Thoughts on "Lou Grant"? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JMFabiano524 · 11-22-2008, 12:38 PM

We all know that, aside from having the character carry over, this was a different kind of program from MTM, obviously. I wondered what us MTM fans thought of it?

PGood97041 · 11-23-2008, 02:08 AM

Nice topic as we wait for Season 5, JM!

When TMTMS ended, I remember really pining for Mary and the gang on Saturday nights. But I was 17, my senior year of high school was coming up, and college after that, so with so much going on I think that kind of helped me deal with the fact that the show was over...being busy.

But as a journalism student, the thought of a "Lou Grant" series kind of intrigued me. I didn't think they could, or should, do a serious show with the total Lou persona from TMTMS, but somehow I could work with them changing him to a real journalist.
And I gotta tell ya, for the first year and a half, that show was really solid! The topics were timely and interesting, I loved the Joe Rossi character, I thought "Animal" the photographer was cool, and Linda Kelsey as the female lead was smart and cute (remind you of anyone a tiny bit?). The theme song was catchy, perfect actually. As I was learning, the show was very realistic. Oh, and the lady who played the Tribune's owner was GREAT in that role!

Alas, partly because I was busy, partly because the excitement of some of the first plots wore off (which happens on a lot of shows, especially dramas), and partly because I eventually missed Lou's humor from TMTMS, I didn't watch as often after the first year and a half. But it was well done. I may be biased because I'm in that field, but I'm pretty sure anybody who watched would consider "Lou Grant" a worthwhile and creative effort.

catlover79 · 11-23-2008, 02:12 AM

I have a friend who is an MTM fan like me and saw LG back when it first aired. He loved it - he said the viewer really got a feel for the newspaper world and that the stories were compelling. I've never seen an episode of LG but would like to. Plus my man Gregory Sierra (

) was a guest star in the last season!!

robyrob · 11-23-2008, 03:34 PM

I liked it when i first saw it, and I have been enjoying seeing the show again on American Life

70s show watcher · 11-23-2008, 07:54 PM

lou grant is one of tv;s all time great dramas i remember even watching it when as a kid and noticing that it was a cut above alot of other shows and how special the writing was

Larry Surrell · 11-23-2008, 09:02 PM

I didn't care for it. I just couldn't get into watching Lou without Mary, much like I couldn't watch Rhoda or Phyllis without Mary either.

Had I been a fan of the show, the turn off would have been when the latter seasons became a vehicle for Ed Asner's left leaning political views, which eventually caused it to be cancelled.

11-22-2008, 12:38 PM	#1
JMFabiano524 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 04, 2002 Posts: 525	Thoughts on "Lou Grant"? We all know that, aside from having the character carry over, this was a different kind of program from MTM, obviously. I wondered what us MTM fans thought of it?

11-23-2008, 02:12 AM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I have a friend who is an MTM fan like me and saw LG back when it first aired. He loved it - he said the viewer really got a feel for the newspaper world and that the stories were compelling. I've never seen an episode of LG but would like to. Plus my man Gregory Sierra () was a guest star in the last season!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

11-23-2008, 03:34 PM	#4
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,192	I liked it when i first saw it, and I have been enjoying seeing the show again on American Life
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11-23-2008, 02:08 AM	#2
PGood97041 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 03, 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 747	Nice topic as we wait for Season 5, JM! When TMTMS ended, I remember really pining for Mary and the gang on Saturday nights. But I was 17, my senior year of high school was coming up, and college after that, so with so much going on I think that kind of helped me deal with the fact that the show was over...being busy. But as a journalism student, the thought of a "Lou Grant" series kind of intrigued me. I didn't think they could, or should, do a serious show with the total Lou persona from TMTMS, but somehow I could work with them changing him to a real journalist. And I gotta tell ya, for the first year and a half, that show was really solid! The topics were timely and interesting, I loved the Joe Rossi character, I thought "Animal" the photographer was cool, and Linda Kelsey as the female lead was smart and cute (remind you of anyone a tiny bit?). The theme song was catchy, perfect actually. As I was learning, the show was very realistic. Oh, and the lady who played the Tribune's owner was GREAT in that role! Alas, partly because I was busy, partly because the excitement of some of the first plots wore off (which happens on a lot of shows, especially dramas), and partly because I eventually missed Lou's humor from TMTMS, I didn't watch as often after the first year and a half. But it was well done. I may be biased because I'm in that field, but I'm pretty sure anybody who watched would consider "Lou Grant" a worthwhile and creative effort.

11-23-2008, 07:54 PM	#5
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,549	lou grant is one of tv;s all time great dramas i remember even watching it when as a kid and noticing that it was a cut above alot of other shows and how special the writing was

11-23-2008, 09:02 PM	#6
Larry Surrell Ed M. 1918-2006 RIP Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 27, 2003 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 702	I didn't care for it. I just couldn't get into watching Lou without Mary, much like I couldn't watch Rhoda or Phyllis without Mary either. Had I been a fan of the show, the turn off would have been when the latter seasons became a vehicle for Ed Asner's left leaning political views, which eventually caused it to be cancelled.