Amazing Transformation of Lou Grant

[cspotrun]

did they ever explain how the Gruff- "Bumbling" news director of the last place TV station on the Mary Tyler Moore Show, somehow turned INTO the WORLD'S GREATEST NEWSPAPERMAN -when the same character, Lou Grant got his own (Dramatic) tv show?

it would be like the "Logical" spin-off of Gilligan's Island... "Gilligan's Law"

 

[radioman148]

did they ever explain how the Gruff- "Bumbling" news director of the last place TV station on the Mary Tyler Moore Show, somehow turned INTO the WORLD'S GREATEST NEWSPAPERMAN -when the same character, Lou Grant got his own (Dramatic) tv show?

it would be like the "Logical" spin-off of Gilligan's Island... "Gilligan's Law"

Here's how it must have happened. After Lou's wife divorced him on MTM he stopped drinking and pulled himself together.
After becoming sober and developing a calm and serious demeanor he quickly gained a reputation as a big time news go getter.
The rest is history.

 

[Rob Jason]

The first episode of Lou Grant shows him arriving in Los Angeles, and going to his new job at the paper...He's introduced to Mrs. Pynchon the publisher, and his buddy whispers to him just before they go into her office, "don't tell her you were in TV. Tell her you were in prison or something."

So, they acknowledged his previous "career".

 

[ricksegers]

I think there was a passing reference in MTM that Lou was an old newspaperman.

 

[onairb]

That would make sense. Otherwise, did CBS think that the only way viewers could accept 'Ed Asner playing a gruff newsman' would be to just transplant the existing Lou Grant character into a new format?

 

[radioman148]

That would make sense. Otherwise, did CBS think that the only way viewers could accept 'Ed Asner playing a gruff newsman' would be to just transplant the existing Lou Grant character into a new format?

Lou Grant was obviously popular on MTM. I guess they felt some kind of new intro was necessary.

 

[LKellerIII]

I guess working for a newspaper made Lou a more serious guy. Maybe he stopped drinking. The Lou in the MTM show always seemed like a drinker.

What about the transformation in Trapper John Mc Intyre? The character was in his late 30s as a M*A*S*H doctor in the early 1950s - 1953 at the latest. By the time he worked in that hospital (Trapper John MD), 26 years later (1979), Trapper had only aged about 10 years, got shorter and balder (OK - we can buy balder), got a deep baritone voice and a totally different face. ;D

 

[searadiofreak]

Almost all the episodes of "Lou Grant" are on Hulu.com. Very good show! Drama, with a light dose of comedy.

 

[firepoint525]

I guess working for a newspaper made Lou a more serious guy. Maybe he stopped drinking. The Lou in the MTM show always seemed like a drinker.

What about the transformation in Trapper John Mc Intyre? The character was in his late 30s as a M*A*S*H doctor in the early 1950s - 1953 at the latest. By the time he worked in that hospital (Trapper John MD), 26 years later (1979), Trapper had only aged about 10 years, got shorter and balder (OK - we can buy balder), got a deep baritone voice and a totally different face. ;D

Most of us get a little shorter (maybe an inch or so) as we get older! ;D

 

[radioman148]

I guess working for a newspaper made Lou a more serious guy. Maybe he stopped drinking. The Lou in the MTM show always seemed like a drinker.

What about the transformation in Trapper John Mc Intyre? The character was in his late 30s as a M*A*S*H doctor in the early 1950s - 1953 at the latest. By the time he worked in that hospital (Trapper John MD), 26 years later (1979), Trapper had only aged about 10 years, got shorter and balder (OK - we can buy balder), got a deep baritone voice and a totally different face. ;D

Being back home from the jungle agreed with him.

 

[KeithE4]

What about the transformation in Trapper John Mc Intyre? The character was in his late 30s as a M*A*S*H doctor in the early 1950s - 1953 at the latest. By the time he worked in that hospital (Trapper John MD), 26 years later (1979), Trapper had only aged about 10 years, got shorter and balder (OK - we can buy balder), got a deep baritone voice and a totally different face. ;D

Trapper John's great-grandfather was Adam Cartwright. ;D

 

[radioman148]

What about the transformation in Trapper John Mc Intyre? The character was in his late 30s as a M*A*S*H doctor in the early 1950s - 1953 at the latest. By the time he worked in that hospital (Trapper John MD), 26 years later (1979), Trapper had only aged about 10 years, got shorter and balder (OK - we can buy balder), got a deep baritone voice and a totally different face. ;D

Trapper John's great-grandfather was Adam Cartwright. ;D

Gee I remember him. He was Hoss & Little Joe's brother.

 

[searadiofreak]

This thread made me go watch season one, episode one of "Lou Grant" on Hulu.

Excellent show premiere. Almost "feature film" quality. James Brooks & Allan Burns were the original producers. The episode deals with Lou interviewing and getting the job as city editor. Mason Adams (the Smuckers guy) is great as his boss. While we see that he has cleaned up his act (lost 40 pounds), he hasn't completely given up the booze. At lunch, an employee expains he has quite drinking, and Lou ends up with a scotch anyway. This was very good quality tv screenwriting, I look forward to watching more episodes.

 

[cspotrun]

I think there was a passing reference in MTM that Lou was an old newspaperman.

was Ted Baxter holding Lou back?

 

[radioman148]

I think there was a passing reference in MTM that Lou was an old newspaperman.

was Ted Baxter holding Lou back?

That and he had that thing for Sue Ellen.

 

[easttxtv]

I think there was a passing reference in MTM that Lou was an old newspaperman.

was Ted Baxter holding Lou back?

That and he had that thing for Sue Ellen.

So did J.R., Cliff, and a few others, unless you meant Sue Ann...

 

[radioman148]

I think there was a passing reference in MTM that Lou was an old newspaperman.

was Ted Baxter holding Lou back?

That and he had that thing for Sue Ellen.

So did J.R., Cliff, and a few others, unless you meant Sue Ann...

My bad! The memory sometimes fades.

 

[onairb]

I think there was a passing reference in MTM that Lou was an old newspaperman.

was Ted Baxter holding Lou back?

That and he had that thing for Sue Ellen.

So did J.R., Cliff, and a few others, unless you meant Sue Ann...

My bad! The memory sometimes fades.

Ah...if Lou Grant('on assignment' in Texas) had shot J.R to get rid of competition for Sue Ellen....and Ted Baxter(having just moved to Dallas) had broken the story...the Smuckers guy would have had a fit! ;D

 

[radioman148]

I think there was a passing reference in MTM that Lou was an old newspaperman.

was Ted Baxter holding Lou back?

That and he had that thing for Sue Ellen.

So did J.R., Cliff, and a few others, unless you meant Sue Ann...

My bad! The memory sometimes fades.

Ah...if Lou Grant('on assignment' in Texas) had shot J.R to get rid of competition for Sue Ellen....and Ted Baxter(having just moved to Dallas) had broken the story...the Smuckers guy would have had a fit! ;D

LOL ;D

 

[KyDXIn]

What about the transformation in Trapper John Mc Intyre? The character was in his late 30s as a M*A*S*H doctor in the early 1950s - 1953 at the latest. By the time he worked in that hospital (Trapper John MD), 26 years later (1979), Trapper had only aged about 10 years, got shorter and balder (OK - we can buy balder), got a deep baritone voice and a totally different face. ;D

Trapper John's great-grandfather was Adam Cartwright. ;D

Maternal or paternal?? Those Cartwright women had the darnedest luck... I bet they couldn't even get insurance with AFLAC. What's good for the goose is good for the gander!