The series premiered with Ben Matlock (played by Andy Griffith) having a law practice with his daughter, Charlene (played by Lori Lethin in the pilot movie; Linda Purl took over the role when the series went to air).

Diary of a Perfect Murder: Directed by Robert Day. With Andy Griffith, Lori Lethin, Alice Hirson, Kene Holiday. Ben Matlock and his daughter Charlene defend a TV journalist accused of killing his ex-wife.

Matlock: Diary of a Perfect Murder (also known as the pilot's title name, The Diary of a Perfect Murder) is a tv film pilot of CBS's Matlock franchise released on March 3, 1986. In the pilot film, Ben Matlock and his daughter Charlene defend TV …

Matlock is an American mystery legal drama television series created by Dean Hargrove and starring Andy Griffith that ran from March 3, 1986, to May 8, 1992, on NBC and from November 5, 1992, to May 4, 1995, on ABC. A total of 9 seasons and …

Diary of a Perfect Murder is the pilot movie of Matlock. It aired on March 3, 1986. Ben Matlock and his daughter Charlene defend a TV journalist accused of killing his ex-wife. Actor Lori Lethin plays Matlock's daughter, Charlene, in the first two episodes (originally filmed as …

A made-for-television movie which served as the pilot episode for this legal drama about Ben Matlock, an expert yet unconventional lawyer and his experiences both in and out of the courtroom. In the pilot, an investigative reporter from New York City named Steve Emerson is accused of murdering his ex-wife, Linda, an Atlanta news reporter.

The first season of Matlock originally aired in the United States on NBC from September 20, 1986 – May 12, 1987. The two-part episode "The Don" served as a backdoor pilot for Jake and the Fatman.

The first season of Matlock began airing on September 20, 1986 and ended on May 12, 1987 with a total of 23 episodes and one pilot TV movie, which aired on March 3, 1986. The two-part episode "The Don" served as a backdoor pilot for spin-off series Jake and the Fatman.

Matlock: Created by Dean Hargrove. With Andy Griffith, Nancy Stafford, Julie Sommars, Clarence Gilyard Jr.. Ben Matlock is a very expensive criminal defense attorney, who charges one hundred thousand dollars to take a case. Fortunately, he's worth every penny, as he and his associates defend his clients by finding the real killer.

Maybe the delay had something to do with the fact that in the pilot, a different actress played the role of Charlene Matlock? By '94 Charlene had been gone for so many years that some had forgotten anyway, I guess.