Matt Houston

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Matt Houston
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Series title screen
Genre Crime drama
Created by Lawrence Gordon
Starring Lee Horsley
Pamela Hensley
George Wyner
Buddy Ebsen (1984–1985)
Theme music composer Dominic Frontiere
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 3
No. of episodes 67
Production
Executive producer(s) Aaron Spelling
Douglas S. Cramer
Lawrence Gordon
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time 45–48 minutes
Production company(s) Aaron Spelling Productions
Largo Productions
Matt Houston Company
Distributor CBS Television Distribution
Release
Original network ABC
Audio format Monaural
Original release September 26, 1982 (1982-09-26) –
July 19, 1985 (1985-07-19)
External links
[{{#property:P856}} Website]

Matt Houston is an American crime drama series that aired on ABC from 1982 to 1985. Created by Lawrence Gordon, the series was produced by Aaron Spelling.

Synopsis

Matt Houston stars Lee Horsley as a wealthy mustachioed Texas oilman named Matlock "Matt" Houston who worked as a private investigator in Los Angeles in his abundant free time. The show also stars Pamela Hensley as his lawyer sidekick, C.J., and George Wyner as his continuously frustrated business manager. During the show's third and final season (1984–85), Buddy Ebsen joined the cast as Matt Houston's uncle, Roy Houston.

Most episodes typically involved one of Matt Houston's close friends being murdered or involved in some criminal enterprise, requiring his assistance. Fortunately, C.J. had access to an Apple III computer named "Baby" that contained a remarkable database on virtually all living and deceased persons, allowing her to provide all necessary information.

Cast

Actor Character
Lee Horsley Mattlock 'Matt' Houston (1982-85)
Pamela Hensley C.J. Parsons (1982-85)
John Aprea Lt. Vince Novelli (1982–83)
Paul Brinegar Lamar Pettybone (1982–83)
Dennis Fimple Bo (1982–83)
Penny Santon Mama Rosa Novelli (1982–83)
Lincoln Kilpatrick Lt. Michael Hoyt (1983–85)
Buddy Ebsen Uncle Roy Houston (1984–85)

Episode guide

Season 1 (1982-1983)

Title Air date
1 "Pilot" September 26, 1982
Matt Houston, an oil tycoon's son from Texas, comes to California to manage off-shore drilling. With plenty of cars, a helicopter, and lots of millionaire toys to choose from, Matt Houston finds plenty of time for his PI hobby.
2 "Stop the Presses" October 3, 1982
A disreputable tabloid's publisher is nearly killed after telling his four worst enemies he plans to run a front-page story on them.
3 "Deadly Fashion" October 17, 1982
A famous fashion designer has been murdered and Matt's former girlfriend is under suspicion.
4 "Killing isn't Everything" October 24, 1982
A football player is being blackmailed by someone who says they have proof he killed the coach.
5 "Who Would Kill Ramona?" October 31, 1982
When an actor dies after drinking from a tainted glass, the star who it belonged to becomes a suspect.
6 "Recipe for Murder" November 7, 1982
A severed head in gelatin shocks a food critic who recognizes it as belonging to his partner.
7 "Shark Bait" November 21, 1982
Sharks have been attacking beachgoers, and Matt wonders if something sinister might be going on.
8 "The Kidnapping" November 28, 1982
A critically ill Arab prince has been abducted.
9 "Joey's Here" December 5, 1982
Matt tries to discover why a robot would murder the brother of its genius creator.
10 "The Good Doctor" December 12, 1982
During a party at Matt's, a research scientist is murdered.
11 "The Rock and the Hard Place" January 2, 1983
A champion boxer's physical ailments and his wife's addictions come into light after a murder.
12 "The Purrfect Crime" January 9, 1983
When a cat food mogul is found mauled to death by a domesticated tiger, his four ex-wives retain Matt's services so they can receive proceeds the from the will.
13 "The Yacht Club Murders" January 16, 1983
A yacht club is the target of a killer, concerning someone with ties to Matt.
14 "Whose Party is This Anyway?" January 23, 1983
Five famous folks are summoned to Matt's place through a murderous ruse.
15 "Get Houston" February 20, 1983
A psychopath orchestrates attacks on Houston from his padded confinement.
16 "The Visitors" February 27, 1983
A famous scientist suffers a fatal heart attack while witnessing an alleged extraterrestrial visit by an Unidentified Flying Object.
17 "Here's Another Fine Mess" March 6, 1983
Someone is targeting C.J. and her sorority sisters.
18 "The Beverly Hills Social Club" March 13, 1983
A gossip columnist is murdered after threatening to expose a high-class prostitution house.
19 "The Showgirl Murders" March 20, 1983
Matt's friend, who suffers from alcoholic binges and blackouts, is accused of murder.
20 "Fear for Tomorrow" April 3, 1983
When a special code predicts deaths, Matt hunts for clues to prevent them and expose the code's reality.
21 "A Deadly Parlay" April 10, 1983
Matt is charged with murdering a jockey whose body he happened upon.
22 "A Novel Way to Die" April 17, 1983
A mystery is revealed when a murder-mystery writer is found dead at a convention.
23 "The Hunted" April 24, 1983
A notorious crime leader kidnaps C.J. in order to force a trade for his son who is being held in connection with a terrorism plot.

