Matt Lincoln series on ABC

[Du Mont]

I've carried this post down from the tv-movies-on-dvd posting string on the chances that somebody who follows this thread might know something more about 'Matt Lincoln' or its original pilot telefilm.

Originally Posted by amyb
Hi. I agree with all the other posts in this category. They were all great tv movies. Most ARE available through private collectors. I have been searching forever for an ABC tv movie of the week titled DIAL HOT LINE. This aired in 1970 and starred the late, great Vince Edwards. Dial Hot Line is the pilot film for Vince Edwards' tv series Matt Lincoln. This series was short-lived. ABC scheduled Matt Lincoln at 7:30 opposite Flip Wilson and Jim Nabors. Can you imagine a series that dealt with college age kids coming to a walk-in clinic for help with depression airing at 7:30? This series deserves to be seen again. Dial Hot Line and the individual episodes of Matt Lincoln are not available through private collectors.

'Matt Lincoln' was a fresh, original tv series, and even though I only saw it once, I remember it vividly. Series based on psychiatrists seem to have suffered particularly short runs on broadcast and cable television.

I never saw the pilot for it, but I do miss the days when spring would be testing ground for viewers to check out the fall pilots. 'Matt Lincoln' was part of ABC's youth push that season under the slogan "Let's Get Together on ABC" that included 'The Young Rebels', 'The Young Lawyers', 'The Partridge Family' and 'Barefoot in the Park'.

My notes on the 1970-71 season indicate that 'Matt Lincoln' did indeed get flattened in the Nielsen's:

Thursdays, 7:30-8:30 pm:
1st: NBC 'The Flip Wilson Show' 27.9HH
2nd: CBS 'Family Affair' / 'The Jim Nabors Show' (first half) 19.5HH
3rd: ABC 'Matt Lincoln' 12.0HH

Since this series was a short-run one season wonder, so it may be a while before Universal licences it for dvd release. I would send them a note, and tell them how much the series (and pilot) still resonates. Universal has a solid reputation for maintaining their library, and if a few more people expressed interest, this series might be seen on dvd players again.

When producers go off in search of series to re-make or update for today, they should look for groundbreakers like 'Matt Lincoln'. I would think that today, helpline's/distress centres as portrayed in the show play an even bigger role in keeping our social fabric intact.

[bencasey]

How many different message boards are you going to post the same crap? You think by posting everywhere on the internet anybody is going to think that more than one person cares about this show? Just be happy with your 2 re-edited movies because that's all you're ever gonna get.