FOURTH SEASON - 1980-1981
REGULAR CAST:
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(Lou Grant) |
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(Joe Rossi) |
(Billie Newman) |
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(Charlie Hume) |
(Art Donovan) |
(Dennis "Animal" Price) |
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(Margaret Pynchon) |
OTHER RECURRING CAST:
Allen Williams (Adam Wilson)
Sidney Clute (National Editor)
Emilio Delgado (National Editor)
Laurence Haddon (Foreign Editor)
Peggy McCay (Marian Hume)
Guide to the author's ratings
EXTRA! Special episode
Front page, above the fold
Regular coverage
Not quite as good as it should have been
Why did they make it? (n.b. no episodes are rated one star)
EPISODE 71 - Nightside (22 September 1980)
Written by: Michele Gallery; Directed by: Gene Reynolds
SYNOPSIS: Lou takes a turn filling in on the night shift and sees an unusual side of the paper. He calls in Rossi and Billie to cover the wreck of a yacht which might have been involved in the drug trade. Animal is injured on the job.
GUEST CAST:
Richard Erdman (Hal Hennecker)
David Paymer (Roy)
Millie Slavin (Corinne)
Alexandra Johnson (Kim)
Charles Bloom (Scotty)
Robert Rockwell (Monty)
John Furey (Geoffrey McAdams)
Allen Williams (Adam Wilson)
Ross Elliott (Russ Menefee)
AUTHOR'S REVIEW: A lighter episode than most showing a different side of the Tribune.
EPISODE 72 - Harassment (29 September 1980)
Written by: April Smith; Directed by: Roger Young
SYNOPSIS: Billie persuades Lou to let her do a story on sexual harassment at a big company, but Lou is surprised at the company she chooses to expose. Lou dates one of his reporters.
GUEST CAST:
David Spielberg (Lloyd Bracken)
Lynn Carlin (Catherine Marks)
Marilyn Jones (Karen)
Michael Talbot (Warren)
Candy Ann Brown (Yvette)
Brenda Hillhouse (Lorraine)
Joe Medalis (Novick)
Louise Vallance (Julie)
Natalija Nogulich (Pat)
Allen Williams (Adam Wilson)
Barbara Jane Edelman (Sandra)
Paul Braden (Mike Palati)
Cassandra Foster (Heidi)
AUTHOR'S REVIEW: A thought-provoking episode, one of the first to deal seriously with this topic. Another plot line about Lou's love life goes nowhere.
EPISODE 73 - Pack (27 October 1980)
Written by: Steve Kline; Directed by: Burt Brinckerhoff
SYNOPSIS: Billie becomes one of "the boys on the bus" following a senate candidate and has trouble dealing with the pack mentality of the other journalists.
GUEST CAST:
Eileen Heckart (Flo Meredith)
Ed Nelson (Jim Carlisle)
John Hillerman (Sturbridge)
James Callahan (Stephens)
Ivor Francis (Haywood)
Joe Regalbuto (Benson)
Jorge Cervera Jr. (Sheriff)
Buck Young (Mayor)
Allen Williams (Adam Wilson)
Emilio Delgado (National Editor)
Michael Irving (Jayson)
Jay Tarses (Peters)
Michael Kagan (Manny)
AUTHOR'S REVIEW: This is the only episode with a carryover from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Heckart played Mary's aunt Flo Meredith on an episode of that series.
EPISODE 74 - Sting (17 November 1980)
Written by: Patt Shea & Harriet Weiss; Directed by: Peter Levin
SYNOPSIS: Charlie and Marian rent their house out in order to give urban apartment dwelling a try; Charlie's initial surprise at the renter's unorthodox uses of the house leads to complete bafflement when the Tribune begins an investigation.
GUEST CAST:
Larry Linville (Thatcher)
John Considine (Garvey)
Peggy McCay (Marian Hume)
Michael Alldredge (Lieutenant McPhee)
Cliff Norton (Herb Bronner)
Mo Malone (Miss Wiles)
Jacquelyn Hyde (Mrs. Lacy)
Judie Carroll (Girl)
Allen Williams (Adam Wilson)
Mary Patton (Docent)
Billy Beck (Photo Editor)
AUTHOR'S REVIEW: One of the five best episodes and the best one of this season.
EPISODE 75 - Goop (24 November 1980)
Written by: Seth Freeman; Directed by: Alexander Singer
SYNOPSIS: When Rossi and Billie get nowhere on their investigation of illegal dumping by a chemical company, the editors reluctantly agree that the way to get the story is for Billie to go undercover as an employee of the company.
