There won’t be a third season of Starz‘s acclaimed drama Boss starring Kelsey Grammer and created by Farhad Safinia. However, I’ve learned exclusively that there are discussions between the pay cable network and Boss producer Lionsgate TV about possibly doing a two-hour movie that would wrap up the story of Chicago Mayor Tom Kane, played by Grammer. “After much deliberation, we have made the difficult decision to not proceed with (a third season of) Boss,” said Starz in a statement Tuesday. “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.”
Ratings-wise, Boss was soft but relatively steady. The series premiered to 659,000 viewers in October 2011. Season 2, which was ordered before Boss‘ series debut, opened with 317,000 viewers this past August, down 52% from Season 1, but subsequently recovered. It averaged 937,000 viewers over its weekend premiere airings on the Starz flagship channel and around 2.4 million across all platforms per episode. That was down slightly from Season 1 (1.1 million, 3 million). But Boss brought cachet to Starz, earning critical praise. It earned the first major awards nominations for the pay cable network, winning a Golden Globe for star Grammer who probably delivered the strongest performance of his career in Boss. Additionally, the show developed strong following by a small but devoted fan base. Its ratings performance was probably hampered by the fact it didn’t have a strong lead-in as Starz doesn’t have enough original series to go around, and that it aired on low-trafficked Friday night. (Though the network puts emphasis on a series’ cumed weekend viewership). Going into Season 2, the show beefed up the cast with new additions Sanaa Lathan, Jonathan Groff and T.I. while keeping its status as one of the less expensive Starz series. However, unlike Magic City, whose first season did only marginally better than Season 1 of Boss, the Grammer-starring drama was not owned by Starz, with Lionsgate TV controlling international and DVD rights.
After Season 1, Boss also brought in Dee Johnson as showrunner. Since Boss wrapped production on Season 2, Johnson moved to take the reins of ABC’s freshman soap Nashville but remained in first position to Boss. She will now be available to continue on Nashville, which recently received a back-nine order. Boss was executive produced by Safinia, Grammer, Gus Van Sant (who directed the pilot in his series debut), Johnson, Brian Sher and Stella Bulochnikov.
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With Boss‘ cancellation, Spartacus now is the only Starz original series so far to go beyond two seasons. If a Boss movie becomes a reality — which is tricky as it involves new deals with the cast and crew — it would bring the show’s run to 20 hours.
This seriously just bummed me out. At least we’ll get something to wrap this up. Such a good show from the writing to acting– C’mon Netflix or Amazon pick it up for more seasons.
I agree. Boss was the only good thing that clown Albrecht has done since he got to Starz. Everything else he’s done is a joke. Selling out to stay in the game is his only recourse now I guess.
Albrecht punched himself out creatively, I guess.
they always say they are going to do a movie to finish shows all the time and the movies never get made they just do it to keep the fans from sending they emails and letters complaining about canceling our show. spartacus is over so now starz has nothing worth watching looks like im canceling starz again. stupid people run these networks and only care about money not the fans. if starz does(when pigs fly lol) do the movie ill be grateful but i bet they wont. it will just fade out and they will hope us fans will forget about the show but i say we should forget about starz. mark my works in a year they will be asked and some starz big shot will say oh we are still trying to make it work. networks would keep alot more viewers if they would take one or two of the last episodes and give us a dam ending how hard is that , it shows they care nothing for the people who spent money (to pay for the starz channel)and 2yrs watching BOSS. PLEASE STARZ TAKE THE TIME TO GIVE US OUR ENDING. IF NOT THANKS FOR NOTHING JERKS.
When I invest my time in a series, I expect the story to be concluded. If Starz fails in this regard, I’ll not be investing time in any more Starz series. Boss was one of the best series I’ve ever seen. It gave a realistic view of Chicago politics with a fantastic storyline. Grammer was fantastic.
oh nooooo…i love the BOSS…well, no need to keep paying for STARZ..i only had it so i can watch BOSS :-(
Oh man That show was captivating Kelsey Grammar was terrific Oh well no more STARZ for me.
perhaps the producers should pitch this show to HBO as they have more viewers anyway..
I agree with your comment. I am cancelling starz.
Yep, Boss was the only reason I hadn’t already dropped Starz
Im cancelling starz too.
Boss was a great show. That’s the reason I kept Starz, so unless it’s being offered for free I’m canceling it too!
I’m so disappointed they’re canceling Boss. This was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen on TV, including Sopranos. Grammar and the cast are amazing. The story line is compelling. Ugh. I realize this is a business decision, but really, can’t Starz see the value in what they’ve got here? I have an idea… how about promoting it instead of killing it!
