LOS ANGELES 鈥 If that staircase in 鈥淢atlock鈥 looks familiar, you were probably a viewer of 鈥淕ood Sam,鈥 a medical series that used the same set.
A staircase prominently featured in "Good Sam" is now part of the "Matlock" set.聽
Skye P. Marshall, who stars in both series, remembers crying on the steps during the run of 鈥淕ood Sam鈥 and now, sweeping by them as a power attorney in the CBS drama 鈥淢atlock.鈥
Oddly, the space works for both.
In 鈥淢atlock,鈥 one corner alone can be Beau Bridges鈥 office, a conference room or the human resources department, according to Adam Rowe, production designer on both shows. 鈥淓very quadrant of the set changes in every episode. From a design perspective, it鈥檚 really exciting. The stakes (at the law firm) are high, so there鈥檚 a lot to lose.鈥
Filled with glass, the set gives viewers a chance to see plenty of reflections. 鈥淭here are often times when you can see someone through the glass鈥e鈥檙e all about looking in,鈥 Rowe says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 part of the show.鈥
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Adam Rowe is production designer on "Matlock." He repurposed sets from "Good Sam" to serve as the series' law firm.聽
Because聽the set was so elaborate (and sturdy), it wasn鈥檛 destroyed after 鈥淕ood Sam鈥 ended. Instead, it was brought from Canada to the Warner Bros. lot, where it was redressed as 鈥淢atlock鈥檚鈥 Jacobson/Moore law firm.
Recycling set pieces has become increasingly common in Hollywood, largely because it鈥檚 expensive to build new sets for shows that could have short runs. 鈥淕ood Sam,鈥 for example, lasted 13 episodes. Conversely, 鈥淢atlock鈥 has been renewed for a second season.
Skye P. Marshall played a health care worker on "Good Sam." Now, she's a high-power attorney in "Matlock." Both series, interestingly, used the same basic sets.聽
Jennie Snyder聽Urman served as executive producer on 鈥淕ood Sam鈥 and now holds that title on 鈥淢atlock.鈥
鈥淲hat I got from Jennie is the show is always moving forward,鈥 Rowe says. 鈥淭he (law firm鈥檚) seven floors should never feel small to our audience.鈥
鈥淢atlock,鈥 instead, is populated by millionaires with 鈥淥prah Winfrey money,鈥 as the insiders like to call it.
Key to the show鈥檚 look is its 鈥渁spirational鈥 feel, Rowe says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not representing a 鈥榬eal鈥 legal world. It鈥檚 about holding you in and pulling your heartstrings.鈥
Rowe views it like a puzzle, making certain spots familiar others, entirely new.
Reusing another show鈥檚 set was a practical move, particularly since series budgets aren鈥檛 what they used to be. 鈥淲e鈥檙e making a show that鈥檚 going to feel big and grand and we鈥檙e doing it in a post-strike era,鈥 Rowe says.
Jason Ritter stars on "Matlock." His office can easily be redressed to look like someone else's.聽
While it鈥檚 shot in Los Angeles, 鈥淢atlock鈥 takes place in New York. Rowe sees it somewhere in the Hudson Yards portion of the city.
鈥淢atlock鈥 occupies two soundstages at Warner Brothers, which means 鈥渨e鈥檙e constantly manipulating Stage 9 while the company is on Stage 8.鈥
Even the space used as a courtroom changes, Rowe says. 鈥淚 actually get excited about that. How can I make the judge look slightly different? How can I tell a story. What鈥檚 fun about this show is they allow me those changes.鈥
Producers, in turn, call Rowe a genius. 鈥淚鈥檓 never going to let audiences get too comfortable,鈥 he says.
And when times get tough? 鈥淲e have what鈥檚 called the 鈥榗ry鈥 patio where people go to cry and tell secrets.鈥
Which, in case Marshall is interested, is much better than 鈥淕ood Sam鈥檚鈥 staircase.
A set can be redressed to look entirely different, according to designers on "Matlock."聽
Kathy Bates often finds herself in the middle of bickering partners in "Matlock." Here she's between Jason Ritter and Skye P. Marshall.
