Linda Kelsey reflects on her television career, including her role as reporter Billie Newman on Lou Grant (1977–1982) and her 1976 guest appearances on M*A*S*H. Linda and I recorded an episode of Advanced TV Herstory in person, at a public library in south Minneapolis.

TV execs wondered a sitcom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, could successfully spin off a drama around Ed Asner as Lou Grant. It was a success and then some, with ample credit due to Linda Kelsey, who played Billie Newman.

Find Lou Grant (1977-82) on YouTube. Listen closely to the intro, which began with Kelsey’s voice saying, “I’m calling from the Trib.” Those were immensely powerful words to women and girls. Before you saw a string of men at their desks, you heard a woman doing the same work. As a proud reporter and editor on my junior high and high school newspapers, I was honored to remind Linda of her impact.

Tune in to our latest episode, where Linda and I discuss her work and the writers and producers on Lou Grant and MASH. She reflects on her decision to leave L.A. and return to our home state of Minnesota. She also shares insights on why she prefers performing before live audiences.

And yes, we swap redhead stories.