Ep 22. Lou's Second Date

Lou Grant, the irritable but lovable news director at WJM-TV, has finally landed a date with the beautiful and sophisticated Susan Elliot. At the beginning of the episode, Lou can hardly contain his excitement, walking around the newsroom and bragging to everyone about his big date. However, it becomes clear that Lou is also quite nervous about the prospect of impressing Susan.

Meanwhile, the rest of the WJM news team is trying to solve a mystery surrounding a set of keys that keep going missing from the newsroom. No one can figure out who is taking them or why, but the situation becomes more urgent when the station's main security officer threatens to shut down WJM's entire broadcast if the keys aren't recovered.

As the day wears on, Lou's excitement about the date turns to anxiety as he realizes he has no idea what to wear or where to take Susan. He even turns to Mary Richards, his trusted producer and friend, for advice. When Mary suggests a fancy restaurant, Lou balks at the high prices and decides to take Susan to a local diner instead. Mary is skeptical of this plan, but Lou is determined to show Susan that he's not just a stuffy old newsman.

As the date looms closer, Lou becomes more and more nervous. He forgets his wallet at the office and has to scramble back to retrieve it before Susan arrives. When he finally meets her, he's all thumbs and stumbles over his words. Susan seems to be amused by Lou's awkwardness, but it's clear that he's not making the best impression.

Meanwhile, the mystery of the missing keys comes to a head when Ted Baxter, the vain and clueless WJM news anchor, accidentally locks himself in the control room with the keys. The entire news team has to work together to get Ted out and recover the keys before the security officer follows through on his threat.

As the evening wears on, Lou and Susan's date doesn't seem to be going very well. Lou is too nervous to eat or drink anything, and Susan seems unimpressed with the diner's food and ambiance. However, just as things are starting to get uncomfortable, Lou has a stroke of inspiration and takes Susan out for a ride on his motorcycle. The wind in their hair and the thrill of the open road seem to break the ice between them, and Lou is finally able to relax and be himself.

Back at the office, the news team finally recovers the missing keys, but not before they've caused chaos and hilarity all over the station. When Lou and Susan return from their date, they find the newsroom in disarray and Ted Baxter locked in the control room with a very full bladder.

In the end, Lou's date with Susan turns out to be a success. They may not have had a high-class meal or seen a fancy show, but they both enjoyed the simple pleasures of good company and the great outdoors. And despite Ted's mishap with the keys, the WJM news team is able to pull together and save the broadcast. It's just another day in the life of WJM-TV and the hilarious, heartwarming world of The Mary Tyler Moore Show.