Whiz Kids

Lew Farley (Max Gail) is the reporter for the fictional newspaper the LA Gazette (Although on the first episode the reporter is named Gallagher and he is played by another actor). Many of his stories are exposes of crime and corruption. He is well connected and seems to know everyone from gangsters to beat cops to a mysterious patriarch. He has a cantankerous but mutually beneficial relationship with Lieutenant Quinn (A Martinez) who is head of the detective unit, and also married to Farley's sister.
Farley was a vietnam-era anti-war protestor who was jailed and beaten on occasion during marches. He was inspired to journalism by a woman whose death he investigates in "The Wrong Mr Right". Farley is somewhat technologically capable (carrying around one of the first laptops ever sold, a Gavilan), but he relies on Richie for complicated technical help. He is also somewhat of a mentor to the four kids, warning them off danger and helping them when they get in over their heads with criminal elements or with the government. He is often the first person they call when they are trouble, and Richie's mother leans on him as well.