Lou Grant Season 4 Episode 17 Business

Lou Grant season 4 episode 17 titled "Business" tells the story of corruption in the sporting world. A young, successful businesswoman named Ellen Billings arrives at the Los Angeles Tribune, eager to invest in the newspaper. While initially impressed with her professionalism, the Tribune staff soon discovers that Billings is not as clean cut as she seems.

Billings is a silent partner in a boxing promotion company that engages in illegal activities such as fight fixing and bribing sports writers. Lou Grant is hesitant to publish articles exposing Billings' involvement in these activities as he fears it will jeopardize the potential investment. However, after a whistleblower provides concrete evidence of the corruption, the Tribune staff launches an investigation and begins to unravel a disturbing web of deceit.

Throughout the episode, the characters grapple with questions around ethics and responsibility in journalism. The Tribune's editor Charlie Hume is especially conflicted; as an advocate for transparency, he feels it is his duty to blow the whistle on Billings' corruption. However, he is also aware of the damage this could inflict on the paper's financial stability.

The episode culminates in a tense meeting between Ellen Billings and the Tribune staff. Billings is unapologetic about her involvement in criminal activities, and offers a thinly-veiled bribe to the Tribune staff in exchange for their silence. In a moment of moral clarity, however, Hume and the other reporters refuse her offer and publish their findings.

As with many Lou Grant episodes, "Business" touches on themes of power and corruption in American society. The episode also provides fascinating insight into the world of sports journalism, shedding light on the often-unsavory practices that take place behind the scenes. Ultimately, it is a sobering reminder that no industry is immune to corruption - and that it's up to journalists to hold powerful figures accountable.