History Series / LouGrant

This DramaticHourLong series is a {{Spinoff}} of the {{Dramedy}} ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow.'' Creator/EdwardAsner reprises his role of Lou Grant from there.

* UsefulNotes/LosAngeles: Lou Grant is the City Editor of the Los Angeles Tribune.
* Magazine/{{MAD}}: ''Lou Grouch''.

* AuthorFilibuster: Many ''Lou Grant'' episodes dealt with social issues, but it did not come off nearly as preachy as ''Series/{{Quincy}}''.

* TheAlcoholic: While played for laughs in ''TheMaryTylerMooreShow'', the tone becomes serious here, as Lou's drinking problem at times is referenced. At one time, it becomes deadly serious when he is arrested for drunk driving and has to attend a drinking driver's school to get his license back.

* SpinOff: Lou Grant's character was largely unchanged since his departure from the UsefulNotes/TwinCities via the ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow''.

* BookEnds: The opening titles, which begin with a bird in a tree, which is then cut down. And so, we see the process (though, not the ''whole'' process, mind you) of how trees are turned into newspapers. The titles end with one ''Los Angeles Tribune'' reader using a piece of the day's newspaper she just finished reading to line her bird's cage.

* BookEnds: The opening titles, which begin with a bird in a tree, which is then cut down. And so, we see the process (though, not the ''whole'' process, mind you) of how trees are turned into newspapers. The titles end with one ''Los Angeles Tribune'' reader using a piece of the day's newspaper he just finished reading to line his bird's cage.

* BookEnds: The opening titles, which begin with a bird in a tree, which is then cut down. And so, begins the showing of the process of how trees are turned into newspapers. The titles end with one ''Los Angeles Tribune'' reader using a piece of the day's newspaper he just finished reading to line his bird's cage.

This is an hour-long drama that was a spinoff of the comedy-drama ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow.'' Creator/EdwardAsner reprises his role of Lou Grant from there.

This is an hour-long drama that was a spinoff of the comedy-drama ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow.'' EdAsner reprises his role of Lou Grant from there.

After the GrandFinale of ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow,'' Lou is now in UsefulNotes/LosAngeles working as the city editor for the fictional Los Angeles Tribune. He manages to keep his character, in both senses, for five seasons of this. The other regulars were general assignment reporters Joe Rossi (Robert Walden) and Billie Newman (Linda Kelsey)(Kelsey joined the show in the fourth episode, replacing Rebecca Balding, who had portrayed general assignment reporter Carla Mardigian); managing editor Charles Hume (Mason Adams), an old friend of Lou's who convinced him to move from Minneapolis to Los Angeles; assistant city editor Art Donovan (Jack Bannon); photographer Dennis Price (Daryl Anderson), usually referred to as "Animal," and the Tribune's widowed, patrician publisher Margaret Jones Pynchon (Nancy Marchand).

After the GrandFinale of ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow,'' Lou is now in UsefulNotes/LosAngeles using his gruff managerial talents to manage a newspaper. He manages to keep his character, in both senses, for five seasons of this.

* TechnologyMarchesOn: Averted in one episode in which the computer-using City Room reporters make snide remarks about the one old timer who insists on using a typewriter... just before a city-wide power outage.

* HeyItsThatVoice: With a name like Mason Adams, you know it's Smuckers.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: Lou Grant is one of the very few quality television series left that has yet to be released on DVD.

* PlayingAgainstType:
** The character of Lou Grant itself was built on comedy (from ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show''), but now was made serious. Ed Asner won critical acclaim for his interpretation of the character in both lights. (And yes, there were still plenty of lighter moments on the show.)
** Emilio Delgado, who concurrently played Luis on ''Series/SesameStreet'', had a recurring role as Rubin Castillo, the international editor. Although he is generally genial (albeit focused), it is the fact that he had a role on a primetime TV drama concurrently with his role on ''Sesame Street'' that makes the trope work here.

* ScrewedByTheNetwork: Despite having significant enough ratings in its last season to be renewed, Creator/{{CBS}} abruptly cancelled the show due to controversies created by Asner in using both the series and his presidency of the Screen Actors Guild as political soapboxes to protest the U.S. government's intervention in El Salvador.

[[caption-width-right:350:Back row, left to right: Charlie Hume (Mason Adams), Margaret Pynchon (Nancy Marchand), Dennis "The Animal" Price (Daryl Anderson), Adam Wilson (Allen Williams), Art Donovan (Jack Bannon). Front row, left to right: Lou Grant (EdwardAsner), Joe Rossi (Robert Walden), Billie Newman (Linda Kelsey).]]

** Emilio Delgado, who concurrently played Luis on ''SesameStreet'', had a recurring role as Rubin Castillo, the international editor. Although he is generally genial (albeit focused), it is the fact that he had a role on a primetime TV drama concurrently with his role on ''Sesame Street'' that makes the trope work here.

* PoliceAreUseless: Many of the problems faced in Lou Grant were too complex to be handled by the police, who were often hamstrung by some flaw of the system.

* TechnologyMarchesOn: Averted in one episode in which the computer using City Room reporters make snide remarks about the one old timer who insists on using a typewriter....just before a City wide power outage.

* MythologyGag: The character of Flo Meridith, Mary Richard's Aunt and a very respected newspaper reporter, was the only MTM Show character to appear on ''Lou Grant''. A running gag during the sitcom episodes had Flo making snide remarks to Lou about being in "trivial" television journalism instead of "real" newspaper journalism. On her first of two appearences on the drama she congratuates Lou on finally returning to his newspaper roots...although she implys the Trib isn't exactly the most respected newspaper around - thereby keeping their friendly feud alive.

* OneNameOnly: Dennis "Animal" Price is virtually always referred to by his nickname.

* SpinOff: Lou Grant's character was largely unchanged since his departure from the TwinCities via the ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow''.

* AVerySpecialEpisode: Every episode

* SpinOff: Lou Grant's character was largely unchanged since his departure from the Twin Cities via the ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow''.

* TheyCallMeMisterTibbs: Mrs. Pynchon

* YouLookFamiliar: Linda Kelsey played a realitive of Sue Ann Nivens on one episode of ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow'' before taking on the regular role of Billie Newman.

* LosAngeles: Lou Grant is the City Editor of the Los Angeles Tribune.

* YouLookFamiliar: Linda Kelsey played a realitive of Sue Ann Nivens on one episode of ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow'' before taking on the regular role of Billie Newman.

* ScrewedByTheNetwork: Despite having significant enough ratings in its last season to be renewed, CBS abruptly cancelled the show due to controversies created by Asner in using both the series and his presidency of the Screen Actors Guild as political soapboxes to protest the U.S. government's intervention in El Salvador.

After the GrandFinale of ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow,'' Lou is now in LA using his gruff managerial talents to manage a newspaper. He manages to keep his character, in both senses, for five seasons of this.