Starz cancels Kelsey Grammer's 'Boss'
Drama about the mayor of Chicago won't continue past season 2
Starz has canceled "Boss," starring Kelsey Grammer.
"Boss" is out of a job.
Starz announced today that it would not be ordering a third season of the drama starring Kelsey Grammer as the corrupt, ailing mayor of Chicago.
In a statement the pay cable channel said, "After much deliberation, we have made the difficult decision to not proceed with 'Boss.' We remain proud of this award-winning show, its exceptional cast and writers, and are grateful to Kelsey Grammer, Farhad Safinia and our partners at Lionsgate TV."
"Boss" was the first major new project of the Chris Albrecht era at Starz, and the hope was that it would put the channel into the Emmy discussion along with AMC, Showtime and Albrecht's old home at HBO. But even perennial Emmy favorite Grammer couldn't get nominated after the first season, despite a mesmerizing dramatic performance that may have stunned many "Frasier" fans. And the ratings were so bad that we may not have gotten a second season if Albrecht hadn't chosen to order one before the first even debuted.
I liked Grammer's performance a lot, but as I wrote at the start of this second and final season, I found "Boss" a show that was easier to admire than enjoy. And though I meant to finish out the second season (I only saw the first four episodes of it), the screeners kept piling up and I kept putting other things on ahead of it.
I'd like to see Grammer get another dramatic showcase like this, and I'm happy whenever a network tries to play the same game as HBO, but I'll ultimately miss the idea of "Boss" more than the show itself.
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November 20, 2012 at 2:34PM EST Reply to CommentYeah, this show kinda started to suck, huh? I'm sure if I payed it more thorough attention I could have more easily followed it, but it strove to be the Wire, yet fell short of compelling plot threads.
ADD
November 20, 2012 at 2:35PM EST Reply to CommentLoved the first season, but felt like the show lost the plot early on this season and I lost interest after the first couple of episodes. I'm with you on missing the idea of the show more than the show itself. I'd rather get more Chicago Code than more Boss.
zarf21 Totally agree with you on season one--unfortunately, I only barely made it through the first show of this second season before calling it quits here.
November 20, 2012 at 5:47PM ESTsangs
November 20, 2012 at 2:42PM EST Reply to CommentI enjoyed it, but as with many shows, the subplot about the kid - his daughter - is what turned me off week-after-week. I watched it from the beginning, but found myself FFWDing through any of the daughter scenes.
Jesse
November 20, 2012 at 2:53PM EST Reply to CommentI liked the show but LOVED Grammar's performance. He was amazing as Chicago's biggest bastard.
GarySF
November 20, 2012 at 2:56PM EST Reply to CommentThis is a real shame. I found Boss to be one of the most consistently entertaining cable series, for what it aspired to be. Grammer's performance was absolutely riveting. Having never really watch Frasier or much of Cheers, I don't think I could ever buy him in a comedic role after this. And the actress who played Kitty was one of the most smoking hot babes on TV.
Yes, you had to pay some attention, but the show rewarded those who did. It never aspired to greatness, just some over-the-top political chicanery mixed with some soap elements. This was contemporary political corruption portrayed to the nth degree -- Mayor Kane wouldn't have gotten away with half of this stuff in the real world -- but it was all highly entertaining watching him paint himself into corners then emerge victorious, like the protagonists of any Shawn Ryan series. (Kane was no better than an elected-official version of Vic Mackey.)
And it's disappointing that Kane, after all the horrible things he did (his own wife was nearly killed by an "assassin" he hired to miss), won't get any comeuppance. Would love to see this picked up by another station, DirectTV or somebody.
David Sanders Well said. Good point on the Kane - Vic Mackey comparison.
November 21, 2012 at 1:10AM ESTReese I'm not sure why others missed how awesome this show was, but I for one will miss Boss. Friday night was good again to watch TV. I hope it gets picked up by another network.
November 22, 2012 at 4:53AM ESTRoark
November 20, 2012 at 3:20PM EST Reply to CommentToo bad. BOSS was always entertaining, even if it never quite seemed to resolve what show it wanted to be - a tough, clear eyed This Is the Way the World Is series like The Wire, or a cartoonish melodrama. It usually tried to be both simulateneously and it never really quite worked as a result. I do hope Grammar can land another juicy dramatic role soon, though - he did pretty remarkable work.
nsk
November 20, 2012 at 3:37PM EST Reply to CommentI recommend you Alan to stick with it to the end. I wasn't crazy with the first season and my opinion was similar to yours and I actually checked out after 4 episodes in season 2 because I didn't sense improvements. But I thought it'll get axed so I fastforwarded through next 4 episodes and didn't think anything changed. Then the last two episodes were really good and I think the show found the vibe. Especially the finale was greatly atmospheric. By the end of the season they managed to turn the bad stuff into not annoying territory so it didn't bother you. You might aswell watch next for episodes on FF.
joe
November 20, 2012 at 4:14PM EST Reply to CommentMan, I really liked this show but it got 0% support. I always wondered why exactly and what the main criticism of it was? Was it just because it was over the top and it's hard to root for a character like Kelsey Grammar? I'm sincerely asking because there are a lot of terrible shows that are even more over the top and have lame plots and yet they're either monster hits and get more attention than Boss. In fact, this is the most attention I've ever seen this show got.
BlackStar What disappointing news. I really enjoyed this show, especially season 2.
