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The Best Episodes of Lou Grant

Every episode of Lou Grant ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Lou Grant!

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The trials of a former television station manager turned newspaper city editor, and his journalist staff.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Lou Grant Season 1 Episode 5 - Nazi
    8.4/10(78 votes)

    #1 - Nazi

    S1:E5

    While investigating a group of Nazis, Billie comes upon information that one of their leaders used to be Jewish.

    Director:Alexander Singer
    Writer:Robert Schlitt

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  2. Lou Grant Season 1 Episode 1 - Cophouse
    8.1/10(104 votes)

    #2 - Cophouse

    S1:E1

    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.

    Director:Gene Reynolds
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Lou Grant Season 1 Episode 21 - Poison
    8.0/10(52 votes)

    #3 - Poison

    S1:E21

    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.

    Director:Gene Reynolds
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Lou Grant Season 2 Episode 17 - Samaritan
    7.9/10(39 votes)

    #4 - Samaritan

    S2:E17

    The city is thrown into panic when the Tribune's star columnist writes a column that Lou fears could incite a serial killer to strike again. The reporter who covered the so-called "Samaritan" slayings years before is assigned to draw up a profile that might lead to the madman, and the staff fans out to follow his clues.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Lou Grant Season 3 Episode 12 - Hollywood
    7.9/10(55 votes)

    #5 - Hollywood

    S3:E12

    No description available

    Director:Burt Brinckerhoff
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Lou Grant Season 2 Episode 4 - Mob
    7.8/10(52 votes)

    #6 - Mob

    S2:E4

    Lou and Rossi visit a California resort in preparation for the Trib's annual tennis tournament. They are perplexed at the number of mob bosses they see at the resort, and begin to investigate.

    Director:Corey Allen
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Lou Grant

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  7. Lou Grant Season 3 Episode 20 - Blackout
    7.8/10(47 votes)

    #7 - Blackout

    S3:E20

    The paper's long standing streak of having a daily newspaper published is threatened by a blackout.

    Director:Allen Williams
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Lou Grant Season 2 Episode 13 - Fire
    7.7/10(41 votes)

    #8 - Fire

    S2:E13

    While investigating a string of fires in the same neighborhood, Lou and Billie find a connection linking a building owner and members of a fire department to arson.

    Director:Roger Young
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Lou Grant Season 3 Episode 1 - Cop
    7.7/10(52 votes)

    #9 - Cop

    S3:E1

    Lou is the only witness to a neighborhood murder and is mystified by the way the police handle the case, thereby discovering a touchy area of crime. At the same time, a fatal fire in a gay bar poses a tough question for Lou: should the newspaper publish the names of the victims, knowing people will be hurt by the story. Lou is also puzzled to see a uniformed cop working a homicide case and sends Rossi to find out why, with disturbing results.

    Director:Roger Young
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Lou Grant Season 3 Episode 5 - Frame-Up
    7.7/10(38 votes)

    #10 - Frame-Up

    S3:E5

    No description available

    Director:Burt Brinckerhoff
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Lou Grant Season 3 Episode 19 - Lou
    7.7/10(47 votes)

    #11 - Lou

    S3:E19

    No description available

    Director:Roger Young
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Lou Grant Season 2 Episode 21 - Marathon
    7.6/10(39 votes)

    #12 - Marathon

    S2:E21

    In a news-packed day, Lou feels the pressure as he sets up coverage of a tunnel cave-in and a human fly climbing a skyscraper, knowing that a resentful Donovan has been offered a better paying job. The hard pressed Lou also has to answer questions of a Swedish tour group, cope with a familiar kook (Mr. Dreyfus) who brings news of outer space, and find an assignment for a youthful city room intern.

    Director:Alexander Singer
    Writer:Gene Reynolds

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  13. Lou Grant Season 3 Episode 17 - Inheritance
    7.6/10(40 votes)

    #13 - Inheritance

    S3:E17

    No description available

    Director:Roger Young
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Lou Grant Season 4 Episode 1 - Nightside
    7.6/10(39 votes)

    #14 - Nightside

    S4:E1

    No description available

    Director:Gene Reynolds
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Lou Grant Season 4 Episode 6 - Libel
    7.6/10(36 votes)

    #15 - Libel

    S4:E6

    No description available

    Director:Burt Brinckerhoff
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Lou Grant Season 1 Episode 4 - Henhouse
    7.5/10(65 votes)

    #16 - Henhouse

    S1:E4

    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.

    Director:Richard Crenna
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Lou Grant Season 1 Episode 9 - Judge
    7.5/10(63 votes)

    #17 - Judge

    S1:E9

    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.

    Director:Irving J. Moore
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Lou Grant Season 1 Episode 12 - Takeover
    7.5/10(56 votes)

    #18 - Takeover

    S1:E12

    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.

    Director:Gene Reynolds
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Lou Grant Season 1 Episode 14 - Airliner
    7.5/10(57 votes)

    #19 - Airliner

    S1:E14

    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.

    Director:Mel Damski
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Lou Grant Season 1 Episode 19 - Scandal
    7.5/10(50 votes)

    #20 - Scandal

    S1:E19

    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.

    Director:Mel Damski
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Lou Grant Season 2 Episode 11 - Conflict
    7.5/10(45 votes)

    #21 - Conflict

    S2:E11

    Rossi uncovers conflicts of interest on the staff, including Lou, and writes a story that sets off fireworks in the city room. Mrs. Pynchon tells Rossi to keep an eye out for mistakes in the Tribune but doesn't realize just how far he'll go until he takes on a campaign by her pet charity.

    Director:Mel Damski
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Lou Grant Season 2 Episode 15 - Scam
    7.5/10(39 votes)

    #22 - Scam

    S2:E15

    Looking for a place to invest a $15,000 windfall, Lou gets a shocking look at white collar crime when he uncovers a clever financial scheme run by a sharp con man. He learns there are shady characters only too willing to put his money in their pockets, but has trouble convincing at least one victim, Charlie Hume, of what's going on.

    Director:Gerald Mayer
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Lou Grant Season 2 Episode 22 - Bomb
    7.5/10(29 votes)

    #23 - Bomb

    S2:E22

    Could an individual build an atomic bomb? Lou gets a terrifying answer when a terrorist threatens to detonate a nuclear device and provides the Tribune with detailed plans as proof. Facing the terrorist's deadline in checking out the story, Rossi has another personal problem: he's been dating Hume's daughter and knows his boss doesn't like her to get interested in any reporter, especially Rossi.

    Director:Gene Reynolds
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Lou Grant Season 3 Episode 6 - Hype
    7.5/10(37 votes)

    #24 - Hype

    S3:E6

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Lou Grant Season 3 Episode 14 - Brushfire
    7.5/10(44 votes)

    #25 - Brushfire

    S3:E14

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Gene Reynolds

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Best Episodes Summary

"Nazi" is the best rated episode of "Lou Grant". It scored 8.4/10 based on 78 votes. Directed by Alexander Singer and written by Robert Schlitt, it aired on 10/18/1977. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "Cophouse".