GUEST CAST:
Dominique Dunne (Teri Wilk)
Alex Henteloff (Marvin Galosh)
Parley Baer (Haggerty)
Jordan Rhodes (Lester Fields)
Med Flory (Doug Traynor)
Vernon Weddle (Ragsdale)
Terry McGovern (Larry Rigert)
Allen Williams (Adam Wilson)
Rick Fitts (Patrolman)
AUTHOR'S REVIEW:
EPISODE 76 - Libel (8 December 1980)
Written by: William Hopkins; Directed by: Burt Brinckerhoff
SYNOPSIS: The Tribune is sued for libel after doing a story on a supermarket tabloid, whose lawyers are prepared to exploit myriad angles to embarrass the Trib and its staff.
GUEST CAST:
Robin Gammell (Howard Gunther)
Alan Oppenheimer (George Lester)
Marie Windsor (Janet Hart)
Bernard Fox (Clive Whitcomb)
Dean Santoro (Marvin Hartley)
Logan Ramsey (Ted Hollister)
James Van Patten (Daniels)
Irena Ferris (Monica Daniels)
Allen Williams (Adam Wilson)
Joseph Whipp (Belson)
Vincent ? (? Can't read)
Michael Irving (Jayson)
Emilio Delgado (National Editor)
Bobs Watson (Foreign Editor)
AUTHOR'S REVIEW:
EPISODE 77 - Streets (15 December 1980)
Written by: Bud Freeman; Directed by: Donald A. Baer
SYNOPSIS: Rossi irritates a black reporter when they are both assigned to cover a murder in the ghetto. The Trib unveils a new section designed to increase the paper's appeal.
GUEST CAST:
Carl Franklin (Milt)
Lawrence Cook (Lieutenant Hughes)
Larry B. Scott (Oscar)
Mark James (Eddie)
Beverly Todd (Gloria)
Veronica Redd (Mary)
Ruth Silveira (Mrs. Stuart (?))
Esther Sutherland (Etta)
Steven Gagnon (Officer Collins)
Adrian Ricard (?) (Yvonne)
Davis Roberts (Arthur)
Allen Williams (Adam Wilson)
Doug Garrett (?) (Kenny (?))
Milt Tarver (Margrove (?))
Norman Alexander Gibbs (Garrett)
Al Fann (Mr. Jordan (?))
Stanley Grover (Officer Stuart)
DeB ___ (?) (Tall Girl)
AUTHOR'S REVIEW:
EPISODE 78 - Catch (5 January 1981)
Written by: Michele Gallery; Directed by: Roger Young
SYNOPSIS: Billie's investigation of a financial scandal leads her to meet baseball player Ted McCovey, and she soon grows very close to him. The Tribune experiences a series of computer troubles.
GUEST CAST:
Cliff Potts (Ted McCovey)
Jordan Charney (Karl Buckner)
Robert Hirschfeld (Vern Eggly)
Eve McVeagh (Claire)
Erin Donovan (Laurel)
Allen Williams (Adam Wilson)
David Wiley (Merchant)
Jason Reed (?) (Terry)
Eden ____ (?) (?)
AUTHOR'S REVIEW:
EPISODE 79 - Rape (12 January 1981)
Written by: Seth Freeman; Directed by: Seth Freeman
SYNOPSIS: The Tribune staff has to confront its feelings about rape when a reporter is robbed and raped in her own home.
GUEST CAST:
Lynne Moody (Sharon McNeil)
Jonathan Banks (Intruder)
Linda Carlson (Carol)
Macon McCalman (Kibbee)
Maggie Gwinn (?)
Julia Duffy (Charlene)
Kurtwood Smith (DeGaetano)
Allen Williams (Adam Wilson)
Ron Recasner (Wells)
Carrie Freeman (Secretary)
AUTHOR'S REVIEW:
EPISODE 80 - Boomerang (19 January 1981)
Written by: Steve Kline; Directed by: Alexander Singer
SYNOPSIS: Lou is miffed when Rossi and Billie, hot on the trail of a story on the export of goods illegal in the U.S., ignore his advice on how to cover the story and instead defer to a visiting star reporter.