November 20, 2012 at 4:44PM ESTPHDinCT
November 20, 2012 at 5:17PM EST Reply to CommentWhile I agree with your premise that "BOSS" was essentially distant & removed from the vewer's emotionally, I remained fascinated by the characters' psyche and the depth to their individual selfishness & depravity. I didn't have to "enjoy" BOSS to be entertained, informed, mesmerized by the plot, the performances and the people. STARZ showed "real" Chicago politicians and "real" evil in all its warts and sadness. I will miss BOSS tremendously and Kelsey Grammer's Tom Kane immensly, and STARZ will miss me, (and I'm sure MANY other viewers) financially.
Adelep
November 20, 2012 at 5:52PM EST Reply to CommentI saw on another site that Starz is considering a final two-hour movie to tie up Boss' loose ends. I hope they do that; Grammer's performance is pretty mesmerizing, but I coudln't see that Boss could go beyond Season 3 -- the mayor's debilitating disease set a time limit on the series.
I found Boss somewhat irritating until I decided to just embrace the moral ambiguity and the Shakespearean aspect; then I could just enjoy the ride. And since I live in Chicago, I enjoyed seeing so many fine Chicago actors and the spectacular cinematography.
GarySF I so hope your information is correct. If pressed, I think they could actually wrap things up in a satisfactory way in 2 hours. That's what good writers do.
November 21, 2012 at 11:33AM ESTReese I most certainly hope your info is correct. I was left hanging and I need closure!
November 22, 2012 at 4:57AM ESTJohn
November 20, 2012 at 6:09PM EST Reply to CommentI liked most of the first season, but there was something that happened at the very end that was just absurd. And unfortunately, the show further devolved into absurdity throughout the second season. I'll miss it, but I won't *miss* it. Grammer's performance was really good, as he was playing the least likable protagonist on any show (Tom Kane made Walter White look like Coach Taylor).
joel I actually think they went too far with Tom Kane. Grammer's performance was great, but the character as written is pure villain. Since the Sopranos, television in general has slowly been pushing the anti-hero protagonist further and further to the edge of likeability. It works with Walter White because we've watched his progression from being sympathetic to antagonistic to villainy, but Kane started out as Breaking Bad season 5 Walter White. He's just impossible to sympathize with, and he has crushed any character that becomes the audience surrogate.
November 20, 2012 at 6:26PM ESTJohn Completely agree on all counts.
November 21, 2012 at 5:44PM ESTBigAl6ft6
November 20, 2012 at 7:27PM EST Reply to CommentDrat. Ended on a perfectly menacing note.
Captain Nikko
November 20, 2012 at 8:10PM EST Reply to CommentIncredibly disappointing news. I caught a random season 2 episode and was immediately hooked and went back and caught up. The last half of the second season was appointment television for me. Hopefully we get a movie to tie things up.
Ed
November 20, 2012 at 8:37PM EST Reply to CommentEven with a few award wins (Kelsey Grammer's Golden Globe), they still canceled the series.
Maybe AMC could pick it up for a 10 episode run to fill the schedule after Breaking Bad exits since it doesn't look like Hell on Wheels will be getting back to work any time soon.
Schmye Bubbula
November 20, 2012 at 10:42PM EST Reply to CommentI loved, loved, LOVED Boss, including the only slightly less-satisfying second season. And I found the Kane daughter story fine — at least better than the Brody daughter story in Homeland. While Homeland of course is the superior show, it doesn't keep me constantly on the edge of my seat like Boss!
GarySF Loved this show too, Schmye, even the daughter's storyline. I'm friends with the mother of Rotimi (Darius), so even though I haven't met him I hope he lands another plum role. But I'm also disappointed that Kane never found out that his aide is actually his son.
November 21, 2012 at 11:37AM ESTDavid Sanders
November 21, 2012 at 1:08AM EST Reply to CommentHighly entertaining show. Sorry to see it go.
I don't care if Kane was unlikeable. That helped make the show compelling. This is cancelled while so much dreck remains. What a world we live in.
GarySF I second that. There's so much garbage on TV, and a compelling, take-risk show like Boss gets cancelled. That sucks.
November 21, 2012 at 11:37AM ESTMulderism
November 21, 2012 at 9:10PM EST Reply to CommentI just finished season 2 and was looking for news of the 3rd season. I guess not....
Too bad. It was a pretty entertaining show with a lot going on. I don't know why it didn't find an audience.
It kind of reminded me of The Wire with all the political goings on. I didn't follow some of the things going on but it was compelling television.
I'd like some sort of closure or to see the show go to another network.
Vanilla Fire
November 22, 2012 at 1:24PM EST Reply to CommentWhere fiction ends, reality begins. Next, Kelsey will appear on Larry King Now (on Hulu) http://www.facebook.com/UntilTheyAreHome
Sean Bateman
December 9, 2012 at 8:42AM EST Reply to CommentThis editor is a joke, put too many things ahead of it and that's the reason he lost interest? What a joke, if you don't like it then be honest- but the truth is he has fallen victim to the epidemic that is sweeping the world, which is attention RETARDATION. People can't stay on something for two minutes before they get bored with it. It pathetic is what it is. This show is great enough to be on for 7 or 8 more seasons. Period.
Vlad I was thinking of cancelling my cable tv service when I remembered about season 3 of Boss, after googling and seeing the bad news, I will be going ahead and cancelling cable.
March 19, 2013 at 1:31AM EST