# Seth Freeman (Lou Grant / Brooklyn Bridge)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ian-talks-comedy-140290/seth-freeman-lou-grant-brooklyn-bridge
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ian-talks-comedy-140290/seth-freeman-lou-grant-brooklyn-bridge.md
Podcast: [Ian Talks Comedy](https://stenobird.com/podcast/ian-talks-comedy-140290)
Published: 2026-06-27T13:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ian-fermaglich/episodes/Seth-Freeman-Lou-Grant--Brooklyn-Bridge-e3kojh6
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/21d579e4/podcast/play/121441254/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-5-13%2F3006e46b-86e3-efad-9153-99c43f025ad6.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/ian-talks-comedy-140290/episodes/seth-freeman-lou-grant-brooklyn-bridge
Duration seconds: 3285

## Resource

Seth Freeman joined me to discuss going backstage on Kukla, Fran & Ollie; Hop-along Cassidy; writing for his school paper; teaching math to inner city students so they gain pride; deciding to move to LA; becoming a gofer at MTM; being mentored by Gene Reynolds, Allan Burns, and James L. Brooks; Jeff Melvoin's book on TV writing; WGA Foundation for TV writers; knowing all aspects of TV production in case you become a producer; working on the TV show Brooklyn Bridge; CBS wants to spin off Lou Grant; MTM wants to make it a drama; his episode "Hostage", "The Cop"; pitching an episode then doing the research; writing an episode about message parlor girls, prisoners of conscience and the blacklist; "Rape" came from Allan Burns and his wife's charity work; writing a spec Bob Newhart and getting both sitcoms and dramas which made him what Lou Grant producers wanted; creating Lincoln Heights, getting an MA in public health right before COVID 19; CBS thought Lou Grant would be cancelled after 13 weeks; was eventually cancelled last minute because of Ed Asner's politics

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## Transcript

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