Ep 3. Reckless

Lou Grant season 5 episode 3, titled "Reckless," follows the staff of the Los Angeles Tribune as they pursue a story about a reckless stunt driver. The episode opens with a high-speed chase through the streets of LA, as the driver, Johnny Blaze, weaves in and out of traffic and jumps over other cars. The police are in hot pursuit, and it's clear that this guy is endangering lives.

The Tribune's ace reporter Billie Newman is on the scene, and she manages to get some great footage of Blaze as he speeds by. She's determined to get an interview with him, but her colleagues are skeptical. They see Blaze only as a thrill-seeker who has no regard for safety, and they question whether he deserves media attention.

Meanwhile, Lou Grant, the paper's editor-in-chief, is dealing with his own problems. He's just learned that the Tribune is being sold to a conglomerate, and he's afraid that the new owners will interfere with the paper's editorial independence. He's also got personal issues to deal with, as his daughter is going through a painful divorce.

As the staff at the Tribune work on the Blaze story, they discover that there's more to him than meets the eye. He's not just a reckless driver; he's also a self-taught engineer who has designed his own car and developed innovative safety features. He's even created a special helmet that could save lives in high-speed crashes.

As Billie interviews Blaze and learns more about him, she begins to see him in a different light. She starts to feel that he's being unfairly demonized by the media, and that there's more to his story than just a guy looking for a thrill. She wants to tell his story in a way that will do justice to his achievements.

But Lou and the other editors at the Tribune are hesitant. They worry that the Blaze story is too sensational, and that it will distract readers from more important issues. They question whether it's appropriate to glorify someone who is putting lives at risk.

As the debate rages on, the Tribune's rival newspaper, the Los Angeles Express, publishes a scathing editorial that accuses the Tribune of promoting dangerous behavior. The Express argues that the Blaze story is nothing more than a cheap publicity stunt, and that the Tribune should be ashamed of itself.

The Tribune staff is thrown into turmoil by the Express's attack. They begin to doubt their own instincts, and some of them start to wonder whether they've lost touch with their readers. Billie in particular is affected by the criticism. She feels that she's let down Blaze by not telling his story properly, and she worries that the Tribune has lost its edge.

In the end, Lou Grant decides to run the Blaze story, but with a twist. Instead of just focusing on Blaze's stunts, the story will highlight his innovations and his commitment to safety. It will also examine the larger issue of risk-taking and thrill-seeking in American society.

The resulting article is a hit, and the Tribune's readers respond positively to the paper's fresh approach. The Blaze story becomes a turning point for the Tribune, as the paper rediscovers its voice and reaffirms its commitment to quality journalism.

Lou Grant season 5 episode 3 is a thought-provoking episode that explores the complex relationship between the media, risk-taking, and fame. It's a reminder that sometimes the most powerful stories are the ones that challenge our preconceptions and make us see the world in a new way.