Lou Grant

In the UK this series was not networked, but in the regions of the country it was shown it collected a devoted following. Ed Asner played his roll with gusto, but with help from the excellent cast, the show began to resemble more of a documentary than a drama, as it bravely tackled contemporary social issues and concerns. American import shows had never been like this, living a fantasy world of copsnrobbers, witches and talking horses, but this was perhaps the start of a new wave? which would include shows like 'Quincy' and 'Soap'. It was apparent when this was being run in the UK that the American far right did not like the show one bit! regarding it as wet liberalism . However in countries where it was shown, it possibly showed a compassionate side of America in which it did have concerns for the ' loosers ' as well as the winners in life. Theme tune must be a classic also? Don't think it could be made in the USA today?

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!

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.

When I first heard about this show twenty six years ago (God, time flies), I thought this would be an extension of the show it spun off from, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show". What a surprise it was when this show turned out to be probably the greatest newspaper dramas in television history. The show wasn't afraid to take on controversial issues and even though it was a drama, it still had its lighter moments. Also, even though Ed Asner was the lead, it was more of an ensemble and the whole cast was great. This was an exceptional show and it is a lost classic.

As a child/teenager of the 70s, I grew up watching the popular shows of the time like the Mary Tyler Moore Show, the Bob Newhart Show, etc......but it was never the main character that won me over. In the case of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, I was taken by the character of Lou Grant. For Career Day in Grade 8, I got to visit Toronto's CFTO station because I wanted to run a TV News show. Well, after The Mary Tyler Show ended it's run, I was excited to hear that "Lou Grant" was moving to California and getting his own TV station (or so I thought). You can imagine how disappointed I was watching that first Lou Grant episode and realizing he is no longer in competition with Les Nessman at WKRP, but rather Tom Bradford at the Sacramento Register (Eight Is Enough) . As a 14 year old, I couldn't understand why one would leave television for print...even I knew back in the late 70s that print was dead, but Lou didn't know.

I watched the show anyway and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was nice getting to know the whole persona of Lou, as opposed the gruff boss on the MTM show. The entire cast worked well together and 14 year old me thought Linda Kelsey was cute. Some of the content was tough to swallow at the time (the child on a bike episode for example) but they tried to be real about it.

The real crime today is that you can't find this show anywhere on any streaming services (at least not in Canada). My kids and grandkids have all seen the MTM show, but none have seen any episodes of Lou Grant, and it's Must See TV in my opinion.

So, streaming services....where you at?