HOW TO HAVE THE BEST SUNDAY IN L.A., ACCORDING TO JASON RITTER

MINI GOLF, THE MUSEUM OF JURASSIC TECHNOLOGY AND LATE-NIGHT CHORES MAKE THE LIST FOR THE 'MATLOCK' STAR

- MARQUES HARPER

STARTING SUNDAY NIGHT, actor Jason Ritter will be back onscreen as attorney Julian Markston in Season 2 of the CBS legal drama "Matlock," loosely inspired by the 1980s and '90s Andy Griffith show of the same name. He still gets a thrill when he thinks about the cast he gets to work with, which includes Skye P. Marshall, Beau Bridges and Oscar winner Kathy Bates. "You almost, but not quite ever, forget that you're working with an absolute acting legend," Ritter says. "Kathy is so sweet and so kind and such a team player and collaborator that it helps to sort of stop that voice in your head from going like 'It's Kathy Bates!' every time it's a scene with her." The 45-year-old L.A. native, part of an entertainment family that includes his late father, sitcom legend John Ritter, didn't offer up many details about the new season but did say viewers can expect more on-the-edge-of-your-seat episodes. (If you need a refresher of last season, episodes of "Matlock" are available on Paramount+.) "It has the same pace and fun mystery as the first season, but now my character's secrets have been revealed," says Ritter, who regularly posts about the show and his fellow actors on Instagram along with humorous bits. At home with actor-wife Melanie Lynskey, whom he married in 2020, and their 6-year-old daughter, there aren't any great mysteries that need to be solved, but there is work to do before bed. "When midnight starts," Ritter says, "we're probably finishing up the jobs, as we call them-you know, the dishes and the chores and cleaning everything up, which is a lovely habit that I've gotten into from [my wife]. I always used to just wake up to the nightmare from the night before and I've learned to really appreciate waking up to a clean area." After lights out and some sleep, his ideal Sunday picks up hours later and is filled with plenty of coffee, some miniature golf or a nature walk and more.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.