He promotes Mary to Producer and she has more responsibilities and only gets a $1000 more a YEAR????????????????-LOL

Why did Mary accept the position anyway if she was supposed to be this strong independent woman? Then the piece of sh&t promotes himself to EXECUTIVE PRODUCER-lol


BTW: I had a friend who accepted a promotion with no raise because it was something exciting about having a new job title-lol

Whoa, that was harsh. I guess you are no fan of Lou?

Whoa, that was harsh. I guess you are no fan of Lou?


LOL, I just don't like how he took advantage of people. Usually when someone gets promoted they are given a increase not more responsibilities and the same money.

LOL, I just don't like how he took advantage of people. Usually when someone gets promoted they are given a increase not more responsibilities and the same money.


Sometimes a job title can be just as valuable as a raise.

Sometimes a job title can be just as valuable as a raise.


Why? because your job at the company becomes more stable?

$1000 a year went a lot further in the 70's and was considered a significant raise back then. You have to remember we've had almost 40 years of inflation since then so the dollar amounts aren't the same in terms of current value.

$1000 a year went a lot further in the 70's and was considered a significant raise back then. You have to remember we've had almost 40 years of inflation since then so the dollar amounts aren't the same in terms of current value.


$1000 extra a year is just a little more money on your check after taxes. Almost sounded like he gave her a COLA raise lol

Why? because your job at the company becomes more stable?


Yes, there is that, but it looks more impressive on future resumes.

Yes, there is that, but it looks more impressive on future resumes.

Exactly. A promotion has to be looked at from all angles. And something that can look great on a resume can be worth a lot of $$$ down the road.

Also, the raise wasn't THAT bad. As others have said $ went a lot further 40 years ago. While Lou was a far cry from perfect, he had his good points as a boss. He was tough, not wishy-washy, would generally do the right thing in situations. He was somewhat sexist though, but that was a product of the times. And he did evolve in this area as the series went on.

Exactly. A promotion has to be looked at from all angles. And something that can look great on a resume can be worth a lot of $$$ down the road.

Also, the raise wasn't THAT bad. As others have said $ went a lot further 40 years ago. While Lou was a far cry from perfect, he had his good points as a boss. He was tough, not wishy-washy, would generally do the right thing in situations. He was somewhat sexist though, but that was a product of the times. And he did evolve in this area as the series went on.


Well said! I went for an interview at my job for a promotion, yes to get more money, but also the title of Operations manager too. lol

As an aside, you'd be crabby too if you had to put up with Ted all the time. :eek: :crazy: :lol:

As an aside, you'd be crabby too if you had to put up with Ted all the time. :eek: :crazy: :lol:


That is true! lol

Good thing Lou didn't have much hair because he would be pulling it out all the time otherwise. :eek: :crazy: :lol:

Good thing Lou didn't have much hair because he would be pulling it out all the time otherwise. :eek: :crazy: :lol:


:lol:

Good thing Lou didn't have much hair because he would be pulling it out all the time otherwise. :eek: :crazy: :lol:
Which is probably why he didn't have much hair left! Too many years of working with Ted!! :crazy: :lol:

Which is probably why he didn't have much hair left! Too many years of working with Ted!! :crazy: :lol:
Let alone his sanity lol!

Let alone his sanity lol!
Bingo!!!! :lol:

Bingo!!!! :lol:

Yup. A somewhat stocky bald crazy man punching a hole in the wall. Yeah, Ted could do that to you.

(note to Lou: and don't even think about pushing Ted out the window - with your luck Ted would land on his head and bounce right back up - right in the middle of your desk!)

Lou was a great boss - he GOT THE JOB DONE.

-plus if you've seen the Lou Grant show, you'd know that he's a hard-edged newsman to the core; he's tough on Mary to bring out the best in her (he actually seemed generally less crabby on his own show though).

Lou was a great boss - he GOT THE JOB DONE.

-plus if you've seen the Lou Grant show, you'd know that he's a hard-edged newsman to the core; he's tough on Mary to bring out the best in her (he actually seemed generally less crabby on his own show though).

You hit the nail in the head. Great take on Lou.

Because if he was a nice guy, that would cut down on the plot lines!

Yup. A somewhat stocky bald crazy man punching a hole in the wall. Yeah, Ted could do that to you.

