Encore acquires all Perry Mason TV movies

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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. cable network Encore Mystery says it has acquired all 30 Perry Mason TV movies from CBS Television Distribution and will start airing them next month.

"Before Judge Judy, Nancy Grace, Gloria Allred, Johnny Cochran and all the rest, there was only one lawyer on television -- his name was Perry Mason, and he never lost a case," Encore said in a news release Monday about the fictional attorney. "After the series ended its nine-year run in prime time, the great defender, played by Raymond Burr, returned in a series of made-for-TV movies beginning in 1985. Encore Mystery has acquired all 30 television movies from CBS Television Distribution."

The network said it plans to start airing the films Sept. 6, with a Labor Day Marathon. After Labor Day, a Perry Mason movie will air every Monday night.

Joining Perry in the TV movies are his old sidekick Della Street, played by Barbara Hale, and William Katt, Hale's real-life son, as Paul Drake Jr., taking over the role from the late William Hopper.

Guest stars who appeared in the films include Timothy Bottoms, Patrick O'Neal, Holland Taylor, Tom Bosley, Ron Glass, Alan Thicke, Jean Simmons, Gene Barry, Ray Sharkey, Robert Stack, Yaphet Kotto, Robert Guillaume, Patty Duke, Don Galloway, Brian Keith, Jerry Orbach, Deidre Hall, Pernell Roberts, Yvette Mimieux, Ian McShane, Angela Bassett, Robert Culp, Robert Vaughn, Philip Michael Thomas, Paul Anka, Scott Baio, Valerie Harper, Geraldo Rivera, Stephen Stills, Linda Blair, Morgan Fairchild, Tippi Hedren, Montel Williams, Regis Philbin and G. Gordon Liddy.