’Lou Grant’ fooled the viewers

Press, 15 March 1978, Page 15

’Lou Grant’ fooled the viewers

When “Lou Grant” made its debut on TVI recently, many viewers expected a comedy, along the lines of Edward Asner’s earlier success in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” But “Lou Grant” is intended by the producers to be “a drama with comedy overtones” — an intention that escaped American audiences, and resulted in low ratings initially, and a “lightening” of subsequent episodes by the writers. Asnei has played dramatic roles as often” as comedy ones, and in addition to his three Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Lou Grant he has an Emmy, won for his role in the television drama, “Rich Man, Poor Man.” He was the only indis vidual double-award winner in the Television Critics Circle awards, receiving one for his supporting performance in “Roots,” and another for achievement in comedy on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” Mason Adams, who plays Charlie Hume in “Lou Grant,” is a former radio actor who starred for nearly 20 years in a ■ serial, "Pepper Young’s Family.”

Nancy Marchand is a stage actress who has played at Lincoln Centre and the Circle in the Square in New York, and at the Los Angeles Music Centre. She has numerous television credits. Joe Rossi, the cynical reporter, is played by Robert Walden, who appeared in the award-win-ning film, “All the President’s Men." Caria Mardigian, a young reporter, is played by Rebecca Balding, who has appeared in television series such as “Starsky and Hutch,” “The Bionic Woman,” and “The Tony Randal] Show.” In her first feat’re film, “The Gathering,” soon to be released, she plays Asner’s married daughter. Jack Bannon plays Donovan, the assistant city desk editor. Bannon is active in the North Hollywood Playhouse and Theatre East, and his television credits include “Kojak” and “The Six Million Dollar Man.”