TV series
The trials of a former television station manager turned newspaper city editor, and his journalist staff.
Availability
Checked Jul 22, 2026
Lou Grant premiered September 20, 1977. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
The trials of a former television station manager turned newspaper city editor, and his journalist staff.
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Episode 1
After landing the city editor job at the Los Angeles Tribune, Lou Grant's first major story is a sex scandal concerning the LAPD and underage girls. However, in order to get it published he must deal with a reporter who is reluctant to bring down the police, and Mrs. Pynchon, who has a difference of opinion with him.
Directed by Gene ReynoldsGuest stars Peter Hobbs, Rebecca Balding
Episode 2
Upset with a story about his brother, who was wrongfully shot by a store-owner during a robbery, a gunman demands a new story and holds the newspaper staff hostage until they comply.
Guest stars Joyce Jillson, Robert Phalen, John Rubinstein, Patrick Tovatt, Rebecca Balding
Episode 3
When Lou gets a tip from a friend who claims to know the whereabouts of a missing millionaire, members of the staff initially have doubts about following it and dismiss it as a hoax. The man begins to gain credibility when he is able to retrieve information that only the missing man would know.
Directed by Jay SandrichGuest stars Eugene Roche, Booth Colman, Rebecca Balding, Bob Harks, Gordon Jump, Diana Douglas, Ivan Bonar, John Stephenson
Episode 4
Lou clashes with a woman who is the head of the woman's section of the newspaper over whose reporter should cover the alleged murder of a famous playwright in New Mexico.
Directed by Richard CrennaGuest stars Geoffrey Lewis, Read Morgan, Bob Harks
Episode 5
While investigating a group of Nazis, Billie comes upon information that one of their leaders used to be Jewish.
Directed by Alexander SingerWritten by Robert SchlittGuest stars Lee Wallace, Nancy Parsons, Brian Dennehy, Peter Weller, Bob Harks, Gordon Jump, Peter Brocco
Episode 6
When a staff member passes away, Lou does everything he can to comfort the widow, which causes her to depend more on him and fall in love with him. After a small earthquake hits, Rossi interviews a scientist who claims that his insects are predicting a more serious one in the upcoming days.
Directed by Jud TaylorGuest stars Clyde Kusatsu, Joyce Van Patten, Noble Willingham
Episode 7
Surprised by the paper's lack of coverage on the shooting of a Hispanic woman by a gang, Lou allows Billie to go into the Hispanic community to write a story. While in the community, she meets the victim's son who is fueled with anger and seems headed down the wrong path.
Directed by Mel DamskiGuest stars Margarita Cordova, Joe Santos
Episode 8
Pressured to get the latest scoop at any cost, Lou ends up in hot water after running two of Rossi's exclusive stories which turn out to be false. So when Billie has information about a possible fake kidnapping, Lou is reluctant to run the story.
Directed by Harry FalkGuest stars Reni Santoni, George Murdock, Ted Gehring, Gary Pagett, Bill Erwin
Episode 9
When Lou goes to a courthouse to look into a report of inappropriate behavior by a senior judge, he angers the judge by trying to leave in the middle of a trial and is put in jail. Upset by this treatment, he gets the newspaper staff to further investigate the judge's erratic behavior.
Directed by Irving J. MooreGuest stars Barnard Hughes, Joe Mantell, Timothy Jerome, Phillip Pine, Bob Harks
Episode 10
After Lou tells him that his stories are missing first-hand experience, Rossi checks into a mental institution as a patient under a made-up name to investigate reports of abuse. Lou clashes with a lawyer at the paper because he feels that censorship and fear of possible lawsuits are limiting what the paper can publish.
Directed by Alexander SingerGuest stars Michael Zaslow, Harry Townes
Episode 11
Billie uses a battered woman as a source for a story on spousal abuse but has trouble following through with it when the women's husband finds out. She later finds out that a co-worker has a problem with spousal abuse.
Directed by Mel DamskiGuest stars Edward Winter, Bob Harks, Julie Kavner, Robert Rothwell, Connie Sawyer
Episode 12
Staff members become nervous when a multi-millionaire with a penchant for ruining the credibility of newspapers makes an attempt to take over the Tribune.
Directed by Gene ReynoldsGuest stars William Bogert, Jerry Fogel, Paul Kent, John Anderson
Episode 13
Lou gets homesick with Christmas approaching. Billie does a story on a family that is homeless for the holidays and public donations begin to pour in. After Rossi improperly uses a quote, Lou punishes him by assigning him to a boring story that turns out to be a juicy story.
Directed by James BurrowsWritten by David LloydGuest stars Verna Bloom, Tim O'Connor, Charles Bracy
Episode 14
News breaks of an airplane carrying over 300 people that is unable to land. Members of the staff scour the list of passengers aboard and find out that Charlie's daughter is on that flight.
Directed by Mel DamskiGuest stars Allan Miller, Charles Bracy
Episode 15
The paper faces a public backlash after Lou runs a story about an NCAA investigation into the possible recruiting violations by a popular local college football team.
Guest stars John Randolph, Mike Henry, Vaughn Armstrong, Sandy Kenyon, Michael Morgan, David Ackroyd, Keene Curtis
Episode 16
When a man saves a judge's life and then flees the scene, the paper launches a campaign to find his identity. When they find him and write a story revealing that he has a criminal record, he blames the paper for hurting his business and ruining his engagement. Billie is upset at the lack of support for a halfway house that is on the verge of closing due to lack of funding.
Directed by Mel DamskiGuest stars Kerry Sherman, Marlene Warfield, Shirley Jo Finney
Episode 17
The paper does a story on a senior citizen whose apartment, decorated with art that reflects his life's work, is in danger of being torn down.
Directed by Gene ReynoldsGuest stars Robert Earl Jones, James Karen
Episode 18
Charlie is devastated when his son joins a cult.
Directed by Alexander Singer
Episode 19
Rossi gets upset when a new female reporter comes in and is given the story about a possibly corrupt politician that he had unsuccessfully been investigating.
Directed by Mel Damski
Episode 20
When the paper finds out about the son of a wealthy businessman being secretly detained by authorities, Lou decides to have Rossi investigate. However, when a CIA agent thwarts the investigation before it begins, everyone begins to suspect there is a CIA informant working at the paper.
Guest stars Robert Casper, Jean Allison
Episode 21
After Rossi's friend reveals that he has damaging information about the unsafe conditions at a nuclear plant, he is "accidentally" struck and killed by a car. Eager to prove that it was no accident, Rossi continues the investigation into the nuclear plant.
Directed by Gene ReynoldsGuest stars Charles Bracy, Belinda Montgomery, Guy Boyd, Jennifer Rhodes, Wayne Heffley, Michael Alldredge, Sidney Clute, Robert Rothwell
Episode 22
Lou reluctantly goes for a physical and finds out that he has a thyroid condition that requires surgery. At the paper, he offers advice to an intern who wants to become a reporter. Rossi learns that he has a good chance at a Pulitzer prize for his story on mental hospitals.
Written by David LloydGuest stars Billy Beck, Jimmy Lydon, Fred Sadoff, Laurence Haddon, Sidney Clute
Episode information updated Jul 23, 2026
Available now in United States
These shows are available now and closely match Lou Grant.
Ed AsnerLou Grant
Robert WaldenJoe Rossi
Linda KelseyBillie Newman
Mason AdamsCharlie Hume
Jack BannonArt Donovan
Daryl AndersonDennis Price
Nancy MarchandMargaret Pynchon
Allen WilliamsAdam Wilson
CBSUnited States
MTM EnterprisesUnited States
