THE CANONICAL "LOU GRANT" EPISODE GUIDE
Tony L Hill
Version 1.01
Copyright (C) 1995 by Tony L. Hill
All rights reserved.
(May be distributed freely without modification
for non-commercial purposes.)
Comments: tony...@msbbs.mn.org
or by earth mail to PO Box 14995, Minneapolis, MN 55414
"Lou Grant" is a television drama series produced from 1977-1982
by MTM Productions and aired in the United States on CBS. The series
was a spin-off of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," which was produced from
1970-77. Edward Asner originated the role of Lou Grant and played it
throughout the entire run of both series. On the final episode of
"The Mary Tyler Moore Show," Grant and most of the rest of the cast
were fired from their jobs at WJM-TV in Minneapolis. The first
episode of the series "Lou Grant" found Lou heading to Los Angeles to
interview with his old friend Charlie Hume for a position at the Los
Angeles Tribune. One hundred fourteen episodes followed...
Regular cast
Lou Grant, city editor, Los Angeles Tribune ............. Edward Asner
Charles Hume, managing editor ............................ Mason Adams
Joe Rossi, reporter .................................... Robert Walden
Carla Madigan, reporter (ep. 1-3) .................... Rebecca Balding
Billie Newman, reporter (from ep. 4) .................... Linda Kelsey
Margaret Pynchon, publisher ........................... Nancy Marchand
Art Donovan, assistant city editor ....................... Jack Bannon
Dennis "Animal" Price, photographer ................... Daryl Anderson
Although never featured in the opening montage, the following appeared
frequently enough that they might be considered regulars:
Adam Wilson, business editor .......................... Allen Williams
Marian Hume, Charlie's wife .............................. Peggy McCay
Rubin Castillo, foreign editor ........................ Emilio Delgado
Ted McCovey, Billie's husband (from ep. 91) .............. Cliff Potts
Laurence Haddon appeared occasionally as the national editor, given as
Springerman in #3 and as McGrath in #80. Williams also did various
offscreen voices on the show.
NOTE: It is acknowledged that non-parallel terms were used to refer
to the principal men and women in this series, notably Rossi being
called by his last name nearly as exclusively as Billie was addressed
by her first name. The author of this episode guide has chosen to
have the guide reflect that inequality rather than awkwardly alter it.
Episode numbers at left are the order the episodes were originally
aired in the United States. The number given after the date is the
actual production code assigned by the producers, with the official
episode number after the hyphen, when available. In the case of "Lou
Grant," rare among television series, the episodes have been
syndicated in the order they were originally aired.
Date given is that the episode first aired in the United States. For
most of the series' run, the episodes also aired in Canada on the
same dates, although for the first five months, when the show aired on
Tuesdays in the U.S., they were actually aired a day earlier, on
Mondays, in Canada.
The descriptions have been transcribed from TV Guide magazine, which
were themselves abridged versions of the descriptions prepared by the
producers. They are primarily from the listings of the original run,
although as many as a third came from CBS repeat airings. It is not
correct to refer to these as synopses, as they are generally free of
"spoilers," that is, descriptions of the plots from start to finish.
It is anticipated that in subsequent editions of this episode guide,
the abridged descriptions will be replaced or augmented either by the
official description issued by the producers or more comprehensive
synopses written especially for this guide which would contain
"spoilers."
One more caveat: The author has seen fewer than a dozen of these
episodes in the past eight years, so some of the details recalled from
memory may be foggy. The author plans to view the complete series on
A&E Cable in the coming months.
FIRST SEASON: 1977-78
#1 - "Cophouse" (9/20/77) PC 7501
Lou Grant scarcely settles in to his new job as city editor of a
Los Angeles daily when his leadership is tested by hot-shot reporter
Joe Rossi, who claims that a veteran of the police beat is sitting on
details of a department scandal. Driscoll: Peter Hobbs. Tim: Wallace
Rooney.
#2 - "Hostages" (9/27/77) PC 7510
A Tribune story reporting the death of a robber during a holdup
is challenged by his brother, who holds Rossi at gunpoint to assure
that his version sees print. Andrew Martin: John Rubenstein. Lt.
Frank Carey: Patrick Tovatt. Springerman: Laurence Haddon.
Critic's choice: Your author ranks this among the top ten episodes.
Obscure history: In the late '70s, McDonald's had an ad campaign
calling on citizens to stop in to cure their "Big Mac attacks."
#3 - "Hoax" (10/4/77) PC 7503
Lou must assess the credibility of a former colleague known for
passing bad leads when the old-timer comes in with a tip on the
whereabouts of a missing tycoon. Jack Riley: Eugene Roche. Norma
Cardell: Diana Douglas. Curtis: Booth Colman. Ron Allen: Rod McCary.
#4 - "Henhouse" (10/11/77) PC 7509
Note: In this episode, Linda Kelsey joins the cast as Billie Newman.
Lou and the arts-and-leisure editor squabble over which
department should cover a famous writer's murder. Irene Mott:
Claudette Nevins. Sheriff: Geoffrey Lewis. Waitress: Ivy Bethune.
#5 - "Nazi" (10/18/77) PC 7505
A TAUT CHARACTER STUDY
Reporter Billie Newman gets a challenging assignment in this
well-written episode: to investigate a trouble-making group of Nazis.
Billie first visits their downtown headquarters, a sparsely
furnished suite where security is tight and Billie learns nothing of
importance. Her next gambit, however, pays off. She attends a
meeting of the group and hears its leader deliver an impassioned plea
for white supremacy. Suddenly, Billie has the key to her story.
His name is Donald Stryker. He is Nordic blond, in his late 20s
and tight-lipped when it comes to talking to the press. So Billie
probes his background and makes a startling discovery: Nazi leader
Donald Stryker was raised as an Orthodox Jew. Stryker: Peter Weller.
Wilson: Brian Dennehy. Mrs. Sturner: Janet Brandt. Caretaker: Davis
Roberts.
Critic's choice: One of your author's top five episodes and the best
one of this season.
#6 - "Aftershock" (10/25/77) PC 7506
Lou's first California earthquake only underscores his emotional
upheaval when a reporter's widow accepts his comfort but then grows
overly dependent on him. Gloria: Joyce Van Patten. Ralph Tumora:
Clyde Kusatsu. Laurette: Betty Anne Rees.
Network tip: You can finger qu...@scec.gps.caltech.edu to get the
information Donovan got on the quakes.
#7 - "Barrio" (11/1/77) PC 7504
Following up on the shooting of a barrio woman, Billie and Lou
learn that the victim's son blames gang rivalries for the incident and
is after revenge. Henry: Guillermo San Juan. George: Joe Santos.
Grandmother: Rose Turich.
Classic LG moment: Charlie tells Lou to ease up on the coverage, "The
people on the West Side don't care about the East Side, and the people
on the East Side don't read the Trib."
#8 - "Scoop" (11/8/77) PC 7502
Rossi's zeal for scoring scoops nets two articles on page one -
both inaccurate. Winowsky: George Murdock. Jim Keenan: Reni Santori.
Chief Rankin: Ted Gehring. Councilman Garbers: Paul Kent.
Classic LG moment: Rossi rips out a phone line to keep the Times from
getting in on a story.
