After a heated bidding war, Boss, a political drama project starring Kelsey Grammer and written by Apocalypto co-writer Farhad Safinia, has landed at Starz with an 8-episode straight-to-series order. In his first foray into television, Milk director Gus Van Sant is set to direct the pilot and executive produce the series, which will be produced by Lionsgate Television. This also marks the cable debut of one of broadcast TV’s most recognizable stars, Grammer, as well as his first foray into drama series. It is also his first project since recently signing with WME. 
Boss will star Grammer as the Mayor of Chicago who is diagnosed with a degenerative mental condition that only he and his doctor know about. It is described as a King Lear-inspired tale of power set in Chicago’s political machine. Grammer will executive produce along with his new Grammnet Prods. partner Brian Sher as well as Van Sant and Stella Stolper.
Safinia and Grammer were introduced a year ago by Stolper and Sher. The two bonded over their love of William Shakespeare and specifically, King Lear. Grammer has strong theater ties. He started off on stage and made his Broadway debut in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. (He also starred in the Broadway revival of Othello.) Grammer and Safinia decided to partner on developing a contemporary series project that draws on the classic play while Grammer was working on Broadway in La Cage Aux Folles, a musical that earned him a Tony nomination. Safinia wrote the script on spec, with input from Grammer and his company. WME, which repped all parties involved, then passed the script to Van Sant. Boss was taken out in the marketplace two weeks ago, garnering strong interest from several cable networks. Starz won the bidding with its aggressive offer for an 8-episode series order. Boss falls under the pay cable network’s business model of ordering projects straight-to-series. It is the second such order for Starz president and CEO Chris Albrecht after the 10-episode pickup of Camelot earlier this year.
Grammer recently relaunched Grammnet in partnership with former ICM agent Sher to develop scripted and non-scripted shows. Sher continues to run his Category 5 management and production firm, whose clients include Safinia. Grammnet’s previous series credits include Medium, Girlfriends and The Game. Van Sant, a two-time Oscar nominee, also helmed To Die For and Good Will Hunting. Safinia most recently adapted the Aldous Huxley novel Brave New World for Universal Pictures for Leonardo DiCaprio to star and Ridley Scott to direct. He is currently writing the Allen Counter project at Sony for Will Smith to star and his Overbrook Entertainment to produce.
This sounds great
Seeing a highly acclaimed star(Kelsey Grammer)partake in presenting media viewers a road back to a level of TV viewing that presents entertainment as an intellectual buffet versus a “reality show COMBO”…is AWESOME!!
Grammer should stay in the penalty box until he cleans up his messy personal life. I won’t watch him in anything, although it is rather rich that he’s playing a man with a mental illness.
If everyone with a messy personal life should stay in the penalty box until they clean up their personal life, any and all production would come to a screeching halt. I’d say Kelsey has made a step in the right direction regarding both his mental health and more important, HEART HEALTH, by unfettering himself of the plastic fantastic bimbo with a spastic colon soon to be known as his ex-wife. Shakespeare, indeed. Congrats to Kelsey and Chris! And an inspired director in Gus Van Sant.Safinia is a force. Can’t wait!! Godspeed Kelsey.
Condor, you clearly get your information from trash mags and TV and really don’t know Kelsey or any version of the true story or you wouldn’t post ridiculous things like this. Congrats Kelsey. Great to see you back on the air.
Why would Gus work with that Republican idiot?
I see you are one of those so called “open minded liberals”.
You’re so right. Republicans shouldn’t be allowed on TV?.
Sounds like you’re a Great American.
Kelsey Grammer in a drama??? IM IN!
Seems like the move to WME is working out for him.
Sounds really cool. Kelsey is the man. Good for Starz!
Another cable show where the main character has a secret that they have to hide from everyone else?
“Another cable show where the main character has a secret that they have to hide from everyone else?”
Rinse, and Repeat!!!
It’s the same tired recipe for every cable show. Predictable…
And network dramas.
And superhero stories.
Etc.
This is a great move for Kelsey Grammer. I will watch this for sure.
Isn’t this just KINGS — the old NBC show?
Forget about his personal life, he is a jerk to cast and crew, unforgivable…his politics and his personal life are his business.
You sound really bitter. I worked on Frasier for several years and Kelsey was nothing but a gentleman every day to the other cast and crew. This role sounds perfect for him and I will definitely tune in!
You have proof to back that up or are you just looking to smear the man?
This sounds promising.
With Bob Greenblatt gone from Showtime (and now at NBC Uni), it will be interesting to see what happens with the cabler. The network may very well have another significant competitor–Starz. I think Starz has something going for them with this “Boss” concept. It will be interesting to see what Gus Van Sant has in store. I think his direction of “Elephant” and “Milk” were dead on; I hope he approaches this series with a similar aesthetic.
Does anybody know who now reps Kelsey Grammer and his Grammnet banner? CAA? WME?
I work at WME. Kelsey recently signed here with a team led by Ari Emanuel. The others include Brandt Joel, Mark Itkin, Charles King, and Ari Greenburg. This is an A List team to say the least, and they have made an immediate impact for Kelsey, while also making another client Gus Van Sant very happy by getting him the script and now he’s directing it (I haven’t read it but I hear its amazing). I don’t think we rep the writer.
While I love KG, I wonder if this foray into drama has anything to do w/ his last 2 comedies going bust. Smart move, nonetheless. W/ that voice & presence, I’d watch him read the phone book.
I was ambivalent about Van Sant until I saw him make his stupidly self-aggrandizing turn on “Entourage.”
No Mr. Van Sant, guest-starring as “yourself” on a Hollywood comedy and having all the characters sit around and talk about amazing you are but you just can’t be bothered to give a fuck doesn’t make you look cool, it makes you like another self-aggrandizing star fucker.
An “A List” team headed by Ari Emanuel… and they get him on Starz? Kelsey, you need to get your money back from WME. Pronto.
Anything less than a new Frasier show with the character now living with Freddie, and we all lose.
Sounds great and set in my favorite city. Love what Starz is doing and looking forward to watching.
I just don’t buy Kelsey Grammer as someone who could get elected in Chicago. There is a difference between swarmy and swarthy.
I don’t think that’s why he couldn’t get elected. Whatever else he is, he’s a Republican. That’s enough for him to never get elected in Chicago. Thank goodness too. The less Republicans in any government offices these days, the better it is for Americans in general.
It will just be Sideshow Bob.
Just so glad he dumped that incapable Camille. From what planet is this woman? Her capabilities are minimal. Seems she has learned nothing in 40+ years. Fighting with Kyle? Yes, Camille you are Insecure and Yes Camille Who Would Want to Hang Out with You Without Kelsey? There, I said it….
Im excited to see Kelsey in this role and the concept sounds great. Farhad is extremely talented and with the lineup of directors…I think it will be a great thing for Starz. Im excited. Cannot wait!