Starz Cancels "Boss" Series, Featuring Kelsey Grammer, Jonathan Groff, Sanaa Lathan

By Andrew Gans
20 Nov 2012

Kelsey Grammer
Kelsey Grammer
Photo by STARZ

The Golden Globe-nominated Starz series "Boss," which starred Tony nominee and Golden Globe winner Kelsey Grammer as fictional Chicago Mayor Tom Kane, will not return for a third season, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

"After much deliberation, we have made the difficult decision to not proceed with [a third season of] 'Boss,'" Starz said in a statement Tuesday. "We remain proud of this award-winning show, its exceptional cast and writers, and are grateful to Kelsey Grammer, [creator] Farhad Safinia and our partners at Lionsgate TV."

Produced by Lionsgate, the cast also featured Connie Nielsen, Hannah Ware, Jeff Hephner, Kathleen Robertson, Troy Garity and Rotimi. Joining the ensemble cast as series regulars for the second season were Broadway actors Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening, “Glee”) as Ian Todd, an ambitious young advisor to Kane, and Sanaa Lathan ("Nip/Tuck"; A Raisin in the Sun; By the Way, Meet Vera Stark), Alderman Ross’ strong-willed and politically savvy Chief of Staff.

Guest stars included Tip Harris, who is known internationally as rapper T.I., and Amy Morton (a Tony nominee for August: Osage County, and star of Broadway's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) as State Senator Catherine Walsh.

In season two of “Boss,” according to previous production notes, "Kane ferociously beats back the physical symptoms of his illness with high doses of medication. But this comes at a cost — experiencing heightened psychological manifestations of the disease. Without his longtime advisors Stone and Kitty, Kane is also forced to reconfigure his inner circle. Surrounded by strangers and without much time left, he acts quickly to protect and repair his legacy by cutting out the cancers within the political machine. But as corrupt heads roll and his list of enemies grows, Kane's virtuous actions begin to erode the very foundation of power he's worked a lifetime to build. In order to maintain it, Kane must govern as he always has — ruthlessly."

Dee Johnson served as executive producer along with series creator Farhad Safinia, Grammer, Gus Van Sant, Brian Sher and Stella Bulochnikov. The series was produced by Lionsgate Television in association with Grammnet NH Productions, Roya Productions and Small Wishes, Inc.