Ep 5. Murder

Lou Grant season 2 episode 5, titled "Murder," opens with the murder of a young woman. The crime is graphic and brutal, and the Los Angeles Tribune newspaper is quick to cover the story.

Lou Grant, played by Ed Asner, is the editor-in-chief of the fictional Los Angeles Tribune. He's also the titular character of the show, which is a spin-off of the hugely popular Mary Tyler Moore Show.

In this episode, Lou and his staff are tasked with covering the murder story. As they start digging into the case, they uncover a web of connections that extend beyond the victim, who was a struggling actress.

The investigation leads the team to a local theater company and the director, who was romantically involved with the victim. As the police investigate, the Tribune team keeps digging, hoping to uncover more information that the police may have missed.

One of the challenges they face is the reluctance of the theater company members to talk openly with the press. They fear that any negative publicity will ruin their reputation and hurt ticket sales.

As they continue to investigate, the Tribune team starts to piece together a clearer picture of what happened. They begin to uncover a motive for the murder and figure out who had the most to gain.

As they continue to pursue the story, however, they are faced with challenges from various sources. Some of their sources dry up, and others become hostile when they feel like the Tribune is getting too close to the truth.

Meanwhile, Lou is also dealing with a personal crisis. His ex-wife, who he's still in love with, has just been diagnosed with cancer. This adds an additional layer of stress to his already busy life.

Throughout the episode, the tension builds as the Tribune team get closer and closer to the truth. Lou and his staff's dedication to uncovering the story and giving the victim justice is testament to the quality of journalism, even in the face of extreme adversity.

As with many episodes of Lou Grant, "Murder" addresses important social issues. In this case, it's the treatment of women in the entertainment industry. The victim was an aspiring actress who was taken advantage of and ultimately killed. The show handles these themes with a level of sensitivity that was ahead of its time.

Overall, Lou Grant season 2 episode 5 is a tense and powerful episode that showcases the best of journalism in the face of adversity. The show is still relevant today, and its portrayal of the media as an important force for justice remains as important now as it was when the show first aired in the 1970s.