On NBC when they did episodes "The Vendetta","Man of the Year","The Kidnapper"These featured clips from the full-length episodes,and,in my opinion,the full-length episodes were FAR better.Anyone agree?

Those were not too bad as far as "clip" shows go -- I especially liked The Kidnapper among those three...

The clip shows aside, I didn't think Matlock "jumped" until after Brynn Thayer was gone -- but I do like Carol Houston more than most Matlock fans! I could get lost in that brunette hair with super long bangs! Her performance was pretty good IMO.

Andy Griffith was really noticably aging toward the end, I think maybe his health was a little poor (and hopefully he's doing better now, years later). This series had made some excellent casting moves (Clarence Gilyard Jr. is one of the most popular actors around as far as a non-original cast addition). I liked Andy's taste in ladies -- Carol completed the color scheme, as far as brunettes, redheads (Julie Sommars) and blondes (too numerous)! All shagadelic!

I don't know if it ever jumped the shark. I am disappointed that Brynn Thayer did not come back for that last season. I thought she was brilliant on the show and a great actress. I was very impressed with her work and still am.

That episode revolving around the theft/reading of her diary was particularly good. What a nice performance that was. Brynn's work on the series tends to be underrated.