#9 - "Judge" (11/15/77) PC 7508
Acting on a lead that an aging Superior Court judge may be
growing senile, Lou goes to court as an observer - and gets tossed in
the tank by the cantankerous magistrate by trying to exit quietly.
Judge Rushman: Barnard Hughes. Lindsay: Phillip Pine. Simmons: Joe
Mantell. Murray: Timothy Jerome. Estaban Murrill: Tonyo Melendez.
Deputy D.A.: Paul Tulley.
Classic LG moment: Barney reacts negatively as Lou demonstrates the
judge's raspberry.
Who's Who: Barnard Hughes is one of those players who turns up
frequently on MTM shows, most notably as the star of "Doc" in 1975-77.
#10 - "Psychout" (11/22/77) PC 7515
Nagged by Lou to "get into" stories, Rossi commits himself to a
mental hospital he is investigating. Doug: Michael Zaslow. Sackler:
Philip R. Allen. Resident: Lisle Wilson. Dr. Stanford: Tom Tarpey.
#11 - "Housewarming" (11/29/77) PC 7512
Julie Kavner portrays a battered wife who fears to serve as even
an anonymous source for Billie's article on wife-beating. Roger:
Edward Winter. Dorothy: Fredi Olster. Sid Arby: Robert Rothwell.
Who's Who: Julie Kavner was well-known in 1977 as a supporting player
on "Rhoda," another spin-off of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." She has
since gone on to greater stardom as the female lead in "The Simpsons."
#12 - "Takeover" (12/6/77) PC 7513
Mrs. Pynchon strikes up a friendship with a man known for buying
out respectable newspapers and turning them into sensationalized
tabloids. Russell Grainger: John Anderson. Freddie: Jerry Fogel.
Colin: William Bogert. Matthew: Paul Kent.
#13 - "Christmas" (12/13/77) PC 7507
A week before Christmas, Billie's story of a homeless family
brings in thousands of dollars. Meanwhile, Lou hands Rossi a
seemingly dull assignment as punishment for unethically quoting a
source. Emily: Verna Bloom. Malcolm Findlay: Tim O'Connor. Walter
Harper: Ben Hayes.
Classic LG moments: Animal snaps Charlie reaching into Mrs. Pynchon's
lap for a piece of mail which had fallen there; Lou silences the
family's children: "HEY! I'M TALKING ABOUT MY MOM HERE!"
#14 - "Airliner" (1/3/78) PC 7514
Coverage of a Los Angeles-bound airliner with faulty landing gear
takes on a new dimension when the Tribune staffers learn that Hume's
daughter is on board. Aunt Rose: Penny Stanton. Pearson: Allan
Miller. Joanie Hume: Laurette Spang.
#15 - "Sports" (1/10/78) PC 7516
Lou locks horns with a famous Tribune sportswriter and sparks an
outcry from angry readers when he attempts to disclose football-
recruiting violations by a much-admired college coach. Mike Kessler:
David Ackroyd. Eddie Talbert: Sandy Kenyon. Sid Locke: John
Randolph. Coach Diehl: Keene Curtis.
#16 - "Hero" (1/17/78) PC 7518
A story about an ex-con who saves a judge's life seems like good
human-interest material to Lou - until the hero blames the news of his
past for the loss of business and fiancee. William Danvers: Jim
McMullan. Joanna Bartlett: Marlene Warfield. Ellen: Lola Mason.
Corrie: Marilyn Coleman. Janey: Hazel Medina.
#17 - "Renewal" (1/30/78) PC 7511
Note: With this episode, the series moved to Mondays at 10 p.m.,
where it remained for the rest of its run.
Tribune staffers hope to block the demolition of a newspaper
vendor's condemned apartment to save the murals he painted in honor of
his late wife. Earl Humfrey: Robert Earl Jones. Tyler Armitage:
James Karen.
#18 - "Sect" (2/6/78) PC 7517
Hume and his wife are distraught over their son's conversion to
Krishna. Marian Hume: Peggy McCay. Visnu Das: David Stafford. Orrin
Houston: James Beach. Mal Cavanaugh: Richard Erdman. Judge Murphy:
John Carter. Bill Ballard: William Boyett. Shirley Ballard: Jean
Gillespie.
Did you notice... Hume's son is listed in the credits by his Hare
Krishna name rather than the one Charles and Marian gave him? A fine
example of this show's sterling attention to detail.
#19 - "Scandal" (2/13/78) PC 7520
Rossi is taken off a county supervisor's re-election campaign and
replaced by a woman he suspects is romantically involved with the
candidate. Liz Harrison: Gail Strickland. Corwin: James Olson.
Larry Kean: Brian Farrell. Efros: Paul Jenkins.
#20 - "Spies" (2/27/78) PC 7519
The arrest of a businessman's son spawns a complex investigation
involving the CIA - and arouses suspicion among Tribune staffers that
they're harboring an informant. Driscoll: Peter Hobbs. Joan Hume:
Laurette Spang. Kellum: Robert Casper. Sohner: Michael Strong.
#21 - "Poison" (3/6/78) PC 7521
A grieving Rossi strives to continue the investigation into
radioactive contamination begun by a good friend who met an
"accidental" death. Carol: Belinda J. Montgomery. Sam: Guy Boyd.
Howard Rindell: Robert Rothwell. Stranger: Arthur Batanides.
#22 - "Physical" (3/20/78) PC 7522
Lou reluctantly undergoes a required physical, and learns his
diseased thyroid must be surgically removed. David: Garret Pearson.
Chris: Thomas Carter.
SECOND SEASON: 1978-79
#23 - "Pills" (9/25/78) PC 8502
An episode about medical - and journalistic - responsibility.
It opens with a coincidence: just after finishing a story about
the flow of illegal pills, Rossi witnesses a teen-age girl collapse
from a combination of alcohol and drugs that, tragically, proves to be
lethal.
Her companion, Peter Tomasso (Steve Nevil), is tortured by guilt:
he gave her the pills. But he got them from someone who "should've
told me this could happen."
That puts Rossi on the trail of Dr. Arnold Bonham (Richard Bull),
who runs a thriving clinic that caters to the "needs" of a young
clientele. But Rossi doesn't get very far until Peter delivers more
than Rossi ever bargained for: stolen medical records from Bonham's
office. Gerry: Jean Rasey. Neal: Michael Mullins. Detective Rather:
Al Ruscio.
Who's Who: Richard Bull played the role of merchant Nels Oleson on
"Little House on the Prairie."
#24 - "Prisoner" (10/2/78) PC 8501
While Mrs. Pynchon plays hostess to the wife of a Latin ruler,
Rossi and Billie investigate charges of repression in her country -
and Hume is oddly reluctant to print their findings. Amanda Baroja:
Silvana Gallardo. Vargas: Tony Perez. Flores: Enrique Nova. Perez:
Tonyo Melendez. Bazan: Frank Ramirez. Juan Luis: Ron Castro. Marian
Hume: Peggy McCay.
Classic LG moment: Charlie confronts Mrs. Baroja about the conditions
in "El Hotel."
#25 - "Hooker" (10/16/78) PC 8508
While investigating a prostitute's murder, Billie befriends a
massage-parlor harlot who wants a better life. Patti: Dee Wallace.
Phelps: Paul Lambert. Sergeant Roche: Michael Alldredge.