Season 2 (1983-1984)

Title Air date
24 "Heritage I, II" September 9, 1983
While investigating a land scam, Matt finds out a few unnerving things about his family and his past.
25 "The Woman in White" September 16, 1983
A former peace officer is jailed and under arrest for murder, but he might not have committed the crime.
26 "Love You to Death" September 23, 1983
Matt is the victim of a stalker one-night stand.
27 "The Centerfold Murders" September 30, 1983
Three stunning women have been murdered, their connection: they are all top centerfolds.
28 "Needle in a Haystack" October 7, 1983
After witnessing a brutal crime, a diabetic is deported to Mexico, and his mother is concerned about his condition.
29 "Marilyn" October 14, 1983
As he lay dying from a fatal gunshot, an associate asks Matt to protect Marilyn. Only one problem: Matt has no idea who she is.
30 "The Ghost of Carter Gault" October 28, 1983
A man trying to expose dirty union tactics is murdered right after asking Matt to take the case.
31 "China Doll" November 4, 1983
Did Chinese drug smugglers murder C.J.'s former roommate?
32 "Butterfly" November 18, 1983
In the attempt to protect her little sister from a child prostitute ring, a teenage call girl is murdered.
33 "The Crying Clown" November 25, 1983
A talented art forger is found murdered, and the clues may rest one of his paintings, which is now missing.
34 "The Outsider" December 2, 1983
A self-proclaimed "Psychic" who is involved in a kidnapping scheme targets Matt.
35 "Target: Miss World" December 23, 1983
A sniper assassin kills an innocent girl to maximize his targeting location.
36 "The Monster" January 6, 1984
C.J. is left to deal with defending a man who has confessed to killing four teens.
37 "Waltz of Death" January 13, 1984
Someone thinks a renowned concert pianist is a mad strangler.
38 "Houston is Dead" January 20, 1984
While investigating the death of a nursing home nurse, Matt is shot.
39 "Criss-Cross" January 27, 1984
A retired Lieutenant Vincent Novelli is charged with stealing cocaine from a police evidence vault upon his return from vacation in Hawaii.
40 "The Bikini Murders" February 3, 1984
A secretary is murdered after uncovering a plot to blackmail her boss.
41 "Death Match" February 24, 1984
A serial killer who killed Matt's fiancee in the past reveals that he has struck again.
42 "Blood Ties" March 2, 1984
A hospital angel of death targets Matt's father.
43 "The Secret Admirer March 9, 1984
C.J. is stalked by an obsessed admirer who murders her beau.
44 "Cash and Carry" March 23, 1984
A thief has second thoughts after stealing a cool $3 million from the mob.
45 "On the Run" March 30, 1984
An amnesiac Matt wakes in his penthouse to discover a month is past and he is accused of murder.