I will definitely cancel Starz after they kill this series.
Well…there goes one of the best series in a long time. I couldnt wait to see season 3. Man…I’m sick…sick….sick… The show was riveting! Yep, might as well get rid of Starz now.
And to think I recently just renewed my subscription to Starz just for Boss.
Call and cancel Starz and tell them WHY you’re canceling. That’s the only language they understand. Maybe if enough people complain they will change their minds. It worked for “The Killing”.
I am really disappointed that Season 3 of Boss is cancelled.
Yesss! Me too that is the only reason why I bought starz myself. How could they do this boss was a very very good show. Don’t let your fans down, please come out with something to conclude the mind blowing story!
I agree 100%!
I can’t belive that they would do something like this.
Boss was the best series I have ever seen,and I’m from Chicago
Kelsey Gramer was fantastic!!! I am going to cancel starz.
They don’t deserve you kelsey they don’t know a good actor when they got one. Starz your cancled ASAP.
I’m appalled at Starz’s lack of understanding of viewer preferences!!! They clearly dont understand their fan base. A truly well written show is difficult to find and Starz continues to cancel GREAT shows after one or two seasons. After the canceling Camelot and now Boss, I will boycott any new series on Starz!!!! Join me in boycotting a network that obviously does not consider their loyal fan base!!!!
its a shame. i looked foward to watching Boss an Friday nights. I say they move it to Showtime. Its a much better cable network i only watched starz for boss.
Dear God in Heaven:
Do not do this. If it is already done, you poor fools, you don’t even recognise what a good show is. As far as I and my family is concerned, this was Kelsey Grammar’s best show. I have never seen acting like his. Not even when I went to the Globe Theater in Stratford England…..Do you realy know what you had in Kelsey. Anyway I will be cancelling my subscription too.
Atleast Boss got 2 seasons, unlike Firefly who got gibbed after just one…. they had a fantastic universe, lots of leads to build on – and it was all wrapped up in a two hour movie.
Sadness….
SERIOUSLY bummed out as well. This is a fantastic show, up there in the pantheon of epic cable series along with Sopranos, The Wire and Spartacus. Shocked.
This show was the only reason I paid to have Starz, I guess I will re-think that. It was great and I hope they do finish the story lines. Two other shows that I enjoyed were not renewed this year, leaves me with very little to watch and wondering how they should have ended……………….
It was one of the best series I have seen. I am devastated that It will not continue. It was a great cast and Kelsey Grammer is amazing. Maybe you need to reconsider and make season 3 happen. There definitely needs to be an ending.
boss was the only show other then 24 that could bring my wife and i of more 20 years to put the kids up starz needs to reavaluate there bad choice i cancelled there stations on comcast now
Don’t hold your breath waiting for Starz to produce a Boss film to wrap up the plot lines. Boss was yet another first rate show with forceful performances and writing directed at intelligent adults, not children or knuckle draggers cancelled by a pay network. Several years ago, HBO cancelled Deadwood despite numerous Emmy awards and widespread aclaim. It too was brilliantly written, directed and acted by a fantastic ensemble cast headed by Timothy Olyphant and Ian McShane. HBO subscribers too were promised production of two two-hour long movies to tie up the story lines. We waited through years of rumors about their imminent production to no avail. The only thing that you can do to register your displeasure with Starz’ decision is cancel your subscription. Letter writing campaigns don’t work; complain with your wallet.
Well said indeed…put your words, opinions and disgust where it matters the most! CANCEL your account with Starz. Money, ratings and viewer memberships can speak millions if unhappy viewers truly take action.
JUST DO IT !!!
No reason whatsoever to keep STARZ now. I kept hanging on thinking they would come to their senses. How can they not see what they are doing here??? Why can’t Netflix take over??? This sucks!!!!
This is sad, great show, great cast, great story, crappy time slot?? had to watch on demand, but looked forward to it, Somebody pick it up, PLEASE……. Showtime……..HBO this is sad very disappointed in STRZ
I finally thought you guys were on the cutting edge of some true to life political stories that go on in the real world..VERY VERY SAD…
The really great series always seem to do poorly in the ratings for one reason or another. This was a fantastic show, we will all wonder what happened to Mayor Kane! No reason to pay for STARZ now, I’m cancelling…….so sad.
The really great series always seem to do poorly in the ratings for one reason or another. This was a fantastic show, we will all wonder what happened to Mayor Kane!