Who's Who: Michael Alldredge makes his first appearance as a cop. He
also appeared in episodes 47, 68, 74, and 95 (possibly others as
well), although in all those episodes, his character was named McPhee.
#26 - "Mob" (10/23/78) PC 8505
While organizing the Tribune's annual tennis tournament at a
California resort, Lou and Rossi become suspicious over the presence
of "vacationing" underworld bosses. Patsy Reese: Nicholas Colasanto.
Jack Patterson: Dennis Holahan. Paul Thackery: Phillip Pine. Leone:
Carmen Argenziano.
Who's Who: Nicholas Colasanto had yet to achieve his greatest fame
(as "Coach" on "Cheers") when this episode was produced. Carmen
Argenziano also played a pornographer in #51, "Charlatan."
#27 - "Murder" (10/30/78) PC 8504
Note: This episode was originally slated to be the show's second
season opener on September 18, 1978, but it was pre-empted on that
date by CBS's coverage of the Camp David summit between Egypt and
Israel.
Rossi's piece on a dowager who fought off four thieves with a
golf club gets front-page coverage, while Billie's story about the
murder of a young mother is "buried" on a back page. Mrs. Walker:
Jane Rose. Detective Collins: Alan Fudge. Sara: Ketty Lester.
Thomas: Ralph Wilcox. Becky Hartman: Saundra Sharp. Aunt Barbara:
Veronica Redd. Sara's mother: Betty Cole.
Who's Who: Jane Rose is another MTM favorite who played Cloris
Leachman's mother-in-law on "Phyllis," the second of the three "Mary
Tyler Moore Show" spin-offs.
#28 - "Dying" (11/6/78) PC 8509
Despite Lou and Billie's efforts to help, a frazzled Donovan is
unable to cope with the fact that his mother is dying. Peggy Donovan:
Geraldine Fitzgerald. Dr. Chase: Joan Hotchkis. Dr. Relph: Larry
Gates. Matt Calloway: Stephen Johnson.
From the TV Guide close-up accompanying the repeat:
A drama about death and dignity.
Assistant city editor Art Donovan can accept the fact that his
mother suffers from leukemia. What he can't accept is that she is
going to die, even though his newsroom colleagues - especially Lou and
Billie - try to help him face reality.
Their efforts, though, only alienate him, and his frazzled nerves
begin to interfere with his work, leading to a blow-up with Rossi over
a minor editorial matter. Finally, acting on her own, Billie brings
the director of a local hospice to Mrs. Donovan's bedside, and only
then does she express her frustration. "It makes me angry," she says.
"This hospital keeps poking me, the nurses dislike me, my son won't
let me talk - with all this going on, how can I die in peace?"
#29 - "Schools" (11/20/78) PC 8510
While Rossi and Billie probe high-school violence, Lou and a
guidance counselor share an interest in a student vying for a Tribune
college scholarship. Included: a rousing awards-ceremony speech by
the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Jenny Davis: Lee Chamberlin. Wesley: Kevin
Hooks. Larry Dawson: Lorry Goldman. Wesley's mother: Veronica Redd.
Critic's comment: The Jackson speech completely disrupted the flow of
this episode and was totally unnecessary to the plot.
#30 - "Slaughter" (11/27/78) PC 8503
On what is supposed to be a vacation, Lou and his former boss -
the editor of a small-town newspaper - investigate a mysterious
cattle disease that may affect humans. Chip Murphy: Stephen Elliot.
Karl Mueller: Mel Gallagher. John Harper: Sandy McPeak. Lucy Harper:
Sybil Scotford. Henry Dreyfuss: John Petlock. Jerry Harper: Tony
Becker. Dr. Eilene Peterson: Sally Kirkland. Prof. Pober: Danny
Goldman.
#31 - "Singles" (12/4/78) PC 8506
Lou is skeptical as Billie and Rossi "check out" the L.A. singles
scene at the urging of a media consultant bent on giving the Tribune a
youthful look. Barton: Peter Donat. Susan: Frances Lee McCain.
Phillip: Phillip Charles MacKenzie. Erin: Karen Landry.
Classic LG moment: The first woman Rossi dates on this episode
incredulously asks him if he's never been on a date before.
#32 - "Babies" (12/11/78) PC 8512
Rossi and Billie pose as husband and wife to investigate a baby-
selling racket. Karlan: Russell Johnson. Dr. Davidson: John Carter.
McIntyre: Joseph Mascolo. Mary: Anna Mathias. Vicky: Virginia
Bingham. Carl: David Brandon.
Critic's choice: Your author ranks this among the top ten episodes.
Classic LG moments: Charlie closes the elevator doors as he tells
Mrs. Pynchon of the baby-sellers' increased demands for money; Billie
lets slip that she is divorced; Billie chides Rossi for watching porno
movies in the motel, then catches another scene and says, "now
_that's_ erotic."
Who's Who: Russell Johnson will forever be remembered as the Professor
on that intellectual antithesis of "Lou Grant," "Gilligan's Island."
#33 - "Conflict" (12/18/78) PC 8513
Mrs. Pynchon is infuriated by the Trib's derogatory piece on the
director of a charity with which she is affiliated; and Rossi ruffles
more feathers when, as the paper's new media critic, he accuses city-
room staffers of having conflicts of interest. Marian Hume: Peggy
McCay. Ferguson: Fred Holliday. Franklin Nash: Normann Burton.
Mildred Colbert: Helen Kleeb. Mary Alice Roper: Eve Roberts.
National Editor: Alan Haufrect. Jayson: Michael Irving.
Classic LG moment: Animal runs a betting pool on who harms Rossi and
when, "The smart money is on Billie."
#34 - "Denial" (1/1/79) PC 8507
The refusal of Lou's daughter to accept her son's advancing
deafness is threatening to destroy her marriage. Ellen: Ann Sweeny.
Burt: Robert Pine. Nick: Meeno Peluce. Dr. Wyatt: Fred Beir. Kevin:
Dennis Redfield. Wendy: Alba Francesca.
#35 - "Fire" (1/8/79) PC 8514
City-room staffers suspect an insurance scam in a string of
apartment-house fires. Frank Durning: Tom Atkins. Lind: Tom Bower.
Debbie Dexter: Ann Ryerson. Fire Marshal: William Joyce. Emmaline:
Ellen Blake. Carlo: Richard Balin.
Critic's choice: Your author ranks this among the top ten episodes.
Who's Who: Tom Atkins made two other appearances on "Lou Grant," in
episodes 83 and 97. This was the largest of the three roles.
#36 - "Vet" (1/15/79) PC 8511
The Vietnam War isn't stale news to Tribune staffers: Animal is
getting accusing calls from the widow of a soldier he served with, and
Lou is trying to find a job for a down-and-out veteran. Sutton:
Lionel M. Smith. Jack: B.J. Bartlett. Larry: Joe Spano. Don:
Charlie Robinson. Howard: John Wyner.
#37 - "Scam" (1/22/79) PC 8515
Lou is toying with how to spend a $15,000 gift when he stumbles
onto what may be an investment scam involving Hume's financial
counselor. David Milburn: John Considine. Marian Hume: Peggy McCay.
Dr. Barnes: Barney Phillips. Larry: Hal England. Terhune: J. Pat
O'Malley.
