I guess I've seen every Matlock episode more than once. some three or four
times.
But it's obvious the writers for that show couldn't hold a candle to the TAGS
writers.
Vic - I'm impressed by your ability to watch all the Matlock episodes! I too
was bothered by the formula scripts and gave up watching after seeing the
same thing again and again and will admit I have watched very few Matlock
episodes completely. This bring a couple things to mind...
I enjoy the TAGS color eps, but will also admit, not as much as the BW. Mainly
because I felt the quality and creativity of the writers was not at the caliber
of the Seasons 1-5 writers (e.g. Harvey Bullock and Everett Greenbaum). You had
essentially the same characters and the same actors portraying them*, but the
material they had to work just was not as funny to me.
I think these early writers also became rising stars, as Don Knotts was when
he signed the movie deal with Universal. I can't blame them for moving up, but
have always wondered if they had kept writing in seasons 6-8 whether they would
have been able to create the same classic episodes or characters (Ernest T,
Malcom Merriweather, The Darlings, Dave Browne) as the first five seasons.
*I always credit Paul Mulick (and agree) with the idea (could be a theory) that
material was written for Barney Fife/Don Knotts in Season 6 ended up with
Warren Ferguson/Jack Burns. I feel they were both capable actors (and at least
one can spell capable) but to me, it boiled down the writers. Had they created
original material for Jack Burns, who knows what might have happened? It would
have been impossible to create the same on-screen chemistry that Andy/Barney
had because Andy/Don were such good friends, but trying to replicate success
using different people is nearly impossible. Especially when you are going more
by the heart (Season 1-5) and less by the book.
Too many what if's. I'm just glad to have TAGS, along with the friends I've
made because of it.
Jeff
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