No ones has mentIoned possible White House intervention
It hit too close to home for some
I just finished watching season 2. I can’t tell you how disappointed I am that such a finely crafted piece has to join the bin of fine television rejects. Just when the ensemble, writing, directing, editing, etc, has hit its stride – cancel! I would hope the direction Netflix is headed with House of Cards would open some eyes as to the future of video entertainment. Surely there is someone out there with vision that sees the value of great product and the demographic it appeals to. Anyone?
I’m dumping Starz, Boss was the only reason I ordered it. I don’t know who makes decisions but Boss was refreshing. I’ve been waiting on season 3 and got this when I Googled for a start date.
This is the best series in a long time. I couldnt wait to see season 3. PLEASE, PLEASE…I’m sick…sick…sick…I’m hooked!!!! I have to HAVE MORE. Please do not do this to us! I bought the first two seasons and was sitting on pins and needles for the next and now I hear this!
I know I won’t need to order Starz now!
I can’t believe season 3 will not show. It’s the MAIN reason I continued STARZ !! What a great show! And they’re just going to wipe it out?? What a mistake.
I wish that someone else would pick up the Boss w/Kelsey Grammer. It was such a good show. I miss it.
I wonder if Grammer will blame the liberals for its cancellation?
I’m SO HAPPY about this!! I can not stand to look at Kelsey Grammer. I don’t think he’s a very nice man and I no longer have any respect for him.
You obviously do not know Kelsey. He is such a sweet man and so lovely to work with. A true talent.
Kelly from Hamilton?
im glad you are happy because you cant stand stand to look at kelsey grammer.my question to you is did you ever watch the show?one of the best on pay cable today.its a shame that a show of this caliber goes in a era of dancing with the stars;seemingly hundreds of singing shows and the garbage reality shows that clutter the airwaves today.boss and luck were and are two of my favorite non sports shows on tv today.both have been dismissed.when shameless and magic city go;so do i.its a pitiful situation;but im happy for you maris because mr.grammer wont be on your tv anymore.
Then why did you watch the show asshole?…go back to Dancing With The Stars…more on your intellectual plane, I’m sure.
did you read what i wrote?can you read would be a better question?i see you spelled your surname properly.(asshole) what a moron
Why watch a show if you cannot stand to look at some one? Oh, I know, because you are a frikin idiot.
Am I the only one that got this? Look at the user name, “Maris” come on people and you claim to be Kelsey Grammer fans.
no, you gave him/her too much credit.
maris you were married to his brother niles so dont hate on kelsy(fraiser) dont hate
@Maris-It’s not about you not liking Kelsey Grammer or your respect or lack of….he is a great actor….PERIOD! and the show was great, the cast, the writing and all.
Boss is the only reason I got Starz, this will save me some money but I really thought it was a great show.
THEY CAN’T CANCEL THE SERIES THIS IS THE ONLY REASON I HAVE STARZ..I THINK IT WAS TO REAL…SO THEY HAD TO DO AWAY WITH IT
A SAD DAY FOR CABLE DRAMAS! What use is premium network airings if it is NOT a ratings rat-race ala the BIG FOUR?!
It still has to be financially viable. Premium channels need subscribers.
So much for quality.
Shame. I really liked that show. Anyone knows anything about “Drop Dead Diva”? Will it get fourth season?
Too bad. This was one of the best shows on the air. Exceptional writing. Great actors – particularly Connie Nielsen. I loved how she portrayed an innocent “first lady” in the public and a ruthless “first lady” in the office.
This was a GREAT show … Starz blew it! Should get picked up by F/X!
You mean the same F/X that canceled gem of a show called Terriers. While Broadcast has become grave for lackluster TV. Cable everyone in while has to remind us that it’s a business.
Starz as a brand has been trying to get into the same quality TV circles as HBO, AMC and Showtime. Now with Boss gone and Spartacus ending. It unclear what there brand is going to be going forward. Their two new series Davinci’s Demons and Black Sails. Davinci Demons preview made it seem like it was a retread of The Tudors. Look how well creatively it didn’t work for The Borgias. As for Black Sails i could be optimistic if were for Michael Bay producer title.
Is there any reason to keep Starz in my channel lineup?I’m trying to downsize my cable bill,I want ur serious opinions…..
Funny you should write that. I cancelled my Starz subscription this morning. They could care less about their viewers so I won’t stand by and support them either. Boss was my favorite show on television.
I was thinking the same thing…
Very unfortunate. Kelsey Grammer is amazing in this. All the acting, really. Underrated show for sure.
