"Lou Grant" (1977) TV series 1977-1982

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Directors:

Corey Allen
Donald A. Baer

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

20 September 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

After everyone on the "Mary Tyler Moore Show" got fired, Lou Grant went to Los Angeles and became city editor of the L.A...

Plot Keywords:

Boyhood Friends | Award Winning | Critically Acclaimed | Dog | Spin Off

Awards:

Won 3 Golden Globes. Another 23 wins & 61 nominations

Cast

Edward Asner	...	Lou Grant (114 episodes, 1977-1982)
Robert Walden	...	Joe Rossi (114 episodes, 1977-1982)
Mason Adams	...	Charlie Hume (114 episodes, 1977-1982)
Jack Bannon	...	Art Donovan (114 episodes, 1977-1982)
Daryl Anderson	...	Dennis "Animal" Price (113 episodes, 1977-1982)
Linda Kelsey	...	Billie Newman (111 episodes, 1977-1982)
Nancy Marchand	...	Margaret Pynchon (110 episodes, 1977-1982)

Runtime:

Germany:50 min (113 episodes) | USA:60 min (114 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Republic Studios/CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

MTM Enterprises

Trivia:

The producers of the show wanted to air a final episode that dealt with the paper going out of business. They actually interviewed reporters from real newspapers that closed in order to prepare for this episode. The show was taken off the air before that episode could be filmed.

Quotes:

Lou Grant: When I told you to pick a company to investigate sexual harassment, I didn't mean this one.
Billie Newman: I chose the Trib because that way, I felt the story would have the most impact.
Lou Grant: I have a feeling you're right.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Steve Martin/The Blues Brothers (#3.18)" (1978)

What it was & where it stands

An earlier reviewer's "bleeding heart" references suggest a right-wing orientation. Perhaps this explains his sweeping but unsubstantiated comments concerning how this show's episodes were developed. "Lou Grant" was created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns, the writer-producers behind "Mary Tyler Moore," and Gene Reynolds, the force behind the TV incarnation of "M*A*S*H," who became the sole Executive Producer in the second year. Younger producers under Reynolds included Seth Freeman from "The Waltons" and Gary David Goldberg. However convenient it may be for people with an agenda to think otherwise the producers, not the star, dictated the content. There's no evidence Edward Asner ever suggested a single storyline, and plenty of testimony crediting others.

The entire MTM library was sold several times after Grant Tinker divested himself in order to run NBC. The likelihood of ever again seeing this fine show, which won 16 Emmys, two Humanitas prizes, and the Peabody Award, is absolutely zilch. Write to 20th Century Fox Television if you'd like the chance to see it, but don't expect to get anywhere.