Despite playing one of the main characters on Matlock, Jason Ritter was way off when theorizing about season 2 following that big Julian reveal.
“It’s a very fun and exciting season. I can’t wait for people even just to see season 2, episode 1. Whatever you thought was going to happen — unless you’re very in line with the writers — [isn’t what happens],” Ritter, 45, shared during an exclusive interview with Us Weekly while promoting his upcoming hosting gig at The Festival of Arts‘ California Dreamin’: A Benefit for the Arts on Saturday, August 23. “I was completely wrong [with my theories].”
Ritter promised Matlock hits “the ground running” as soon as season 2 starts.
“It moves fast. I forgot that about the plot in the first season, that there is this big mystery, but it consistently felt like we were getting closer to the answers,” he recalled. “It never felt like a filler episode. It’s the same thing this time. It’s the same breakneck speed where you’re like, ‘Where is this going?’”
Matlock, which premiered in September 2024, follows a wealthy retired lawyer named Madeline Kingston (Kathy Bates), who pretends to be a poor widower named Matty Matlock to get a job at Jacobson Moore law firm. She’s convinced someone at the company is complicit in the opioid epidemic that resulted in her daughter’s death.
The first season revealed that Julian was responsible for hiding the documents that would have taken opioids off the streets sooner. Julian’s mistake was only revealed to his ex-wife, Olympia (Skye P. Marshall), by the finale. Fans were left wondering whether Olympia will tell Matty or protect Julian for the sake of their family.
“Toward the end of the first season, we saw that Olympia is also capable of doing the Matlock manipulation. That’s been a fun thing about this new season is you don’t necessarily know who is doing things behind anybody’s back anymore,” Ritter teased. “It feels [like] you are part of the mystery. It’s not just trying to necessarily figure out what sneaky thing Matty has done that maybe you noticed or maybe you didn’t. It is other characters, as well — and it’s been exciting to see it open up like that where Matty is not the only one capable of little manipulations here and there.”
After Matlock premiered on CBS, it became an immediate success with Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Ritter has loved seeing the hit show celebrated by both fans and fellow actors hoping to make an appearance in a future episode.
“I’ve heard from a lot of people that have been watching the show and loving the show. Sometimes even if they tell me that they are a fan of the show, I will just pass that name on to Yana Grebenyuk Jennie [Snyder Urman] and the team. Just like, ‘So you know, this incredible actor has expressed that they love the show,’” he shared. “It’s been really fun and exciting to be part of something that people want to be a part of.”
In addition to filming season 2, Ritter is set to host the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show on Saturday in Laguna Beach. The event features a concert by Jack Mack and the Heart Attack before Ritter introduces a special presentation of the 2025 Pageant of the Masters and tickets are still available.
“This opportunity came about because Joe Manganiello — who I love very dearly — invited us all to go to this event 20 years ago. It was so mind-blowingly beautiful and such an unforgettable experience. Somehow I actually just haven’t been back since then,” Ritter told Us. “Joe just asked if I would love to host and it was an excuse to get to see it again. I can’t wait to watch these paintings come to life. It feels like one of the most surreal things I’ve ever seen live. It’s very, very beautiful and the amount of work that goes into it is incredible. It’s perfect for anybody who is down in Laguna and looking for a beautiful moment.”
Ritter is thrilled for a night to celebrate art alongside fellow fans — or newcomers.
“They will have this background that’s all beautifully painted and then the actors will step onto these steps. They’ll be painted so that from the angle of the audience, it looks two-dimensional. It looks kind of like a painting,” Ritter said. “All of a sudden — at the same time — they all kind of come to life. It’s just so magical. It’s a really effective optical illusion. It’s all different styles of art, too. There’s sculpture and paintings, but the level of talent of the painters and the discipline of the actors who can stand so incredibly still is really amazing.”
Ritter will also be drawing the winning ticket for a brand new 2025 Volvo EX30 Twin Motor Performance Ultra (or $10,000 cash in lieu of a car). Raffle tickets are still available, starting at $5 for one ticket or $20 for five tickets, benefitting the nonprofit organization and its programming.
Matlock returns to CBS on Sunday, October 12, at 8:30 p.m. ET before taking its regular Thursday night time slot on October 16. New episodes will be streaming the next day on Paramount+.
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