Ted may have outsmarted Lou when he convinces him to strike the clause from his contract which forbids him from doing outside work; things like movies and Broadway. And cheesy commercials.
With Lou in the hospital, Mary and Murray are at odds in the newsroom; meanwhile, Ted's thoughtful behavior has Lou reconsidering his opinion of the buffoonish anchorman.
Lou buys a friendly little bar, a lifelong dream. He comes to realize, though, that he might not have the right personality to be a friendly little-bar owner.
Murray falls into a major funk when an old schoolmate of his wins the Pulitzer Prize. His workmates, even Ted, try to make him appreciate the life he has.