Season 3 (1984-1985)

Title Air date
46 "Wanted Man" September 21, 1984
Buddy Ebsen stars as Roy Houston, Matt's uncle who investigates the accusations against his nephew and uncovers a mind control plot.
47 "Vanished" September 28, 1984
Hoyt's young daughter is kidnapped by a child molester.
48 "Eyewitness" October 12, 1984
A TV newsman covers a kidnapping that he might be involved in to boost ratings.
49 "Apostle of Death" October 19, 1984
Whether it's a religious cult or a commune, Matt must rescue a girl who is being bilked out of a $3 million inheritance by the evangelist leader who plans to murder her after he has gained control of the cash.
50 "Caged" October 26, 1984
After getting amnesia after a car accident, C.J. finds herself in prison and uncovers a prostitution ring. Guest starring Cynthia Cypert as Cynthia
51 "Return to Nam" November 2, 1984
Matt discovers that his cousin, who was once believed dead in Cambodia, is still a POW.
52 "Escape from Nam" November 9, 1984
The Cambodian warlord who has imprisoned Matt's cousin might be getting a little help from someone close to Matt.
53 "High Fashion Murders" November 16, 1984
Two models have been murdered, and Matt can't accept the alibi of the most likely suspect.
54 "Death Stalk" November 23, 1984
An international assassin has a grudge against Matt.
55 "Blood Money" with Scott Marlowe November 30, 1984
Matt is dragged into a case involving international gem smuggling from a war-torn Vietnam.
56 "Deadly Games" December 7, 1984
The most dangerous game is revisited when a sporting goods mogul hunts athletes.
57 "Stolen" December 21, 1984
An actress, whose infant son had been kidnapped a year earlier, asks Matt to investigate a woman she saw in a park with a child who resembled her lost baby.
58 "The Nightmare Man" January 4, 1985
Matt believes that the man who abducted him as a boy is kidnapping again.
59 "Breakpoint" January 11, 1985
Matt rushes to the aid of a girl who is threatening suicide.
60 "Death Trap" January 18, 1985
A once prosperous oil town is now home to corruption and embezzlement.
61 "The Honeymoon Murders" January 25, 1985
Someone is targeting brides to be.
62 "Beach Club Murders" February 1, 1985
Matt investigates blackmail murders with the assistance of one of the victims sisters.
63 "New Orleans Nightmare" February 8, 1985
A stewardess accidentally happens upon and photographs a murder and asks Matt to protect her.
64 "Company Secrets" February 15, 1985
Roy fakes his death to uncover a plot to murder his CIA squad members.
65 "Killing Time" February 22, 1985
Matt's new flame has a family secret; her brother is funding Irish terrorists.
66 "Death Watch" March 15, 1985
Matt and company investigate a drug ring.
67 "Final Vows" March 29, 1985
Elizabeth, the object of Matt's affections, returns.

DVD releases

On March 9, 2010, CBS DVD (Distributed by Paramount) released season 1 of Matt Houston on DVD in Region 1 for the first time.[1] It was announced on May 4, 2015 that all three seasons of Matt Houston would be released the summer of 2015 by VEI, Inc. [2]

Award nominations

Year Award Result Category Recipient
1983 Emmy Award Nominated Outstanding Film Editing for a Series Bob Bring (For episode "The Showgirl Murders")
Edgar Award Best Television Episode Richard Christian Danus and Ken Trevey (For episode "Matt Houston")
1985 Young Artist Award Best Young Actor – Guest in a Television Series Bumper Robinson

References

  1. Matt Houston - DVD Release Date Revealed by the Studio for The 1st Season tvshowsondvd.com
  2. Matt Houston - After a Long Wait, We'll Get More DVDs from the Lee Horsley-Starring Show tvshowsondvd.com

External links