GUEST CAST:
Michael Constantine (Sidney Kovac)
Roger Newman (Hollingsworth)
Drew Snyder (Kirkwood)
Booth Colman ()
Charles Parks (Loggins)
Emilio Delgado (Castillo)
Laurence Haddon (McGrath)
Barbara Beckley (Dr. Pratt)
Timothy Stack (Mayberry)
Allen Williams (Adam Wilson)
Meshach Taylor (Kin ___ (?))
Fran Bennett (Sarah)
Jacqueline Davis (Naomi)
AUTHOR'S REVIEW:
EPISODE 81 - Generations (26 January 1981)
Written by: Johnny Dawkins; Directed by: Harvey Laidman
SYNOPSIS: Charlie and Marian have trouble dealing with Charlie's father after he moves in with them; Lou tries to help an elderly neighbor spooked by teenage bullies.
GUEST CAST:
Charles Lane (Rupert Hume)
Arthur Space (Harvey)
Peggy McCay (Marian Hume)
Whitman Mayo (Fred Jenkins)
Shirley Jo Finney (Donna)
Ken Sansom (Mr. Nelson)
Matthew Broderick (Mike)
David Baron (Tony)
Brad Savage (Danny)
Tony Perez (Torrez)
Jesse Ehrlich (Al)
Ruth Warshawsky (Ethel)
Allen Williams (Adam Wilson)
Virginia Bingham (Waitress)
AUTHOR'S REVIEW:
ERROR! In episode 41, "Home," Charlie stated that his father had died at age 86.
EPISODE 82 - Search (9 February 1981)
Written by: Everett Greenbaum & Elliott Reid; Directed by: Allen Williams
SYNOPSIS: Rossi helps an adopted Trib photographer embark on a search to find her birth parents. Corrine writes a review of Lou's favorite restaurant that makes it harder for him to enjoy the place.
GUEST CAST:
Alley Mills (Lisa Carruthers)
Millie Slavin (Corinne)
Antony Ponzini (Mario)
Katharine Manney (?) (?)
Carolyn Coates (Margaret)
Robert Cooper (?)
Julianna McCarthy (Augusta)
Jane Atkins (Suzanna)
James R. Winker (?)
Lilyan Chauvin (?)
Curt James (?)
AUTHOR'S REVIEW:
EPISODE 83 - Strike (16 February 1981)
Written by: April Smith; Directed by: Gene Reynolds
SYNOPSIS: The editorial staff is bound to honor a strike by one of the paper's blue-collar unions, leading to ugly confrontations with Mrs. Pynchon and the editors.
GUEST CAST:
Tom Atkins (Jim Bronsky)
Bruce Kirby (Gus Murray)
Ray Wise (Bart Franklin)
Nancy Malone (Ivy Norris)
Phillip Pine (George MacManus)
John Petlock (Ned Rice)
Ray Oliver (Wayne Burroughs)
Allen Williams (Adam Wilson)
Sidney Clute (National Editor)
Ivan Bonar (Foreign Editor)
Arthur Batanides (Driver)
AUTHOR'S REVIEW:
EPISODE 84 - Survival (23 February 1981)
Written by: April Smith; Directed by: Burt Brinckerhoff
SYNOPSIS: Rossi's investigation of survivalists leads to him and Lou getting stranded in the forest during a violent rainstorm.
GUEST CAST:
Keene Curtis (Wild Bill)
Ed Harris (Ralph Cooper)
Doreen Lang (Henrietta)
Ray Oliver (Wayne Burroughs)
Barbara Jane Edelman (Linda)
Buck Young (Morton Leonard)
Eric Server (Dave Montemarano)
Allen Williams (Adam Wilson)
Ted Moore (Whitney)
Marc Bentley (Jesse)
Kristi Jill Wood (Tracy)
Lance Guest (Mark)
AUTHOR'S REVIEW:
EPISODE 85 - Venice (9 March 1981)
Written by: Patt Shea & Harriet Weiss; Directed by: Paul Stanley
SYNOPSIS: Animal tries to understand the suicide of a young woman at Venice Beach. Someone tries to extort money from the Trib by threatening to publish the newsroom salary list.
GUEST CAST:
James Callahan (John Becker)
Frank Aletter (David Ellison)
Claire Malis (Helen)
Elizabeth Halliday (Carol Bishop)
Colby Chester (Jim Bishop)
Trinidad Silva ()
Terry McGovern (Frank Harris)
Gertrude Flynn (Lady)
Rochelle Robertson (Leslie)
Charles Bracy (Leon)
AUTHOR'S REVIEW: This is the only episode where no news was covered; the episode dealt exclusively with non-editorial matters.
