed by Rob Reiner from a screenplay by William Goldman, based on a novel by Stephen King, Misery has the following synopsis: After a serious car crash, novelist Paul Sheldon is rescued by former nurse Annie Wilkes, who claims to be his biggest fan. Annie brings him to her remote cabin to recover, where her obsession takes a dark turn when she discovers Sheldon is killing off her favorite character from his novels. As Sheldon devises plans for escape, Annie grows increasingly controlling, even violent, as she forces the author to shape his writing to suit her twisted fantasies.

The film stars James Caan, Kathy Bates, Richard Farnsworth, Frances Sternhagen, Lauren Bacall, Graham Jarvis, and Jerry Potter.

Are you a fan of Misery? What did you think of this best scene video? Let us know by leaving a comment below… and if the scene covered wasn’t the one you would have picked as the best scene, let us know which scene you think is the best one in the movie.

Two of the previous episodes of The Best Scene can be seen below. To see more of our shows, click over to the JoBlo Horror Originals channel – and subscribe while you’re at it!

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PLOT: A young girl finds herself struggling after her family moves away from the city. Based on the popular novel of the same name, by Judy Blume.

REVIEW: My recollection of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is very vague. I knew Judy Blume and had perhaps read some of her books, but not this tale of a preteen girl. So even with the talent involved, I wasn’t excited about the movie. And then, I sat down for a screening. Perhaps it was the charms of the lovely and vibrant Rachel McAdams as Margaret’s mom? Sure. How about the excellent work of Kathy Bates as Margaret’s loving grandmother? Yes, yes, yes. And then there is the terrific Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret. Yet, the superstar here is writer/director Kelly Fremon Craig. Let’s dig in and see if Margaret’s prayers get answered.

Margaret (Fortson) is a happy girl living with her adorably quirky parents, played by McAdams and Benny Safdie. That is until they move to a quaint suburban neighborhood, far from the city the young girl loved. Once they arrive and settle in, Margaret finds herself starting over. With a couple of new friends, Nancy (Elle Graham) and Price (Amari Alexis), the three girls start a bit of a competition regarding growing into womanhood. Even still, being away from her grandmother (the excellent Kathy Bates) takes its toll on the young girl. Will Margaret discover a religion she can connect to? And will she finally adjust to her new surroundings? Well, it’s certainly a joy to find those answers.

It’s easy to walk into a film like this and think it’s not for you. And yet, I was fully engaged in the humor and heart of it all. The big-screen adaptation of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is delightful. It’s fast, fun, and surprisingly engaging for audiences of all ages. Kelly Fremon Craig is brilliant at creating stories far more universal than one might expect. She did wonders with the excellent The Edge of Seventeen. And while Margaret takes on a slightly younger leading character, the filmmaker never skimps on writing great supporting ones. The care that she has taken with the source material is especially notable.

It also helps that Abby Ryder Fortson is fantastic in the leading role. The young actress brings such warmth to Margaret. As Hailee Steinfeld did in The Edge of Seventeen, Abby brings honesty to her performance. The young actress is a major talent, and watching her opposite Bates and McAdams, it’s clear that she will be following in a few impressive footsteps. If you can connect to Margaret, the film works. And thankfully, she conveys all the heartbreak and happiness of a preteen girl searching for herself. It’s an excellent performance that is made stronger by the lovely script by Craig.

In addition to the film’s star, the supporting cast is equally enjoyable. Rachel McAdams and Benny Safdie are stellar as Margaret’s loving but flawed parents. As well, Kathy Bates shines as a grandmother who adores her granddaughter. The two share moments together that are effortlessly sweet. Even Margaret’s friends, played by Elle Graham and Amari Alexis Price, get a chance to shine. When a script treats every character involved with respect and care, it creates an accessible and entertaining experience. If you are going to bring author Judy Blume to the big screen, well, this is how you do it.

It would help if you never judged a book by its cover. At least regarding the terrific new feature, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Kelly Fremon Craig is one of the brightest up-and-coming directors out there. The filmmaker has created heartfelt and honest portraits of young women with both this and The Edge of Seventeen. And building solid and vibrant stories like this that can connect to audiences all across the board is an incredible skill. For those of you that were obsessed with Judy Blume’s work, you are in for a treat. What about if you have yet to learn who Blume is? It doesn’t matter. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is one of the funniest and most charming summer films this year.

