I haven't seen the show since I was a kid, but I remember hating it.

Lou Grant was a good show but it's not a show a kid would enjoy. My Mom used to always watch the show and I hated it. Years later I watched it in reruns on A&E and I liked it. The show addressed topics that I just didn't care about when I was young. The dramas I watched back then always had a sense of humor to them and Lou Grant was so serious all the time. On the other hand, I do think that Lou Grant could have worked as a sitcom too. That character was that powerful.

Lou Grant was a good show but it's not a show a kid would enjoy. My Mom used to always watch the show and I hated it. Years later I watched it in reruns on A&E and I liked it. The show addressed topics that I just didn't care about when I was young. The dramas I watched back then always had a sense of humor to them and Lou Grant was so serious all the time. On the other hand, I do think that Lou Grant could have worked as a sitcom too. That character was that powerful.


Interesting take Sonny, I just wonder why they did a 180 degree turn with the character and make him so serious. I mean this was Lou Grant from MTM for crying out loud. If anything, they should've made this a dramedy.

Never really watched Lou Grant.

As a kid I didn't have too much interest in straight up drama series.
I do remember thinking that it was neat that they took a sitcom character and made a drama about him.

I think the fact that it was a drama took a huge burden off the show to follow up one of best regarded sitcoms of all time. It allowed it to take the character of Lou Grant and let the show shine on its own.

Pretty sure it was received well.

Never really watched Lou Grant.

As a kid I didn't have too much interest in straight up drama series.
I do remember thinking that it was neat that they took a sitcom character and made a drama about him.

I think the fact that it was a drama took a huge burden off the show to follow up one of best regarded sitcoms of all time. It allowed it to take the character of Lou Grant and let the show shine on its own.

Pretty sure it was received well.


How long did it last?

I suspect making Lou Grant a drama was an attempt to distance the character from his roots as a character on TMTMS and therefore distance him from any expectations to live up to that pedigree. I think that was actually a very good idea.

Interesting take Sonny, I just wonder why they did a 180 degree turn with the character and make him so serious. I mean this was Lou Grant from MTM for crying out loud. If anything, they should've made this a dramedy.
I think that's what disappointed me back then. I was a big fan of the Mary Tyler Moore Show and when I watched the show, it was so serious. They seperated themselves from MTM pretty fast too. I think they just mentioned his old life in the first episode. It was sort of how they addressed Trapper John M.D. and MASH. Unlike Lou Grant though, Trapper John had a lot of humor and I liked that show. If anyone watched Lou Grant without ever watching him on MTM, I think they would have a different perspective.

I suspect making Lou Grant a drama was an attempt to distance the character from his roots as a character on TMTMS and therefore distance him from any expectations to live up to that pedigree. I think that was actually a very good idea.

It was an interesting idea no doubt about that. If I am not mistaken, it was the first time in tv history a sitcom character moved over to drama. With all that said, Rhoda was spun off into a comedy as was Phyllis. What made Lou different?

I think that's what disappointed me back then. I was a big fan of the Mary Tyler Moore Show and when I watched the show, it was so serious. They seperated themselves from MTM pretty fast too. I think they just mentioned his old life in the first episode. It was sort of how they addressed Trapper John M.D. and MASH. Unlike Lou Grant though, Trapper John had a lot of humor and I liked that show. If anyone watched Lou Grant without ever watching him on MTM, I think they would have a different perspective.


You see, I don't like that. I understand you want to set Lou apart from MTM, but why just one little mention? I guess that answers my other question if anybody from MTM ever visited for a guest role.

It was an interesting idea no doubt about that. If I am not mistaken, it was the first time in tv history a sitcom character moved over to drama. With all that said, Rhoda was spun off into a comedy as was Phyllis. What made Lou different?
I think the subject matter lent itself more to drama than comedy. Lou Grant left WJM to take a job as a newspaper editor. As such he dealt with very series issues as well as the series business of running a newspaper. I think that just worked better as a drama.