EPISODE 86 - Campesinos (16 March 1981)
Written by: Michael Vittes; Directed by: Peter Levin
SYNOPSIS: Rossi covers a migrant workers' strike in California's Central Valley.
GUEST CAST:
James Victor (Tommy Hernandez)
Bill Lucking (Paul Geyer)
Jeff Corey (Hugh Holstrom)
Pepe Serna (Frank Garcia)
Emilio Delgado (Castillo)
Robert Rothwell (Deputy)
Ted Gehring (Fisher)
Buck Kartalian (Red ___ (?))
Allen Williams (Adam Wilson)
Abel Fernandez (Prisoner)
Chuy Franco (Rodriguez)
Yolanda Marquez (Patricia)
Stacy MacGregor (Jailer)
AUTHOR'S REVIEW:
EPISODE 87 - Business (23 March 1981)
Written by: Steve Kline; Directed by: Alan Cooke
SYNOPSIS: The Tribune investigates a company whose less than straightforwardness leads to a negative spiral in the media and with investors.
GUEST CAST:
Edward Winter (Russell Davidson)
David Spielberg (Rick Havens)
Philip Abbott (Lester Sorenson)
Richard Erdman (Hal Hennecker)
Kenneth Tigar (Gary Hall)
Paul Kent (Glen Maris)
David Bowman (Kirkland)
Austin Stoker (Lt. Richardson)
Patricia Donahue (Maxine Harris)
Ken Hill (Andy)
Allen Williams (Adam Wilson)
Charles Bracy (Leon)
AUTHOR'S REVIEW:
EPISODE 88 - Violence (6 April 1981)
Written by: Johnny Dawkins; Directed by: Georg Stanford Brown
SYNOPSIS: Rossi and Billie cover a brutal football player and the man he crippled; Lou and the film critic disagree over the usefulness of violence in film.
GUEST CAST:
Fred Williamson (Crusher Carter)
Fred Dryer (Mike Hauser)
Fay Hauser (Jacquie Templeton)
Michael Fairman ()
John Crawford ()
Tyne Daly (Melissa Cummings)
Jim Boeke (Phil Oeslewski)
Chick Hearn (Clarence Harvey)
Frederick Claasen (Reporter #1)
Gregg Berger (Reporter #2)
Tody Smith (Truck Gibbs)
Allen Williams (Adam Wilson)
Scott McGinnis (Jerome Durham)
Dexter Hamlett (Buford Curry)
Dwayne McGee (Spike)
Liz Keifer (Wendy)
AUTHOR'S REVIEW:
EPISODE 89 - Depression (13 April 1981)
Written by: Gene Reynolds; Directed by: Peter Levin
SYNOPSIS: Lou tries to lend a helping hand when Tribune reporter George Driscoll attempts suicide. Charlie is upset that Mrs. Pynchon is considering appointing a new level of bureaucracy above him.
GUEST CAST:
Peter Hobbs (George Driscoll)
James Sloyan (Hank Dougherty)
Priscilla Pointer (Elizabeth Driscoll)
Sands Hall (Amanda Driscoll)
Jonathan Estrin (Dr. Schulman)
Bart Burns (Forbes)
Ivan Bonar (Ted Schlosser)
Allen Williams (Adam Wilson)
Emilio Delgado (National Editor)
William Bryant (Sgt. Turner)
Aileen Fitzpatrick (Nurse)
AUTHOR'S REVIEW:
EPISODE 90 - Stroke (4 May 1981)
Written by: April Smith; Directed by: Roger Young
SYNOPSIS: Mrs. Pynchon suffers a debilitating stroke which leads her nephews to attempt to take control of the paper. Meanwhile, Billie covers the path of a local college woman who poses nude for a national men's magazine.
GUEST CAST:
Paul Sparer (Dr. Walter Goren)
Alan Fudge (Fred Hill)
Phillip R. Allen (Marvin Hartley)
Jim Antonio (Professor Williams)
Harris Kal (Rick Henshaw)
Susan McClung (Judy Crane)
Victoria Lynn Johnson (Dana Ingman)
Pat Finley (Lilly)
Allen Williams (Adam Wilson)
Emilio Delgado (National Editor)
Stanley Kamel (Dr. Weyland)
AUTHOR'S REVIEW:
ERROR! Although the photo shoot is supposed to be taking place on a Sunday, the scenes are cut in with scenes at the Tribune on what is obviously a business day.
Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database.