Critic's choice: Your author ranks this among the top ten episodes.
Classic LG moment: Lou is put off by a salesman who hypes an expensive
car as "not just a car, it's a way of life," and then tells Rossi,
when the latter confronts him with a $75 toaster ("It's not just a
toaster, Lou."), "I know. It's a way of life."
Who's Who: John Considine also played in #74, "Sting."
#38 - "Sweep" (2/5/79) PC 8517
Rossi, Billie, and Animal probe the influx of illegal aliens to
Southern California, while Lou breaks in a new copy "boy" - Mrs.
Pynchon's niece. Tiffany: Maureen McCormick. Jesus: Rafael Campos.
Cyrus: Jonathan Banks. Rosa: Maria-Elena Cordero. Raul: Ron Joseph
Godines. Sergeant Holmby: Eric Server.
Who's Who: Maureen McCormick shines as Mrs. Pynchon's illiterate
niece in this, one of her non-Marcia Brady roles.
#39 - "Samaritan" (2/12/79) PC 8516
The Tribune receives an ominous letter signed "Samaritan," the
name of a psychopathic killer who once stalked the city and threatens
to do so again. McCrea: Ben Piazza. Jack Towne: Richard B. Shull.
Nancy Rhoden: Marcia Rodd. Newsome: William Watson.
Classic LG moment: Lou gives the hitchhiker a lecture, "They might
never find _your_ _body_..."
#40 - "Hit" (2/19/79) PC 8519
A woman's two-year search for her son's hit-and-run killer
intrigues Rossi. Martha Emmett: Allyn Ann McLerie. Judge Cromwell:
Ivan Bonar. Adam: Allen Williams. Gary: Edwin Owens. Ernie Womack:
Bart Burns. Red Keough: Michael Champion. Chief Delacorte: Louis
Felder.
Critic's choice: One of your author's top five episodes and the best
one of this season.
Who's Who: Allyn Ann McLerie was a musical theatre star on Broadway,
making her debut in 1948 opposite Eddie Albert in Irving Berlin's
"Miss Liberty."
ERROR! This episode contains the only significant continuity error in
the series. Rossi and Martha check with Billie on the original story
she did about the accident in 1976. But ... fans will recall that
Billie only became a news reporter in episode #4 in 1977.
#41 - "Home" (2/26/79) PC 8520
Lou befriends a retiree who yearns to be productive again, while
Billie takes a job in a nursing home to investigate mistreatment of
patients. Fred: Jack Gilford. Mrs. Keaton: Jessamine Milner.
Bertram: Edward Grover. Barbara Corwin: Nina Wilcox.
From the TV Guide close-up accompanying the repeat:
"A bureaucratic tug-of-war with an 80-year-old woman."
That's how Lou, in this controversial episode, sums up the plight
of Sara Ford (Ann Nelson), who, unable to pay for her own nursing-home
care, is dumped on the doorstep of a county welfare agency. The
incident so concerns the city-room staffers that Billie goes
"underground" as a nursing home aide to get a first-hand look at a
place that could expel a dying old woman.
Meanwhile, Lou strikes up a friendship with a retired neighbor
named Fred who has outlived his wife and children, and is bored out of
his wits. The solution, as Fred sees it, is simple: work. But the
prospects for a septuagenarian who yearns to be productive again are,
at best, bleak.
Classic LG moments: Charge nurse reminds Billie not to drink any of
the spiked orange juice; Billie forgets she's a reporter and chews the
nursing home czar out when he arrives for work in the morning.
#42 - "Convention" (3/5/79) PC 8522
Lou accompanies Hume and Mrs. Pynchon to a newspaper convention,
where rumor has it that terrorists plan to kidnap a prominent
publisher. Jack Riley: Kenneth MacMillan. Nelson: Ivor Francis.
Lois Craig: Amanda McBroom. Hanlon: Robert Rothwell.
Who's Who: Amanda McBroom is also a successful songwriter, having
written words and music to "The Rose."
#43 - "Marathon" (3/19/79) PC 8518
A day inside the city room.
It begins rather inauspiciously for Lou when a new summer intern
tells the city editor how valuable the internship will be to his
future career - in television news. And from there, things only get
worse.
The day's major story soon breaks: a tunnel collapse at a
construction site that buries workers and a group of archaeology
students. As Lou calls for a TV set to monitor the rescue, it's
obvious he foresees a marathon news day.
But the tunnel isn't the only thing occupying the city room: the
harried staffers are visited by a group of junketing Swedish
businessmen (none of whom speak English). And Lou's assistant,
Donovan, tired of Grant's second-guessing of his editorial judgments,
contemplates leaving the Tribune to accept a job offer as the
Governor's press secretary. Driscoll: Peter Hobbs. Andrew: Michael
Warren. Dreyfus: John Petlock. Jayson: Michael Irving.
Classic LG moment: Lou tells the intern, "If you want to hang someone
on a cross, you have to use facts as nails." The intern chides Lou
for mixing metaphors.
#44 - "Bomb" (3/26/79) PC 8521
Terrorists send Rossi their blueprint for an atomic bomb, which
they threaten to detonate in Los Angeles unless their demands are met.
Jack Ridgeway: Joe Spano. Joanie Hume: Dinah Manoff. Oguns: Frank
Marth. Sloan: Terry Wills. Roger Winant: Paul Kent. Bovic: Norbert
Weisser.
Who's Who: Dinah Manoff became in this episode the second actor to
play Joanie Hume. "Empty Nest" was still nearly a decade away.
#45 - "Skids" (4/2/79) PC 8523
Coverage of a string of skid-row stranglings proves disturbing to
Rossi, whose father died of alcoholism; and to Lou, who meets an old
friend who's now a bum. Doc: Andrew Duggan. Carmine: Al Ruscio.
Minister: Scoey Mitchill.
#46 - "Loves" (5/7/79) PC 8524
Lou and his lady friend contemplate cohabitation; and Billie
tries to talk a high-school girl out of having a baby just to escape
an unhappy home life. Susan: Frances Lee McCain. Wendy: Terri Nunn.
Jill: Lark Geib. Lindsey: Shannon Terhune. Tannenberg: Robert
Costanzo.
Classic LG moment: A rare reference to the MTM Show days, which only a
true blue fan is apt to catch: "Boxes marked 'Edie,' boxes marked
'Lou'..."
Who's Who: Terri Nunn, the 15-year-old trying to become a mother,
later turned up on death row in episode #92, "Execution."
THIRD SEASON: 1979-80
#47 - "Cop" (9/17/79) PC 9504-50
Lou Grant begins his third season as city editor puzzled by the
unusual assignment of a uniformed police officer to a murder
investigation. Mike Tynan: Joe Penny. Robert Dennahy: Edward Winter.
Maxine Kintner: Mariclare Costello. McPhee: Michael Alldredge.
Slade: Gene Bua. Lester: Don Draper.
#48 - "Expose'" (9/24/79) PC 9507
The Trib's coverage of a local politician's alcoholic husband
coincides with a gossip sheet's expose on the city-room staff. Mark
Worth: William Schallert. Mike Norvette: Richard Brestoff. Bonita
Worth: Louise Troy. Barbara Benedict: Julie Cobb. Office Geer: Steve
Tannen. Georgia: Barbara Jane Edelman. Water Deliveryman: G.W.
