Lou Grant works at WJM-TV Minneapolis - St. Paul Minnesota DMA in various executive positions. He is in charge of news at WJM which includes a "Six O'Clock" evening programme, and an Affairs program on Sunday.
He is outwardly an unaffectionate person, and enjoys tobacco, liquor, and unhealthy foods. He went through a divorce during the show. A turning point in the character development was season 4 episode Lou's First Date, which he is seen writing an assignment on the dry erase marker whiteboard to avoid discussion. He was uncomfortable hiring Mary Richards because she is a woman, and because she was completely inexperienced for a job in middle management. Both of them argued with each other because at times Mary made serious mistakes while other times Mary demanded respect. They later developed a friendship. Another expression of frustration is with Ted, who is incompetent to be a news anchor.
Lou Grant later got a job as a newspaper editor and appeared in a unique drama called Lou Grant following Mary Tyler Moore.