History Series / LouGrant

* FiveManBand:
** TheHero: Lou
** TheLancer: Rossi
** TheBigGuy: Animal
** TheSmartGuy: Donovan
** TheChick: Billie (Carla for the first three episodes)

* MythologyGag: The character of Flo Meredith, Mary Richards' [[HonoraryUncle honorary aunt]] and a very respected newspaper reporter, was the only other ''Mary Tyler More 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 appearances on the drama, she congratulates Lou on finally returning to his newspaper roots... although she implies the Trib isn't exactly the most respected newspaper around, thereby keeping their friendly feud alive.

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

* BaldOfAwesome: Lou Grant

After the GrandFinale of ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow,'' Lou is now in UsefulNotes/{{California}} working as the city editor for the fictional UsefulNotes/LosAngeles Tribune. He manages to keep his character, in both senses, for five seasons of this. The other regulars were general assignment reporters Joe Rossi (Creator/RobertWalden) and Billie Newman (Creator/LindaKelsey) (Kelsey joined the show in the fourth episode, replacing Rebecca Balding, who had portrayed general assignment reporter Carla Mardigian); managing editor Charles Hume (Creator/MasonAdams), an old friend of Lou's who convinced him to move from [[UsefulNotes/TwinCities Minneapolis]] to Los Angeles; assistant city editor Art Donovan (Creator/JackBannonActor); photographer Dennis Price (Creator/DarylAnderson), usually referred to as "Animal," and the ''Tribune'''s widowed, patrician publisher, Margaret Jones Pynchon (Creator/NancyMarchand).

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

* BookEnds: The opening titles for the first season, 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.

* RedShirtReporter: In episodes that involved natural disasters.

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

After the GrandFinale of ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow,'' Lou is now in UsefulNotes/LosAngeles working as the city editor for the fictional UsefulNotes/LosAngeles 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 [[UsefulNotes/TwinCities 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).

[[caption-width-right:350:Back row, left to right: Charlie Hume, Margaret Pynchon, Dennis "The Animal" Price, Adam Wilson, Art Donovan. Front row, left to right: Lou Grant), Joe Rossi, Billie Newman.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Back row, left to right: Charlie Hume (Creator/MasonAdams), Margaret Pynchon (Creator/NancyMarchand), Dennis "The Animal" Price (Creator/DarylAnderson), Adam Wilson (Creator/AllenWilliams), Art Donovan (Creator/{{Jack Bannon|USA}}). Front row, left to right: Lou Grant (Creator/EdwardAsner), Joe Rossi (Creator/RobertWalden), Billie Newman (Creator/LindaKelsey).]]

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).

!! '''Tropes''':

* TheAlcoholic: While played for laughs in ''Series/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.

* BenevolentBoss: While Mrs. Pynchon, Charlie Hume, and Lou Grant all had gruff and demanding demeanors, they were all passionate about journalism and preserving its integrity.

* CoolOldLady: Mrs. Pynchon

* SpinOff: Lou Grant's character was largely unchanged since his departure from the UsefulNotes/TwinCities via the ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow'', though going from a comedy to a drama could lead you to believe he had (e.g., his alcoholism now being portrayed more realistically, instead of being played for laughs).

* HangingJudge: Lou Grant is held in contempt of court and thrown in jail when investigating reports of a ruthless judge.
* HeadTiltinglyKinky: Joe and Billie are undercover in a motel room. Joe starts watching porn on the TV. Billie starts making comments about how silly it is, and how none of it is remotely erotic. Then she stops, tilts her head, and says "Now ''that's'' erotic."

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).

* DomesticAbuse:
** In "Housewarming", there are two examples:
*** Alice Merrin is beaten by her husband Jerry, an alcoholic with an extremely violent temper, almost every night. He also psychologically abuses her as he repeatedly tells her that she is worthless and no one else would have her. Alice finally leaves Jerry when he [[AbusiveParents threatens to beat their children]].
*** The junior ''Tribune'' staffer Roger Trent punches his wife Dorothy in the face, giving her a large bruise. Lou and Billie are both shocked as they never thought that he was the sort of person who would do something like that.
** In "Hooker", Patti Oxley was sexually abused by her stepfather throughout her childhood.

* DomesticAbuse: In "Housewarming", there are two examples:
** Alice Merrin is beaten by her husband Jerry, an alcoholic with an extremely violent temper, almost every night. He also psychologically abuses her as he repeatedly tells her that she is worthless and no one else would have her. Alice finally leaves Jerry when he [[AbusiveParents threatens to beat their children]].
** The junior ''Tribune'' staffer Roger Trent punches his wife Dorothy in the face, giving her a large bruise. Lou and Billie are both shocked as they never thought that he was the sort of person who would do something like that.