You see, I don't like that. I understand you want to set Lou apart from MTM, but why just one little mention? I guess that answers my other question if anybody from MTM ever visited for a guest role.
Yea I understand what you mean. It would have been great seeing the old gang on Lou Grant. In reality though, the show was only Lou Grant in name only. Ed Asner really could have played a completely different character and had the same results. I think they just used the name because of name recognition and I think it was produced by MTM Enterprises. It was nominated for many emmys and I think it won a few so it was well received.

I think the subject matter lent itself more to drama than comedy. Lou Grant left WJM to take a job as a newspaper editor. As such he dealt with very series issues as well as the series business of running a newspaper. I think that just worked better as a drama.

Thanks for the heads up on that, but, no humor at all?

Yea I understand what you mean. It would have been great seeing the old gang on Lou Grant. In reality though, the show was only Lou Grant in name only. Ed Asner really could have played a completely different character and had the same results. I think they just used the name because of name recognition and I think it was produced by MTM Enterprises. It was nominated for many emmys and I think it won a few so it was well received.


I guess in a way, it's like Solomon's theory of Florida Evans on Maude and Florida Evans on Good Times. Same name, but different characters. lol

I guess in a way, it's like Solomon's theory of Florida Evans on Maude and Florida Evans on Good Times. Same name, but different characters. lol
I wonder if Solomon would consider this a spinoff? :lol:

Thanks for the heads up on that, but, no humor at all?
You have to remember that on TMTMS Ed Asner was surrounded by an ensemble of brilliant comic actors and actresses. But on Lou Grant the cast were all dramatic actors. So I guess they played to their strength.

I wonder if Solomon would consider this a spinoff? :lol:
Don't go opening that can of worms!!! :lol:

I wonder if Solomon would consider this a spinoff? :lol:


:lol:

Where is he? I'd LOVE to ask him!!!

I wonder if Solomon would consider this a spinoff? :lol:
Let's not even go there!! :eek: :lol:

To this day, I'm pretty sure this was the first and only drama to be spun off from a sitcom. Anyone know for sure?

Let's not even go there!! :eek: :lol:

To this day, I'm pretty sure this was the first and only drama to be spun off from a sitcom. Anyone know for sure?


I'd love to know myself.......

Let's not even go there!! :eek: :lol:

To this day, I'm pretty sure this was the first and only drama to be spun off from a sitcom. Anyone know for sure?
Trapper John M.D. was the other one but they did have different actors playing Trapper John. Like this show though, Trapper John could have been any character and nobody would have known the difference. I don't know if there were any others. I can't think of any off hand.

Trapper John M.D. was the other one but they did have different actors playing Trapper John. Like this show though, Trapper John could have been any character and nobody would have known the difference. I don't know if there were any others. I can't think of any off hand.


Oh yeah, I forgot about Trapper John MD

I thought of one that went from drama to comedy. The short-lived Beverly Hills Buntz was a spinoff of Hill Street Blues. It aired during the 1987-1988 season, the year after Hill Street ended. It starred Dennis Franz in his role as Buntz. It was a half-hour dramedy.

I thought of one that went from drama to comedy. The short-lived Beverly Hills Buntz was a spinoff of Hill Street Blues. It aired during the 1987-1988 season, the year after Hill Street ended. It starred Dennis Franz in his role as Buntz. It was a half-hour dramedy.


Wow, I never even heard of that one.

Oh yeah, I forgot about Trapper John MD
So did I - thanks, Sonny.

The only thing I could come up with is an episode of the drama St. Elsewhere that had the characters from Cheers on it. lol

Lou Grant was one of two great, socially relevant CBS dramas in the late 70s/early 80s (The White Shadow being the other).

It was a bit jarring to see Lou away from the humor of MTM, but he was really the same character with more serious plots. He was gruff but had his normal integrity, temper and sensibility. He was loyal, hard working and demanding, hard drinking and no nonsense. I liked seeing him deal with dramatic situations, and the actors around him were all unique and very interesting, though obviously much different than those from MTM.

