Q: Wait. What is this?
A: Well, I’m holding a mock tournament between all 40 defendants in Perry Mason’s Season 1.
Q: But aren’t there are only 39 episodes?
A: Morey Allen and Dixie Dayton were co-defendants in “The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink”!
Q: Ah! But wait a minute. Why do this?
A: It’s a fun way of thinking about every episode in a particular season and comparing episodes.
Q: How do you decide who wins?
A: I pick the better character, not the better person, the better actress or actor (though both factors contribute to a better character), or even the better episode.
If Perry was sitting around with Paul and Della on a Saturday night, which defendants would they talk about with the most regard?
Q: what does the winner “get”?
A: The ignominious distinction of being the best at something that was truly horrific: having to stand trial for your life for a crime you didn’t commit!
Q: That’s it, then? Anything else?
A: Well, a 40-team bracket is kind of wonky, but we'll make it work. May the best defendant win!