(note to Lou: and don't even think about pushing Ted out the window - with your luck Ted would land on his head and bounce right back up - right in the middle of your desk!)
Yup - that would be Lou's luck in a nutshell. :eek: :crazy: :rofl:

It seemed that pretty much every sitcom had to have at least one somewhat irascible character -- oftentimes in a supporting role. Some examples:

My Three Sons: Uncle Charley O'Casey
Petticoat Junction: Uncle Joe Carson (esp. in Season 7)
Green Acres: Oliver Wendall Douglas
The Dick Van Dyke Show: Alan Brady
Gilligan's Island: Jonas (Skipper) Grundy
The Beverly Hillbillies: Daisy (Granny) Moses
The Partridge Family: Reuben Kincaid
Gomer Pyle, USMC: Sgt. Vince Carter
Dobie Gillis: Herbert Gillis
The Andy Griffith Show: Barney Fife (b/w seasons), Andy Taylor (color)
Laverne & Shirley: Frank DeFazio

Lou Grant on TMTMS was both in a position of authority and also supporting, not starring -- probably the most comparable to Alan Brady on Dick Van Dyke as far as my list, but in a much, much larger role.

Because if he was a nice guy, that would cut down on the plot lines!


I think everyone on this board knows that Captain Obvious

Another good choice for that category would be Frank Barone (the late Peter Boyle) of Everybody Loves Raymond.

Also, the raise wasn't THAT bad. As others have said $ went a lot further 40 years ago.

I'm not sure what episode is being referred to here, but assuming it was from 1972, that $1,000 a year would be worth $5,488 a year today, or an extra $457 a month, or $106 more a week.

Plus, Phyllis got Mary a good deal on that little studio apartment, so every little bit helped then.

I'm not sure what episode is being referred to here, but assuming it was from 1972, that $1,000 a year would be worth $5,488 a year today, or an extra $457 a month, or $106 more a week.


I think he explained that she was getting the raise anyway which I think was a COLA raise so it had nothing to do with the promotion. That's why she was confused because she was given more responsibilities for the same money

I think he explained that she was getting the raise anyway which I think was a COLA raise so it had nothing to do with the promotion. That's why she was confused because she was given more responsibilities for the same money

:lol: Now I remember that scene. Yeah, Mr. Grant was a jerk.

:lol: Now I remember that scene. Yeah, Mr. Grant was a jerk.
I'd forgotten about it myself!! :eek: :lol:

Lou could be very sexist. But as the show went on he did seem to mellow out.

Plus, Mary knew deep down Lou had a high regard for her, and I think that helped her deal with his shortcomings. And the thing that was great about Mary was you could only push her do far...so she did make some headway with Lou.

I always disliked the episode in which he promoted Mary and told her her decisions were final- but then spent the rest of the episode guilt tripping Mary to hire Sue Ann. Yeah, I felt sorry for Sue Ann losing her job but I really wish Mary had told the both of them her decisions were final and to quit bugging her. ticked:

I don't see Lou as a bad boss. He was tough, he was cranky but deep down he was a softie for Mary and she knew it. I kind of see Lou as a second father to Mary. He cared about her and there are several episodes that illustrate that. Like the one where Mary becomes hooked on sleeping pills. I like Lou. Two of my favorite episodes are the (the one where he dates Rhoda and the other is where he dates the older lady.) I might be in the minority but I think Lou was kind of sweet and a good newsman too.

There were many a time where he was just hard on Mary.

- He got on her for having Bess at the job

- Lou yelled at Mary when Ted and them was in his office signing a lease (she tried to warn him when he walked in)

- Mad at her for not making coffee "Coffee, Coffee, coffee!"

- Got on her for an assignment about pollution she didn't know about, calling her Rotten!

- Got on her for being late after Mary was consoling Rhoda after her apartment fire (Come on, man, even he could have been understandable, it was her house too)

- Mad at her for a phone call Rhoda made that made him forget his GREAT IDEA!

- when Mary tried to get Armond to leave, he was like "you're not telling him to Get Lost, you're planning a life together". She was trying to be nice to the guy!

- Blamed Mary for getting Ted to speak at Phyllis' convention and for his mistakes on the show after that event.

Essentially Lou was not very nice to Mary.

Exactly. A promotion has to be looked at from all angles. And something that can look great on a resume can be worth a lot of $$$ down the road.

Also, the raise wasn't THAT bad. As others have said $ went a lot further 40 years ago. While Lou was a far cry from perfect, he had his good points as a boss. He was tough, not wishy-washy, would generally do the right thing in situations. He was somewhat sexist though, but that was a product of the times. And he did evolve in this area as the series went on.

In the final episode, it was Lou, who as he embraced Mary, looked over at the others, and in a trembling voice said "I treasure you people". (Even Ted and Sue Ann! :lol: )

I would take Lou over some of the bosses I have had anytime! Lol

I was worked in a chain restaurant and sometimes did day shift with the General Manager who was on the line very strict, yelled a lot, and would go nuts if he heard a dish break.

Off the floor, he was actually quite a nice person, and while he would bitch about mistakes and all that, would not demean an employee, and like I said, off the floor and the kitchen, he was a good guy.