Lou Grant

1977

Seasons & Episodes

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1

7.3| 0h30m| en
Synopsis

The trials of a former television station manager turned newspaper city editor, and his journalist staff.

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Trailers & Clips

Reviews

Hellen I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much
Kidskycom It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.
Bessie Smyth Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.
Portia Hilton Blistering performances.
jarrodmcdonald-1 This episode is what makes Lou Grant a truly exemplary television drama (from any era). It also makes routine, mediocre TV shows look even worse than they are, because the bar is set so high with an episode like this. Again, story editor April Smith writes a top script, and it features some very thorough research about what happens when a strike occurs, especially one involving a large city newspaper. The strike of the real-life Washington Post is referenced in this episode and I'm sure Ms. Smith used that event as one of the main inspirations here. What gets me, is that many years later, strikes like this still occur. In Hollywood, the writers guild has gone through similar ordeals, complete with scab writers and negotiations where the major studios are careful not to give the store away to the unions (most recently involving royalties on home video and streaming). It should be noted that SAG (the screen actors guild) has had several strikes, too, and that Ed Asner was the president of SAG during production of this series. I think it's significant that as Lou, Ed does walk the picket line toward the end of this episode. But what's really great is that April Smith shows the more human side of this situation, that neither side is a true villain, and that eventually there has to be a compromise on the numbers. I liked the scene where Lou tells Rossi to leave, when Rossi's temper flares and he purges the story he's working on as the strike begins. And I thought the part where Billie gets injured was very realistically staged. Also worth noting are the historical aspects of this story, in terms of where print media was and how technology was evolving. There are several scenes where we see how news layouts are being done and how the process is being modernized.
Paul McComas Judged by 1977-82 standards, this show was peerless.Today, it's a bit "dated" in certain ways. But these elements actually make it a valuable portrait of its era.Talented cast, right down the line. Terrific writing. Skillful, sensitive directing. Highly relevant. Courageous. And one of TV's all-time-best role models in the lead.Every Emmy -- & there were MANY -- was fully deserved. Also the Peabody, the Humanitas, & all the other awards it won.Each season was as strong as or stronger than its predecessor; this is one show that was NOT running out of steam.In fact, during the Reagan Years, we needed it more than ever! (Would have loved to see its take on Iran-Contra.)Shame on CBS for bowing to pressure because of Asner's politics and the show's oft-controversial scripts.LOU still shines.Waiting impatiently for (legal) DVD release!
djdekok What do I mean, shoehorned dialogue? What I mean is this: it seems as though every issue-oriented episode (and there were a LOT of them) had someone spouting some obscure statistic as casually as they would say, "I'll take cream and two sugars in my coffee". The overly earnest dialogue was a harbinger of things to come--Quincy, ER, Designing Women all used the same technique to advance a largely left-wing agenda.That being said, I really enjoyed Rossi and Billie's constant bickering. He never gave up (or had a clue). Ed Asner's portrayal was REALLY better in the MTM Show. The crustiness was just endearing, when he'd threaten to rearrange Ted Baxter's face. Here it was just pontificating. Sorry guys, just can't give the thumbs up to this one.
Rosemea D.S. MacPherson James L. Brooks (As Good as it Gets, Terms of Endearment) was one of the producers and acted as executive producer of the fabulous series. Edward Asner (Mary Tyler Moore Show, Down on the Waterfront) played Lou Grant in a spin off of the Mary Tyler Moore Show. The editor of the L.A. Tribune. Nancy Marchand (Dear God ) Margaret Pynchon was the big boss and owner of the newspaper. She would show up occasionally with her good advice, a walking cane, and wearing a very expensive suit. Although she was the head, she was very nice. Mason Adams (From the Earth to the Moon) was Charlie Hume, Managing Editor. Robert Walden (All the President's Men) Joe Rossi, was a reporter. Linda Kelsey (The Midnight Man) played Billie Newman McCovey who was a very smart reporter. The most interesting thing about this show was the serious journalism they engaged in providing for the audience. The issues raised on the show were very current. It raised some controversy which might have affected the future existence of the show. It was an outstanding series. It was nice to see Lou Grant more mature in his carrier as a journalist. The series was nominated for and won the most prestigious awards in the U.S. such as: Emmy, Golden Globe, American Cinema Editors, USA, Directors Guild of America, USA, Human Family Educational & Cultural Institute, USA, Won Humanitas. The series was done by very intelligent people and demonstrated that television can be good when the people doing the show are bright. Unfortunately this is not always the case. Good shows like Lou Grants are not readily available.