Bailey.
Who's Who: William Schallert, who is probably on the top ten list of
actors who have played in the most series, is best known for playing
the father of both Dobie Gillis and Patty Lane (Duke). He also played
a blacklisted scientist in episode #107; Julie Cobb played a single
mother in "Charles in Charge" and is also remembered as the "older
woman" Greg tried to hustle in an episode of "The Brady Bunch."
#49 - "Slammer" (10/1/79) PC 9501
Crime and publishing: Mrs. Pynchon accepts jury duty on a felony
case; Lou gets involved in the shutdown of a prison newspaper. J.D.:
Kene Holliday. Warden Goffman: Alan Fudge. Hector: Robert Davi.
Turner: J. Jay Saunders. Chris: Eric Helland. Angela Cariaga: Rosana
Soto. Leroy: Danny Glover.
Who's who: Danny Glover is said to be getting better work in
Hollywood these days than his role in this episode.
#50 - "Charlatan" (10/15/79) PC 9505
First Amendment freedoms are at issue in dilemmas involving two
Tribune editors.
A naked man perched on a church steeple, carrying a sign that
reads "God sees all," sets city-room staffers on the trail of a
religious crusader. But although their investigation hints the man
may be a charlatan, religion editor Marcus Prescott (Meshach Taylor)
balks at supporting the inquiry - in part because of his own
unwavering religious faith.
Meanwhile, Lou hesitantly backs a pornography-magazine
publisher's fight against a prior-restraint suit: the pornographer
plans to print the names and addresses of narcotic agents - despite
the Government's contention that such an action would endanger the
men. Dr. Chamberlain: Michael Fairman. Arnold Zinner: Carmen
Argenziano. Smithfield: Kenneth Tigar. Crossley: William H. Bassett.
Agnes Carson: Ruth Silveira.
Classic LG moment: Marcus is irritated by Rossi's questioning of the
minister, "Hey, Joe, if you were taking a tour of the Sistene Chapel,
is that the kind of question you'd ask the Pope?"
#51 - "Frameup" (10/22/79) PC 9508
The Trib is taken to court and Billie is taken to task after her
expose on a manufacturing firm turns out to be based on a forged
document. Folger: Stephen McHattie. Nell Wheeler: Wendy Phillips.
Councilman Naughton: Paul Kent.
Classic LG moment: Rossi tells Lou, "I know more people in Detroit
than I do in L.A."
#52 - "Hype" (10/29/79) PC 9503-49
Lou's participation in a cancer-research study leads the Trib
into a story on industry funding of university programs. Todson:
David Huffman. Duncan: Harold Gould. Michael Avenik: Craig Wasson.
Nakajima: James Saito. Rita Silvera: Silvana Gallardo.
Who's who: Gallardo also played the wife of a Latin American ruler in
#24, "Prisoner."
#53 - "Gambling" (11/5/79) PC 9510
Gambling fever strikes the Trib as Lou is touted on a longshot,
Animal learns the meaning of vigorish and Billie makes a risky loan to
a gambler. Mort: Charles Lane. McIvor: Michael Shannon. Ken
Navaretti: John Karlen.
#54 - "Witness" (11/12/79) PC 9502-48
Billie is given police protection after the death of her source
for a story about a beating. Staley: Richard Jaeckel. McQueen: Peter
Marshall. Robinson: William Bryant. Wilke: Charles Hallahan.
Korkus: Jack Lukes.
Note: People probably remember this episode better for its subplot,
not included in the TV Guide description. A drunken peddler fell on
Lou's steps. He then sued Lou, whose insurance had lapsed.
Classic LG moment: Billie is talking on the phone, when suddenly we
see the light across the threshold of the door behind her turn to
shadow.
#55 - "Kidnap" (11/26/79) PC 9514
While the city-room staff covers the story of a missing plane,
Mrs. Pynchon ponders an offer from a large newspaper chain. Sheriff
Burkhardt: Parley Baer. Clay Starkes: Jonathan Banks. Patty:
Virginia Bingham. Richardson: Michael Currie. Schultz: Jordan
Rhodes. Niles: Stanley Kamel. Castillo: Emilio Delgado.
#56 - "Andrew (Part I): Premonition" (12/3/79) PC 9509
Donovan's cousin Andrew (Bruce Davidson) is on the verge of a
potentially violent psychological breakdown. Edna: Barbara Barrie.
Terry Mills: Ellen Regan. Dr. Myrdal: Joan Hotchkis. Lana Barkley:
Nita Talbot. Vern Eggley: Robert Hirschfield
Who's Who: Joan Hotchkis also played a doctor in #28, "Dying."
#57 - "Andrew (Part II): Trial" (12/10/79) PC 9515
Donovan's cousin (Bruce Davidson) is charged with the murder of a
young woman. Edna: Barbara Barrie. Mendelsohn: Charles Aidman.
Bradley Gordon: Michael McGuire. Dr. Myrdal: Joan Hotchkis. Sergeant
Ackroyd: Nick Angotti. Dr. Sontag: Russ Marin.
Note: This was the only two-part episode in the series.
#58 - "Hollywood" (12/17/79) PC 9513
Lou's fascination with an abandoned Tinsel Town nitery prompts
the Trib to take another look at an unsolved murder committed there
some 30 years earlier. Edward Asner also narrates this homage to
Hollywood detective fiction. Mrs. Polk: Nina Foch. Coral Mayberry:
Marie Windsor. Wild Man Moran: Howard Duff. Thea Taft: Margaret
Hamilton. Laura Sinclair: Laraine Day. Kenneth Homes: Paul Stewart.
Lieutenant Bergin: John Larch.
Critic's choice: The author regards this as the finest hour of the
series.
Who's Who: A Hollywood star of the era covered in this episode,
Margaret Hamilton reprised her role as Thea Taft in #102.
#59 - "Kids" (12/24/79) PC 9511
Problem children and children's problems are examined in
encounters with a young boy in need of attention, a shy child star
reluctant to tell her story and a lawyer specializing in youngsters'
rights. Carly Mitchell: Elizabeth Bliss. Mark Donner: Matthew
Laborteaux. Barbara Hodges: Barbara Jane Edelman. Mitchell: Nicholas
Pryor. Meg Donner: Jenny Sullivan.
Classic LG moment: Lou gloats that Rossi was outfoxed by a 12-year-old
girl, "You didn't let the _governor_ speak off the record."
#60 - "Brushfire" (1/7/80) PC 9517
A brush fire disrupts the lives of many Trib employees, and
consequently affects the paper's coverage of it. Newman: Marshall
Thompson. Sweeney: Brian Farrell. Bergman: Jeff Corey. Mike
Ramirez: Tony Perez.
Critic's choice: Your author ranks this among the top 5 episodes.
#61 - "Indians" (1/14/80) PC 9512
The Trib's research on urbanized American Indians gains insight
when Animal befriends a youngster running away from a boarding school.
Raymond: David Yanez. Howard Sweetwater: Ned Romero. Teresa: Julie
Carmen. Gordon Davis: Ray Tracey. Duryea: Tom Rosqui. Ken Marks:
Alex Kubic.
