Lou Grant Lou Grant Louis Grant is a fictional character played by Edward Asner in two television series produced by MTM Enterprises for CBS. The first was "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (1970–1977), a half-hour light-hearted situation comedy in which the character was the news director at fictional television station WJM-TV. A spinoff series, entitled "Lou Grant" (1977–1982), was an hour-long serious dramatic series which frequently engaged in social commentary, featuring the character as city editor of the fictional "Los Angeles Tribune". Although spin-offs are common on American television, Lou Grant remains one of a very few characters (played by the same
Rebecca Balding Rebecca Balding Rebecca Balding (born September 21, 1955) is an American actress who is probably best known for her appearances on "Soap" and "Charmed". Balding was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. She attended the University of Kansas. She had the role of Carol David, mother of Jodie Dallas' child, on "Soap", appearing in 19 episodes from 1978 through 1980. Balding played Corky Crandall in 1979 in the sitcom "Makin' It", as well as the original female reporter Carla Mardigian during the first three episodes of the inaugural 1977 season of the drama series "Lou Grant", starring Ed Asner, before that