I seldom post a comment on this sight, but this time i feel compelled. Boss is my favorite show on tv, and the same goes for many of my friends and colleagues. Its a water-cooler show that we talk about all the time on the Monday after it airs, and the subsequent week leading up to the next episode. We love it and there is nothing else like it on television. If someone from Starz is reading this, they need to know that I AM CANCELLING MY SUBSCRIPTION TODAY. Who is making the decisions over there? That person is not in his right mind this makes no sense.
Cancelling your subscription does not mean a single thing to Starz. And its completely misguided. The numbers aren’t there. This is a marketplace. End of story. If you want to blame anyone, blame the bad taste of American TV viewers.
Cancelling a Starz subscription won’t bring Boss back, but it could, with enough cancellations, show TPTB that they should stick with struggling quality shows. And… if you don’t like what’s on Starz with Boss gone, why would ANYONE continue to pay for it?
Starz saw a 9% uptick in subscribership this year. A percentage of that has to be attributable to people ordering due to word of mouth regarding BOSS. What else would it be? I know I pay $10 a month for Starz/120 annually. I don’t know what the exact numbers are for Starz, but certainly subscribership matters to Starz, because it equals revenue. I’m cancelling my Starz, because they don’t offer anything now that I can’t get on other channels or platforms.
I called Directv to cancel Starz. They offered me 6 months free to keep it. Anyway, Boss is one of the best dramas on tv, in my mind as entertaining as The Wire, Deadwood, and Mad Men. Grammer’s performance probably among the best I’ve ever seen in a serial drama. I am hoping another network will pick it up.
I agree with you @Chandler…..with all these reality shows and the Honey Boo Boo’s of America no wonder good shows with great writing don’t servive. If your IQ is above high scholl level you can forget it, pick up a news paper and call it a day.
Chris Albrecht makes all the decision at Starz. He is merely a shadow of what he was at HBO. The old Chris would never have let this end at 2 seasons.
Albrecht has definitely lost his fastball. Then old Chris I knew at HBO would have NEVER let go of this gem! And only one year removed from a Golden Globe nom for Best Drama and a win for Grammer as Best Actor! What is he thinking over there? Every network needs classy shows but Chris is clearly past his prime.
Well, he let go of Rome when he was at HBO. I’d say he’s behaving true to form. After he left HBO, they said publicly it had been a mistake to cancel it.
I agree with you. I only kept Starz to watch Boss. This news really makes me sad……
This is a huge bummer. This was a show that was great from start to finish. The characters were rich and complex. Kelsey Grammar, who dominated comedy for more than a decade was fantastic in his first dramatic role as was Kathleen Robertson and so many more of the cast. So many threads were put in motion over the course of last season, its hard to imagine that a two hour movie could do them all justice in a fulfilling way. Financial considerations put aside, of which I’m sure there are many, its difficult to understand the wisdom in cancelling this. This was a critical success for Stars, a calling card. How does Starz expect to lure creators away from the other pay cable titans if it can’t support a show of this caliber for more than two seasons. Like THE WIRE, BOSS will be one of those shows that viewers will get around to after the fact and wonder why they didn’t watch it in its first run, and wish they had.
As a staunch supporter of The Wire, I agree that this show was destined to reach similar cult acclaim after it’s initial run. Sadly however, Starz didn’t have the fortitude to stick it out, and there is no conclusion. The fans that were champions of The Wire wont appear for Boss because there’s no true resolution.
I am so upset they are so Wrong for this…
Somewhere, Camille is smiling . . .
Ha! So true.
This sucks! I love that show.
It seems Starz has not found the right formula for its original programming – it certainly hasn’t found a consistent voice. On the one hand, you have the swords, blood and sandals of Spartacus. On the other, you have Boss and Magic City. I would love to see an analysis on Deadline of what is going on behind the scenes there. It seems to me to be two battling visions…
Each show is a history lesson…
I agree again @ notgettingitright….something has to be going on and it’s not good. My husband and I only had Starz for Boss…will def cancel now and go back to Showtime
BOSS was GREATLY ACTED and visually rich. Gus Van Sant and Mario Van Peebles directed some amazing episodes.