#62 - "Coverup" (1/21/80) PC 9518-63
Rossi is taken off a probe of movie-industry kickbacks when a
producer interested in one of his stories is implicated. Alex
Brubaker: Edward Power. Danzinger: William Jordan. Jeff Lindsey:
Andrew Rubin. McClintock: Booth Colman. Robustelli: Ron Gilbertt.
Bryan: David Hollander.
Note: TV Guide neglected to mention the main plot of this episode: A
teacher (Lindsey) at a private school where Mrs. Pynchon serves on the
board is wrongly accused of sexual abuse.
#63 - "Inheritance" (1/28/80) PC 9519-64
Billie's research into the effects of synthetic estrogen on
unborn children leads her to suspect that her mother may have taken
the hormone. Betty Newman: Allyn Ann McLerie. Paul Newman: Marshall
Thompson. Jessica: Sands Hall. Sarah: Carol Bagdasarian. Leon: Buck
Kartalian. Jamal: Gregory Rozakis. Lavenia: Magda Harout.
Did you notice... Allyn Ann McLerie also played the desperate mother
in "Hit"?
#64 - "Censored" (2/4/80) PC 9516
The issue is censorship as the Trib considers dropping a
controversial comic strip, while Rossi is sent to a small town to
cover a series of book burnings. Marilyn Keefer: Laurie Heineman.
Mitchell Webster: Richard Dysart. Irene Teel: Karen Ingenthron.
Ernie Rasmussen: Dan Spector. Hank Selby: James Gallery.
Classic LG moment: The controversial cartoonist is named Diefenbaker.
Very intelligent camouflage!
#65 - "Lou" (2/11/80) PC 9520
Lou's single-minded devotion to his job begins to wear on his
stamina, causing concern among his co-workers. Jack Towne: Richard B.
Shull. Sam Huntington: Michael Bond. Regina Kelly: Elta Blake.
Adrienne Brundig: Rae Dawn Chong.
Obscure history: News at the time was that Jimmy Carter had aged
considerably in his three years as President, hence the mistaken
dialogue between Billie and Donovan at the vending machines.
Who's Who: Rae Dawn Chong turned up (much) later on "Melrose Place"
as an obsessive organizer who was briefly Rhonda's roommate and later
her rival.
#66 - "Blackout" (2/18/80) PC 9521
The Trib has never missed a press deadline, a record it may lose
after power is knocked out by a combination of lightning and earth
tremors. Marcy: Margie Impert. Kirby: Paul Jenkins. Walker: Richard
Evans. Jarret Longworth: Stanley Grover. Riggie Washburn: Walter
Brooke.
Critic's choice: Your author ranks this among the top ten episodes.
#67 - "Dogs" (3/3/80) PC 9522
Rossi infiltrates a dog-fighting ring when the disappearance of
Mrs. Pynchon's Yorkshire terrier is linked to trainers suspected by
the Humane Society. Jim Lawrence: Geoffrey Lewis. Len Huskie: Alan
Vint. Max Galt: Michael Jeter. Marc Pauley: John Blyth Barrymore.
#68 - "Influence" (3/10/80)
While Mrs. Pynchon listens to influence peddlers seeking her
support for an airport project, Lou becomes increasingly aware that
Adam has a drinking problem. Nick Boyer: James Whitmore Jr. Dutch
Van Deusen: Bartlett Robinson. Rosalie Wilson: Sheila Larken.
Carmine Rossi: Al Ruscio.
Classic LG moment: Is "Dutch Van Deusen" a subtle swipe at a
contemporary presidential candidate?
#69 - "Guns" (3/17/80) PC 9525-70
St. Patrick's Day is the occasion for an episode examining "the
troubles" in Northern Ireland and Irish-American support for the IRA.
Maggie McKenna: Rue McClanahan. Fitzgerald: Redmond Gleeson. Lt.
McPhee: Michael Alldredge. Parrott: Jack Dodson. Deirdre: Deirdre
Lenihan.
#70 - "Hazard" (3/24/80) PC 9524-69
Checkbook journalism is at issue when Rossi can't get the facts
about dangerous motorbikes unless he pays his informant. Kramer: Tom
Rosqui. David Marcus: Phillip R. Allen.
The following two episodes may be interpreted to be part of either the
third or fourth season. They were produced along with the third
season and aired before the fourth season, delayed by an actors'
strike, had actually started.
#71 - "Nightside" (9/22/80) PC 0504
The series' fourth season begins with an anatomy of the Trib's
late shift, whose denizens become Lou's responsibility when the night
editor phones in sick. Roy: David Paymer. Hal: Richard Erdman.
Corinne: Millie Slavin.
#72 - "Harassment" (9/29/80) PC 0501
Billie turns the tables on the Trib's male staffers after she's
assigned to report on job-related sexual harassment. Karen: Marilyn
Jones. Catherine Marks: Lynn Carlin. Lloyd: David Spielberg.
Warren: Michael Talbot.
Classic LG moment: Too bad we never got to see the aftermath of
Billie working with Lloyd.
FOURTH SEASON: 1980-81
#73 - "Pack" (10/27/80) PC 0502
Billie hits the campaign trail with a Senatorial candidate, where
the toughest part of the assignment is dealing with the politics of
the press corps. National Editor: Emilio Delgado. Flo Meredith:
Eileen Heckart. Carlisle: Ed Nelson. Sturbridge: John Hillerman.
Stephens: James Callahan. Haywood: Ivor Francis. Benson: Joe
Regalbuto. Sheriff: Jorge Cervera Jr.
#74 - "Sting" (11/17/80) PC 0503
The Humes move to an apartment and rent their house to a couple
who, it turns out, have extraordinary plans for the residence. Marian
Hume: Peggy McCay. Thatcher: Larry Linville. Lt. McPhee: Michael
Alldredge. Garvey: John Considine. Mrs. Lacy: Jacquelyn Hyde.
Critic's choice: One of your author's top five episodes and the best
one of this season.
Who's Who: John Considine, David Milburn from #37 "Scam," manages to
play another character in trouble here.
#75 - "Goop" (11/24/80) PC 0507
Billie takes a job with a chemical company suspected of illegally
dumping toxic wastes, raising a question of whether subterfuge is a
legitimate tool of journalism. Teri Wilk: Dominique Dunne. Marvin
Galosh: Alex Henteloff. Haggarty: Parley Baer. Lester Fields:
Jordan Rhodes. Ragsdale: Vernon Weddie.
#76 - "Libel" (12/8/80) PC 0506
The Trib's story on a scandal sheet earns a libel suit from the
paper's publisher. Monica Daniels: Irena Ferris. George Lester: Alan
Oppenheimer. Marvin Hartley: Dean Santoro. Ted Hollister: Logan
Ramsey. Daniels: James Van Patten. Janet Hart: Marie Windsor.
#77 - "Streets" (12/15/80) PC 0505
Rossi and a black reporter are at odds over the way to approach a
story on two deaths in the ghetto: the slaying of a respected
policeman and the death of his black assailant in a SWAT-team shoot-
out. Milt: Carl Franklin. Eddie: Mark Bell-James. Oscar: Larry B.
Scott. Gloria: Beverly Todd. Lt. Hughes: Lawrence Cook. Mary:
Veronica Redd. Etta: Esther Sutherland. Officer Collins: Steven
Gagnon. Arthur: Davis Roberts.
