Ep 1. Cophouse

In the first episode of the hit television series Lou Grant, titled "Cophouse," the audience is introduced to the titular character, Lou Grant, who is a hard-hitting journalist for the Los Angeles Tribune. Lou is the editor of the paper's city desk, and he is known for his tough-as-nails demeanor and unflinching commitment to getting the truth.

The episode begins with Lou overseeing the newsroom and assigning stories to the various reporters working under him. One of these reporters is Joe Rossi, a young journalist who is eager to prove himself to Lou and make a name for himself in the industry.

Lou is particularly interested in a story that has recently come to light involving a Los Angeles police officer who has been accused of assaulting a prostitute. Lou sees this story as an opportunity to expose corruption within the police department and bring attention to issues of police brutality and misconduct.

Joe is tasked with covering the story, and he begins investigating by visiting the police station where the officer in question is based. While there, he meets a group of officers who are less than thrilled to see him poking around and asking questions.

Joe is initially intimidated by the officers' aggressive behavior, but he refuses to back down and continues to pursue the story. He eventually manages to track down the prostitute who was allegedly assaulted by the officer and convinces her to speak to him on the record.

Meanwhile, Lou is dealing with his own set of issues, as tensions flare between him and the paper's publisher, Mrs. Pynchon. Mrs. Pynchon is more concerned with selling papers and pleasing advertisers than she is with journalistic integrity, and Lou frequently clashes with her over the direction of the paper.

Despite their differences, Lou and Joe continue to work on the story, determined to expose the truth and hold those in power accountable. As they dig deeper, they begin to uncover a web of corruption within the police department, revealing a shocking lack of accountability and rampant abuse of power.

By the end of the episode, Joe's reporting has caused a stir, with the LAPD launching an investigation into the officer accused of assault. Lou has also managed to convince Mrs. Pynchon to back off and allow the paper to pursue the story without interference.

Overall, "Cophouse" sets the stage for what will become a hard-hitting, thought-provoking series, tackling issues such as corruption, violence, and power in American society. The episode serves as a strong introduction to the character of Lou Grant, and establishes the show's commitment to exploring difficult topics and uncovering uncomfortable truths.