Storywise? They were DONE in Episode 8 of the first season. Straining credibility so far it was headscratching–KG was TONY SOPRANO–in the mayor’s office–with a body count to match Tony’s. His consistent betrayal of his wife and his soullessness in selling out his daughter—where else was there to go after that? And his fake “moments of self-reckoning” while greatly acted, were never believable in the least because of the “10 seconds later” betrayal or everything he just bled out…
just because you throw a lot of ingredients in doesn’t make it a good stew…
I thought this ahow was ridiculously overwrought and trying way too hard to be an award-winning, important show. Almost every word had the equivalent of speech marks around it and exclamation points attached. I am a huge fan of Grammer but he was too often chewing the scenery here in a self-conscious performance. ‘Boss’ wanted badly to be a great show, but partly because of its own ambition, and partly because of writing that was consistently lacking and many lacklustre elements, it fell well short. Starz are making the right decision here.
Some people have trouble comprehending high level dialogue. Clearly, you are one of them.
Brilliantly acted but not a likeable character in the bunch. I avoided Chicago on a recent road trip because of that show (and the traffic LOL). But hey if ya ain’t got a John Wayne, ya ain’t got a show…..when are these hip young writers and producers going to figure that out. The only fitting end for that nasty crew would have been suitcase nuke, Chicago gone, and Clair Danes on the case.
I watch Homeland and no one is likeable on that show. Nobody. You must like Saul.
I totally agree. “Likeable” is a note that you hear all the time in development and it is more often than not off base. I have plenty of friends in my life that are “likeable”. I turn to television to give me insight into characters that are broken and unlikeable, capable of doing things I don’t want to or can’t. This is a horrible comparison, but why do you think people were drawn to the Scott Peterson murder trial, or Andrea Yates. We want to know what makes those people tick, hope that we don’t have an ounce of it in us. The arts have great stories of good versus evil, they have explored likeable, but have also looked at the darker sides of humanity. Look at Crime and Punishment, or even the Sopranos. There was a reason Tony died in that final episode. The world needs a exploration of these themes and characters. A show should never die because no one was “likeable”. Life isn’t black and white.
Have you watched CNN. I don’t think this was scenery chewing, I think this was authenticity.
“Boss” is an exceptional show. WTF, Starz? Cancel your subscriptions, people.
This show was an excellent show, the acting was wonderful and I was drawn to it. I was very surprised when I heard it was cancelled. This was one of the best shows on tv. Maybe if was on Showtime it could have survived.
Great show, great stories, great writing, boo & bad on you Starz.
Actor In A TV Series, Drama
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Kelsey Grammar, Boss – WINNER
Jeremy Irons, The Borgias
Damian Lewis, Homeland
Starz. Make better decisions.
Jesus fucking christ. Was that seriously a contest and they won and Starz cancelled this shit. It’s in competition with literally 3 of the best shows on tv, only other shows I watch on a weekly basis. I gotta be honest, I also agree that its at least better than boardwalk and homeland. On Par with breaking bad and Bryan Cranston though, tough call there if you ask me. But that just speaks volumes about the quality of the show Starz had on their hands.
2012 Golden Globe nominations for best drama:
AMERICAN HORROR STORY
HOMELAND
GAME OF THRONES
BOARDWALK EMPIRE
BOSS
November 2012, BOSS is cancelled. Insane.
I totally concur, Josh, Well put. The writing was very often lacking and constantly reversing Grammar’s “character”–it wasn’t compelling dichotomy, it was an IGNORING of what went before, or forcing the issue, at all times.
It wasn’t perfect, but in a world where Honey Boo Boo and the Kardashian’s gets renewed, its a shame that shows like this can’t survive. The ambitions of the people that worked on Boss – the cast, writers, etc – were in the right place. They were striving to do something great. The arc that was planned for the series, had it made a full run, was really cool and would have put Tom Kane up there as one of the great characters of the small screen.
It wasn’t a reversal. It was about a man who was addicted to power against his better nature, who every now and then would try and straighten out, but couldn’t. Watch CNN. Power is everything at that level and men are led to their deaths (career, physical, etc) in pursuit of it.
Yeah, reversals! Totally makes the show unrealistic and strips Tom Kane of credibility as a character…
Unless of course there was some explanation brought up frequently that would account for such erratic behavior in a character. OH WAIT!
Try to actually comprehend what you’re watching from now on, it will change everything.
Shrug.
I’ll miss the show. I enjoyed watching it. Hopefully the underrated James Meredith will be given a chance for more Hollywood fare. His character Alderman Ross was a great foil to Grammer’s Tom Kane.
Who was the “genius” that decided 2 cancel the show? That does not make any since! Boss was the truth! Now its gone along with Spartacus in a few mths. Real Smart, I mean, you all are showing a lot brainpower!
HOW DO YOU CANCEL SUCH A GREAT SHOW????????