#78 - "Catch" (1/5/81) PC 0511
Billie has trouble separating business from pleasure after
interviewing a cocky but endearing baseball player. Ted McCovey:
Cliff Potts. Karl Buckner: Jordan Charney. Vern Eggly: Robert
Hirschfield. Clare: Eve McVeagh.
#79 - "Rape" (1/12/81) PC 0516
Rape becomes more than just a news story to the Trib staff when a
reporter is assaulted in her apartment. Sharon: Lynne Moody. Carol:
Linda Carlson. Intruder: Jonathan Banks. Kibbee: Macon McCalman.
Classic LG moment: Rossi demands of the cop, "What difference does
that make?"
#80 - "Boomerang" (1/19/81) PC 0512
The Trib staff and a visiting hot-shot reporter tackle a story on
"dumping," foreign sales of goods that are banned in the U.S. as
dangerous. Sidney Kovac: Michael Constantine. Hollingsworth: Roger
Newman. Kirkwood: Drew Snyder. Loggins: Charles Parks. Rubin
Castillo: Emilio Delgado. McGrath: Laurence Haddon.
Who's Who: Michael Constantine also played in #112, "Beachhead."
#81 - "Generations" (1/26/81) PC 0514
An episode examining the problems of the elderly: Charlie's
father moves in with the Humes after a shoplifting arrest, and Lou's
elderly neighbor has several run-ins with prankish teenagers. Rupert
Hume: Charles Lane. Harvey: Arthur Space. Marian: Peggy McCay. Fred
Jenkins: Whitman Mayo.
#82 - "Search" (2/9/81) PC 0515
A staff photographer (Alley Mills) appeals to city-room staffers
to help her locate her natural parents. Corinne: Millie Slavin.
Margaret: Carolyn Coates. Mario: Antony Ponzini.
#83 - "Strike" (2/16/81) PC 0510
Lou reluctantly sides with management when the Trib's employees,
including his reporters, strike over plans to automate the paper's
layout. Gus Murray: Bruce Kirby. Jim Bronsky: Tom Atkins. Bart
Franklin: Ray Wise. Ivy Norris: Nancy Malone. Burroughs: Ray Oliver.
#84 - "Survival" (2/23/81) PC 0517
A run-in with gun-toting children puts Rossi on a story about
survivalists, whose skills could come in handy for a team from the
Trib when they get caught in a deluge in the wild. Ralph Cooper: Ed
Harris. Wild Bill: Keene Curtis. Burroughs: Ray Oliver. Henrietta:
Doreen Lang. Morton Leonard: Buck Young.
#85 - "Venice" (3/9/81) PC 0509
Animal becomes obsessed with the suicide of a young woman who
seemed to have everything going for her. John Becker: James Callahan.
Ellison: Frank Aletter. Helen: Claire Malis. Frank Harris: Terry
McGovern. Jim Bishop: Colby Chester. Carol Bishop: Elizabeth
Halliday.
#86 - "Campesinos" (3/16/81) PC 0513
A tip sends Rossi to a small farm town to investigate an
explosive labor dispute. Tommy Hernandez: James Victor. Hugh
Holstrum: Jeff Corey. Paul Geyer: Bill Lucking. Castillo: Emilio
Delgado. Garcia: Pepe Serna.
#87 - "Business" (3/23/81) PC 0518
The Trib wages a war of words with an electronics firm that
declines to disclose details of its financial situation. Davidson: Ed
Winter. Rick Havens: David Spielberg. Sorenson: Philip Abbott. Hal
Hennecker: Richard Erdman. Gary Hall: Kenneth Tigar.
Who's Who: Winter made his third "Lou Grant" appearance, having
played a wife beater in #11, "Housewarming" and a cop in #47;
Spielberg had played a sexual harasser in #72 only several months
earlier.
Did you notice ... Billie's sling suddenly disappears before the scene
in Mrs. Pynchon's office?
#88 - "Violence" (4/6/81) PC 0519
Rossi and Billie cover different aspects of the sports-violence
issue, while Lou haggles with a movie critic over on-screen mayhem.
Crusher Carter: Fred Williamson. Melissa Cummings: Tyne Daly. Mike
Hauser: Fred Dryer. Clarence Harvey: Chick Hearn. Jacquie Templeton:
Fay Hauser. Spike: Dwayne McGee.
Who's Who: Tyne Daly is best known for playing the latter half of
Cagney and Lacey, in the series which took over LG's time slot.
#89 - "Depression" (4/13/81) PC 0508
Aging's stark inevitability is driven home to Trib staffers when
a middle-aged reporter (Peter Hobbs) tries to kill himself because he
fears he has outlived his usefulness. Elizabeth: Priscilla Pointer.
Amanda: Sands Hall.
#90 - "Stroke" (5/4/81) PC 0520
Mrs. Pynchon suffers a disabling stroke during negotiations to
purchase a magazine, a deal that her heir considers a mistake. Fred
Hill: Alan Fudge. Hartley: Phillip R. Alan. Dana: Victoria Lynn
Johnson. Rick Henshaw: Harris Kal. Professor Williams: Jim Antonio.
Dr. Goren: Paul Sparer.
Who's Who: Alan Fudge made three appearances in "Lou Grant," having
played Detective Collins in #27, "Murder" and the prison warden in
#49, "Slammer."
FIFTH SEASON: 1981-82
#91 - "Wedding" (11/2/81) PC 1501
Billie ponders a marriage offer from baseball scout Ted McCovey
(Cliff Potts) as the presses roll for Lou's fifth season. Janie:
Barbara Dirickson. Stiefel: Parley Baer. Chetwynd: Arthur Rosenberg.
Tyler: Michael Griswold. Lvoff: Joe Rassulo. Chaney: Fran Bennett.
#92 - "Execution" (11/9/81) PC 1502
Rossi becomes engrossed in a story on a murderer who refuses to
appeal her death sentence. Kitty Larsen: Terri Nunn. Peter Witter:
Christopher Cazenove. Jeff Benedict: George Wyner. Louise Larsen:
Mariclare Costello. Beth MacDougall: Sheila Frazier. Jeanette
Pepper: Sharon Spelman.
Who's Who: Terri Nunn played a high school student trying to get
pregnant in episode #46, "Loves."
#93 - "Reckless" (11/16/81) PC 1503
Charlie works to implement the Trib's news-tip hotline, while Lou
takes part in an experiment on drunken driving. Bob Jurgenson:
William Schilling. Sandler: Michael McGuire. Marvin: Michael Tucci.
McElwain: Milt Kogan. Cop: Chip Lucia.
#94 - "Hometown" (11/23/81) PC 1504
Lou returns to the Midwestern town where he grew up and finds a
community struggling with a declining population and economic blight.
Paul: Robert Prosky. Howard: Kenneth Kimmins. Carol: Georgann
Johnson. Frank Blankenship: Hal Landon Jr. Tim Switzer: Anthony
Costello.
#95 - "Risk" (11/30/81) PC 0521
A 9-year-old girl's life is at stake when a Trib reporter (Lynne
Moody) refuses to reveal her source for a story on child pornography.
McPhee: Michael Alldredge. Gloria: Sandy Martin. Larry Hockney: Ken
Smolka. Frederick Gibbs: J. Jay Saunders. Mike: Kario Salem.
