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We wanted to be Billie Newman: WriteLane podcast

Lane DeGregory and Maria Carrillo talk about early inspiration from Lou Grant’s newsroom.
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By Lane DeGregory
Published Dec. 4, 2019
Updated Dec. 17, 2019

Back in the late 1970s, one of the most popular shows on TV was Lou Grant, who ran a fictional Los Angeles newspaper. My editor, Maria Carrillo, and I both longed to be bad-ass female reporters -- just like the only woman in that newsroom. Recently, we watched a few episodes with young female reporters from our newsroom -- who had never heard of our idol. (“Who knew there was a time when suitcases didn’t have wheels?”)

A new episode of WriteLane is available each Wednesday morning on the Tampa Bay Times’ website and a variety of places, including iTunes. Go here to listen and subscribe for free on the Podcasts app and iTunes. If you like the show, be sure to leave us a review.

Watch an early Lou Grant episode here: Season 1, episode 4

Listen to the podcast below:

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