This episode is what makes Lou Grant a truly exemplary television drama (from any era). It also makes routine, mediocre TV shows look even worse than they are, because the bar is set so high with an episode like this. Again, story editor April Smith writes a top script, and it features some very thorough research about what happens when a strike occurs, especially one involving a large city newspaper. The strike of the real-life Washington Post is referenced in this episode and I'm sure Ms. Smith used that event as one of the main inspirations here. What gets me, is that many years later, strikes like this still occur.
In Hollywood, the writers guild has gone through similar ordeals, complete with scab writers and negotiations where the major studios are careful not to give the store away to the unions (most recently involving royalties on home video and streaming). It should be noted that SAG (the screen actors guild) has had several strikes, too, and that Ed Asner was the president of SAG during production of this series.
I think it's significant that as Lou, Ed does walk the picket line toward the end of this episode. But what's really great is that April Smith shows the more human side of this situation, that neither side is a true villain, and that eventually there has to be a compromise on the numbers. I liked the scene where Lou tells Rossi to leave, when Rossi's temper flares and he purges the story he's working on as the strike begins. And I thought the part where Billie gets injured was very realistically staged. Also worth noting are the historical aspects of this story, in terms of where print media was and how technology was evolving. There are several scenes where we see how news layouts are being done and how the process is being modernized.
In Hollywood, the writers guild has gone through similar ordeals, complete with scab writers and negotiations where the major studios are careful not to give the store away to the unions (most recently involving royalties on home video and streaming). It should be noted that SAG (the screen actors guild) has had several strikes, too, and that Ed Asner was the president of SAG during production of this series.
I think it's significant that as Lou, Ed does walk the picket line toward the end of this episode. But what's really great is that April Smith shows the more human side of this situation, that neither side is a true villain, and that eventually there has to be a compromise on the numbers. I liked the scene where Lou tells Rossi to leave, when Rossi's temper flares and he purges the story he's working on as the strike begins. And I thought the part where Billie gets injured was very realistically staged. Also worth noting are the historical aspects of this story, in terms of where print media was and how technology was evolving. There are several scenes where we see how news layouts are being done and how the process is being modernized.