I think if Asner's personal politics hadn't entered into things, the show would ahve lasted much longer than it did.

I think if Asner's personal politics hadn't entered into things, the show would ahve lasted much longer than it did.

What do you mean?

Posting from wikipedia.

Controversy

The cancellation of Lou Grant in 1982 was the subject of much controversy. Reportedly the series had significant enough ratings in its last season to be renewed (it was in the ACNielsen top ten throughout its final month on the air), but the network declined to renew it largely because of controversies created by Asner in using both the series and his presidency of the Screen Actors Guild as political soapboxes. Asner's outspokenness in directly opposing the U.S. government's intervention in El Salvador created problems for the network with its advertisers. Asner also gave one press conference, not long before the show was cancelled, in which he was asked whether he would support free elections in El Salvador even if those elected were communists. Asner responded that if that was what the voters chose in a free election then he would have to support it.

Posting from wikipedia.

Controversy

The cancellation of Lou Grant in 1982 was the subject of much controversy. Reportedly the series had significant enough ratings in its last season to be renewed (it was in the ACNielsen top ten throughout its final month on the air), but the network declined to renew it largely because of controversies created by Asner in using both the series and his presidency of the Screen Actors Guild as political soapboxes. Asner's outspokenness in directly opposing the U.S. government's intervention in El Salvador created problems for the network with its advertisers. Asner also gave one press conference, not long before the show was cancelled, in which he was asked whether he would support free elections in El Salvador even if those elected were communists. Asner responded that if that was what the voters chose in a free election then he would have to support it.
Yea I remember all that controversy. I thought it was more about our policy in Nicaragua though. Maybe it was both. I know he was very outspoken back then and he attacked the Reagan administration quite alot. It's hard to believe that had anything to do with it but times were different then and I don't remember any tv stars being that outspoken back then. Nowadays its different.

Yea I remember all that controversy. I thought it was more about our policy in Nicaragua though. Maybe it was both. I know he was very outspoken back then and he attacked the Reagan administration quite alot. It's hard to believe that had anything to do with it but times were different then and I don't remember any tv stars being that outspoken back then. Nowadays its different.

Yeah, nowadays every fool with a hit record or a TV show that lasts more than one season is suddenly an expert on foreign and domestic policy. :rolleyes:

CBS' official reason for cancelling Lou Grant was low ratings, but people suspected that it was Ed Asner's very outspoken liberal views that did the show in.

Thanks for the updates guys, interesting stuff.

I just thought of another show that switched from comedy to drama, The Brady Bunch became The Bradys and became a drama.

Thanks for the updates guys, interesting stuff.

I just thought of another show that switched from comedy to drama, The Brady Bunch became The Bradys and became a drama.
Oh, yes! Absolutely!

You see, I don't like that. I understand you want to set Lou apart from MTM, but why just one little mention? I guess that answers my other question if anybody from MTM ever visited for a guest role.

Actually, there was one cross over character; Eileen Heckart reprised her role as Flo Meredith (Mary's Aunt Flo) in the episode "Pact." She mentions that she knows Lou, but there's no mention as to how she knows him.

Actually, there was one cross over character; Eileen Heckart reprised her role as Flo Meredith (Mary's Aunt Flo) in the episode "Pact." She mentions that she knows Lou, but there's no mention as to how she knows him.


Thanks for the heads up on that!

Thanks for the heads up on that!

You're welcome. Glad to have helped.

Actually, there was one cross over character; Eileen Heckart reprised her role as Flo Meredith (Mary's Aunt Flo) in the episode "Pact." She mentions that she knows Lou, but there's no mention as to how she knows him.
FYI... the ep's name is Pack.
As in press pack... going with the pack, which was the theme of the ep.

I state this because I recently watched it on Youtube.

Very good episode. In it Heckart tells Billie on the campaign bus that she use to date Lou... and how Lou once asked her to marry him. She declined. He didn't ask again.

Billie tells her she'd like to hear more about their romance, but Flo is reticent and doesn't want to talk about it.