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I had no idea what I was walking into when I caught Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. While I was certainly aware of Judy Blume‘s popular book, it was not one that I’d read. And then there is writer/director Kelly Fremon Craig that caught my interest. The film stars Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret, and it’s incredibly sweet, smart, and surprisingly engaging for more than its seeming niche target audience. It’s a delight, and it certainly helps to have such charming folk at Rachel McAdams and Benny Safdie as Margaret’s parents.

We recently took the time to chat with the fine talent involved with this film. And I was thrilled to chat with Kelly Fremon Craig for the first time. I’ve been a massive fan of the filmmaker since I saw her fantastic feature, The Edge of Seventeen. Kelly discussed taking on the source material. Considering Judy Blume was essential reading for many, seeing the author’s work treated with care was lovely.

Next up, I had the incredible opportunity to speak with the legendary writer/producer James L. Brooks. James excitedly talked about working with Kelly. And his experience within the television and film industry says a lot about the kinds of talent he brings to light. Mr. Brooks was friendly and appeared to be quite down to earth as he discussed his latest project.

And finally, we sat down with Rachel McAdams and Abby Ryder Fortson. And yes, both with fantastic. Rachel discussed getting involved late in the project. And yet, she was made very comfortable by all involved. As for Abby, the young actress talked about taking on this iconic role and working with both Kelly and Rachel.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret opens this today!

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After making minor appearances in various projects since wrapping up his 80-episode run on Schitt’s Creek, Eugene Levy is returning to feature films. Levy is joining the cast of Summer Camp as Diane Keaton’s (Book Club 2: The Next Chapter, Annie Hall) love interest for the upcoming comedy. Castille Landon (After franchise) directs from a script she wrote, with production starting next month in North Carolina. In addition to Levy and Keaton, Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard will star in the laugh-out-loud concept.

According to Deadline’s exclusive report, Summer Camp tells the story of Nora, Ginny, and Mary, who have been best friends since childhood, spending their summers together inseparably at sleepaway camp. As the years have passed, they’ve grown apart, seeing each other less and less. Still, they agree to meet by the fire pit when a summer camp reunion is up for grabs. Some are looking forward to the reunion, while others are reluctant to reconnect. They’re different people than who they aspired to be as children, but one thing is sure – Nora, Ginny, and Mary need each other, and summer camp reminds them why.

“The opportunity to work with a comedic genius like Eugene is a dream come true as a filmmaker, and I am so grateful for the thoughtful, precise work he has already put into his character,” Landon told Deadline. “I think he’s the perfect counterpart to Diane, and I can’t wait to see them play off one another.”

Levy is a four-time Emmy winner, actor, producer, and writer. Today, it was announced that Levy would join philanthropists James and Louise Temerty and singer, actress, and philanthropist Jackie Richardson as Honorary Fellows of The Royal Conservatory of Music.

Per the Royal Conservatory’s official press release:

“The Honorary Fellow is The Royal Conservatory’s highest designation and is awarded to those who have had a profound impact on society through their contributions to the arts,” said Dr. Peter Simon, Michael and Sonja Koerner, President & CEO, The Royal Conservatory. The 2023 honourees will receive their designation at the signature event held annually at the TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning in Toronto, home of Koerner Hall, to support diverse initiatives at The Royal Conservatory.

Do you have any wild stories from attending a summer camp? If you do, feel free to share them in the comments below.

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One of the most famous books about growing up and facing your awkward years amidst a revolutionary decade will be hitting the screens. Are You There, God? It’s Margaret has been a prolific pre-teen piece of literature and has been adapted into a feature care of a filmmaker with another “confused adolescence” story under her belt, Kelly Fremon Craig, who has explored more contemporary themes with The Edge of Seventeen starring the wonderful Hailee Steinfeld.

Here, we get newcomer Abby Ryder Fortson, taking the unenviable task of displaying young vulnerability in an ever-changing world. She is surrounded by a cast of notable award-nominated and winning actresses, Rachel McAdams and Kathy Bates.

The official synopsis from Lionsgate reads: For over fifty years, Judy Blume’s classic and groundbreaking novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. has impacted generations with its timeless coming of age story, insightful humor, and candid exploration of life’s biggest questions. In Lionsgate’s big-screen adaptation, 11-year-old Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) is uprooted from her life in New York City for the suburbs of New Jersey, going through the messy and tumultuous throes of puberty with new friends in a new school. She relies on her mother, Barbara (Rachel McAdams), who is also struggling to adjust to life outside the big city, and her adoring grandmother, Sylvia (Kathy Bates), who isn’t happy they moved away and likes to remind them every chance she gets. The film also stars Benny Safdie (Licorice Pizza, Good Time) and is written for the screen and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig (The Edge of Seventeen), based on the book by Judy Blume, and produced by Gracie Films’ Academy Award^® winner James L. Brooks (Best Picture, 1983 – Terms of Endearment), alongside Julie Ansell, Richard Sakai, Kelly Fremon Craig, Judy Blume, Amy Lorraine Brooks, Aldric La’auli Porter, and executive produced by Jonathan McCoy.