#96 - "Doublecross" (12/7/81) PC 0522
Billie learns that a famous gold cross contained in a 50-year-old
time capsule is a fake. Michael Shepherd: Nigel Bullard. Alex
Matheson: Linwood McCarthy. Alex Matheson Jr.: Jeff Lester.
#97 - "Drifters" (12/14/81) PC 1505
Charlie takes in his disturbed nephew (W.K. Stratton), unaware of
the extent of his illness. Steve Hume: James Callahan. Dr. Sorenson:
Tom Atkins. Marian Hume: Peggy McCay.
#98 - "Friends" (12/28/81) PC 1510
Tests of friendships emerge from Rossi's relationship with an
ambitious young politician, and an altercation involving Donovan and a
reporter. Burton Cary: Larry Breeding. Hollister: Logan Ramsey.
Shillitoe: Paul Kent. Bella: Jill Jaress.
Who's Who: At this count, Paul Kent is the most frequent guest star
on "Lou Grant," having appeared also in episodes 8, 12, 44, and 51.
#99 - "Jazz" (1/4/82) PC 1506
Rossi tracks down members of a once-great jazz quartet (played by
jazz greats Ray Brown, Joe Williams, Louie Bellson and Med Flory).
Crosley: Todd Susman. Banks: Richard Erdman. Vince: Danny Wells.
Anita: Paula Shaw.
#100 - "Ghosts" (1/11/82) PC 1507
Billie investigates a mysterious death in a "haunted" house. Dr.
Haas: Jacqueline Brooks. Claude Cunningham: Milton Selzer.
Josephine: Penelope Windust. Rose: Ellen Blake. Sgt. Roche: Lionel
Smith.
#101 - "Cameras" (1/25/82) PC 1509
A story about a robbery and kidnaping assays the influence of
live TV coverage on volatile situations and trial proceedings. Mrs.
Hamlin: Marcia Rodd. Peggy Daye: Robin Rose. Judge Strohmeyer: Jack
Collins.
Who's Who: Jack Collins is a veteran actor who made several
appearances as Mike's boss on "The Brady Bunch"; Marcia Rodd also
played in #39, "Samaritan."
#102 - "Review" (2/8/82) PC 1512
A media review board might censure the Trib because of an article
by Rossi; Billie ghostwrites an autobiographical piece for an evasive
Mrs. Pynchon. Meredith Hall-Sutton: Karen Carlson. Thea Taft:
Margaret Hamilton. Carole Fuller: Diana Douglas.
Who's Who: Margaret Hamilton makes the second of her two appearances
as retired city editor Thea Taft. The "Wizard of Oz" veteran was also
a seminal part of #58, "Hollywood."
#103 - "Immigrants" (2/15/82) PC 1511
The plight of Vietnamese refugees in the U.S. is explored in a
story involving black-market food stamps and a photographer Animal met
during the war. Tam: Le Tuan. Cy Wood: Raleigh Bond. Anh: Kieu
Chinh. Hector: Gregory Sierra. Norman Diggs: J.D. Hall.
#104 - "Hunger" (3/1/82) PC 1508
Rossi becomes obsessed with his story on world hunger - to the
irritation of his editors. Sister Louise: Uta Hagen. Springerman:
Ivan Bonor. Jaun: Tonyo Melendez.
#105 - "Victims" (3/8/82) PC 1521
Mrs. Pynchon is questioned about her late husband's land dealings
with Japanese-Americans interned during World War II. Ken Watanabe:
Clyde Kusatsu. Iris Rooney: Eunice Christopher. Ike Tatsumi: Pat
Morita. Willoughby: Lee McDonald.
Critic's choice: Your author regards this as the best of the season.
#106 - "Obituary" (3/22/82) PC 1514
Billie is called back to the office just before boarding a plane
that later crashes, killing all aboard. Meanwhile, Animal tracks a
nearly extinct moth. Pomeroy: William Jordan. Helen: Rae Allen.
O'Brian: Peter Michael Goetz.
#107 - "Blacklist" (4/5/82) PC 1515
While researching a story about a scientist who was blacklisted
in the '50s, Rossi learns that his girl friend's father was a folk
singer who suffered the same fate. Abby: Freddye Chapman. Obler:
William Schallert. Price: Graham Brown. Valentine: Rick Lenz.
Who's Who: Prolific actor William Schallert, veteran of episode #48,
plays another tragic figure in this episode.
#108 - "Law" (4/12/82) PC 1516
The Trib's law firm is breaking up and Mrs. Pynchon doesn't know
which half to retain; Billie's story on a recall movement results in
the politician suing its organizers; and Lou sues his plumber for
tearing up his kitchen. Gruber: Harold J. Stone. Garbers: Charles
Cioffi. Chuck: Charles Hallahan. Elvira: Mary Louise Wilson.
Who's Who: This is the second appearance of Councilman Garbers, who
was a part of #8, "Scoop." There was also a Councilman Garvey in #37,
"Sting." All three were played by different actors.
#109 - "Fireworks" (4/19/82) PC 1517
An assignment in the state capital reunites Billie with her ex-
husband - a shrewd lobbyist out to make Billie's job as difficult as
possible. Greg: Vincent Baggetta. Ray: Parley Baer. Lupton: Sandy
McPeak.
#110 - "Unthinkable" (5/3/82) PC 1519
Atomic-age paranoia hits the Trib when a revolution in the Middle
East signals hostilities between the U.S. and Russia - and a threat of
nuclear war. Claire: Bonnie Bartlett. Dr. Lawrence: Lane Smith.
Sutherland: Warren Kemmerling.
#111 - "Suspect" (5/17/82) PC 1522
A cub reporter's life is threatened when he investigates the hit-
and-run death of a noted ecologist; Lou is involved with a woman
(Dixie Carter) who's also dating a married man. Lance: Lance
Reinecke. Elsa: Christina Pickles. Tenney: Maurice Woods. Karly:
Ren Woods.
Classic LG moment: Lance asks the dead man's lover for a reaction to
his death; she didn't know.
#112 - "Beachhead" (5/24/82) PC 1520
A Trib story on rival surfer turfs touches off gang fights; and
Billie and Ted discover their new home is next to a halfway house for
mental patients. Lombardi: Michael Constantine. Panface: Robert
Peirce. Moose: Bill Ostrander.
Who's Who: This is Michael Constantine's second appearance, having
played Kovac in #80, "Boomerang."
The following two episodes, left over from the fifth season, were
shown as a sort of coda to the series at the start of the 1982-83
season. They were never rerun on the network.
#113 - "Recovery" (8/30/82) PC 1513
An armed holdup in the Tribune parking lot leaves Lou the victim
and a policeman tormented with a guilty conscience. Vince DeMayo:
Steve Marachuk. Shackley: Bruce Kirby. Stapler: Barry Primus.
Ellen: Ann Sweeny. Dave Rabowsky: James Gallery.
Who's Who: Bruce Kirby also played in #81, "Strike."
#114 - "Charlie" (9/13/82) PC 1523
It may be routine for Charlie when he has to fire two
incompetents, lend a sympathetic ear to Donovan and consider
assignments for Billie and Rossi, but for a cub reporter, the story
he's working on is anything but routine. Lance: Lance Guest. Abby:
Freddye Chapman. Dory: Richard Lineback. Dolph Masterson: Macon
McCalman.