* BadassGrandpa: Lou Grant has four grandchildren, one of whom is deaf.

** In "Poison", Rossi's best friend Sam Beecher finds evidence that the nuclear plant Tucor where he works has inadequate safety procedures and previous leaks have caused several deaths. Before he can blow the whistle, he is killed in an apparent hit-and-run which is later linked to Tucor. This was inspired by the story of Karen Silkwood, an employee of the [link=Kerr-McGee=] nuclear plant in Oklahoma who raised concerns about health and safety at the plant in 1974. On her way to meet with a journalist from ''The New York Times'', she was killed in a suspicious car accident.

* NoHistoricalFiguresWereHarmed: In "Nazi", Billie discovers that the Nationalist Socialist Aryan American Party leader Donald Stryker, whose real name is Donald Sturner, is secretly Jewish. Only hours after her article about him, Stryker [[DrivenToSuicide shoots himself]]. This is based on the case of the American Nazi Party member Dan Burros in 1965.

* DownerEnding: Lou and the others did everything they could to help an elderly man preserve the apartment building murals he lovingly dedicated to his deceased wife, but despite getting a court order against demolition, they could not stop the wrecking ball.

[[caption-width-right:350:Back row, left to right: Charlie Hume (Creator/MasonAdams), Margaret Pynchon (Creator/NancyMarchand), Dennis "The Animal" Price (Creator/DarylAnderson), Adam Wilson (Creator/AllenWilliams), Art Donovan (Creator/JackBannon). Front row, left to right: Lou Grant (Creator/EdwardAsner), Joe Rossi (Creator/RobertWalden), Billie Newman (Creator/LindaKelsey).]]

* NoHistoricalFiguresWereHarmed: In "Nazi", Billie discovers that the Nationalist Socialist Aryan American Party leader Donald Stryker, whose real name is Donald Sturner, is secretly Jewish. Only hours after her article about him, Stryker [[DrivenToSuicide shoots himself]]. This is based on the case of the American Nazi Party member Dan Burros.

* ReassignmentBackfire: Averted. For violating a newspaper policy, Rossi is assigned to the dullest story Lou can think of -- profiling a minor state official, who commutes between Los Angeles and Sacramento (he even admits to his subject that he's being punished). But then Rossi discovers that the official is a bigamist, with a family in each city...and gloats that his story is "going to write itself." But in the end, he can't bring himself to ruin two families' lives, and instead turns in a story which Lou dismisses as drivel.

* TheSmurfettePrinciple: Billie is the only female reporter to work in the city room. The only other female main character, the matriarch Mrs. Pynchon, is the paper's publisher.

* FictionalNewspaper: Lou Grant and his cohort work at the ''Los Angeles Tribune''.

* FictionalParty: In "Nazi", Billie investigates the Nationalist Socialist Aryan American Party, which is based on the American Nazi Party.

* DaEditor: Lou Grant

* FictionalDocument: Lou Grant and his cohort work at The Los Angeles Tribune.
* FirstNameBasis: Lou, Charlie, and Billie.

** TheChick: Billie

* LastNameBasis: Rossi and Donovan.
* MythologyGag: The character of Flo Meredith, Mary Richard's [[HonoraryUncle honorary 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 appearances on the drama, she congratulates Lou on finally returning to his newspaper roots... although she implies the Trib isn't exactly the most respected newspaper around, thereby keeping their friendly feud alive.

* SharpDressedMan: Allen Donovan.

* TheSmurfettePrinciple: Billie, not including the matriarch Mrs. Pynchon.

* WelcomeEpisode: Fresh from his firing at WJM Minneapolis, Lou Grant relies on his old friend Charlie Hume to secure a City Editor job at a busy Los Angeles newspaper.

* 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 appearances on the drama, she congratulates Lou on finally returning to his newspaper roots... although she implies the Trib isn't exactly the most respected newspaper around, thereby keeping their friendly feud alive.

[[caption-width-right:350:Back row, left to right: Charlie Hume (Mason Adams), Margaret Pynchon (Nancy Marchand), Dennis "The Animal" Price (Creator/DarylAnderson), Adam Wilson (Creator/AllenWilliams), Art Donovan (Jack Bannon). Front row, left to right: Lou Grant (Creator/EdwardAsner), Joe Rossi (Creator/RobertWalden), Billie Newman (Creator/LindaKelsey).]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Back row, left to right: Charlie Hume (Mason Adams), Margaret Pynchon (Nancy Marchand), Dennis "The Animal" Price (Creator/DarylAnderson), Adam Wilson (Creator/AllenWilliams), Art Donovan (Creator/JackBannon). Front row, left to right: Lou Grant (Creator/EdwardAsner), Joe Rossi (Creator/RobertWalden), Billie Newman (Creator/LindaKelsey).]]

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