James L. Brooks is a producer famous for comedies about the human condition with other credits like As Good As It Gets and Broadcast News, and, of course The Simpsons, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and many others. He doesn’t attach his name to a movie very often, but this is his second go-round with Fremon-Craig,m among me think this Judy Blume adaptation might be something very special indeed.

Are You There, God? It’s Margaret is set to hit theaters on April 28.

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Ginger and the Snaps once said growing up is hard to do, and they weren’t kidding. Puberty is a gift and a curse unto itself. Add moving to a new city and family drama to the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. Lionsgate has revealed a gallery of images for Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. The stills depict themes and characters from Judy Blume‘s classic novel, which some say is required reading for individuals in the throes of adolescents. The Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret images give a glimpse of the emotional journey to come, which arrives in theaters on April 28, 2023.

Kelly Fremon Craig (The Edge of Seventeen) directed and wrote the adaptation based on the book by Judy Blume. James L. Brooks, Julie Ansell, Richard Sakai, Kelly Fremon Craig, Judy Blume, Amy Lorraine Brookes, and Aldric La’auli Porter produce, with Jonathan McCoy executive producing.

Here’s the official synopsis for Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret:

For over fifty years, Judy Blume’s classic and groundbreaking novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. has impacted generations with its timeless coming-of-age story, insightful humor, and candid exploration of life’s biggest questions. In Lionsgate’s big-screen adaptation, 11-year-old Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) is uprooted from her life in New York City for the suburbs of New Jersey, going through the messy and tumultuous throes of puberty with new friends in a new school. She relies on her mother, Barbara (Rachel McAdams), who is also struggling to adjust to life outside the big city, and her adoring grandmother, Sylvia (Kathy Bates), who isn’t happy they moved away and likes to remind them every chance she gets. The film also stars Benny Safdie (Licorice Pizza, Good Time) as Margaret’s father, Herb Simon.

You can check out Lionsgate’s gallery of Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret images below:

Are you a fan of Blume’s novel? I’ve heard people talk about it for as long as I can recall, though I’ve never experienced it. Let us know if you’re excited about this adaptation in the comments, and we’ll let you know when a trailer drops for Craig’s anticipated retelling of Blume’s beloved novel.

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A new episode of the WTF Happened to This Horror Movie? video series has just been released, and with this one we’re digging into the 1990 Stephen King adaptation Misery (watch it HERE) – the film where Kathy Bates earned her Best Actress Oscar. To find out all about Misery, check out the video embedded above.

Directed by Rob Reiner from a screenplay by William Goldman, Misery has the following synopsis:

After a serious car crash, novelist Paul Sheldon is rescued by former nurse Annie Wilkes, who claims to be his biggest fan. Annie brings him to her remote cabin to recover, where her obsession takes a dark turn when she discovers Sheldon is killing off her favorite character from his novels. As Sheldon devises plans for escape, Annie grows increasingly controlling, even violent, as she forces the author to shape his writing to suit her twisted fantasies.

Bates plays Annie Wilkes and is joined in the cast by James Caan (as Paul Sheldon), Frances Sternhagen, Richard Farnsworth, and Lauren Bacall.

This is what the WTF Happened to This Horror Movie series is all about:

Hollywood has had its fair share of historically troubled productions. Whether it was casting changes, actor deaths, fired directors, in-production rewrites, constant delays, budget cuts or studio edits, these films had every intention to be a blockbuster, but were beset with unforeseen disasters. Sometimes huge hits, sometimes box office bombs. Either way, we have to ask: WTF Happened To This Horror Movie?

The Misery episode of WTF Happened to This Horror Movie? was Written by Eric Walkuski, Edited and Narrated by Tyler Nichols, Produced by Lance Vlcek and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.

A couple of the previous episodes of the show can be seen below. To see more, head over to our JoBlo Horror Originals YouTube channel – and subscribe while you’re there!

What do you think of Misery? Let us know by leaving a comment!

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