Boss (2011)
A ruthless Chicago mayor fights to maintain his grip on power while secretly battling a devastating neurological diagnosis in this dark political drama.
Boss - Series Information
- Original Title: Boss
- First Air Year: 2011
- Last Air Year: 2012
- Created by: Farhad Safinia
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, War, Politics, Crime
- Content Rating (US): TV-MA
- Number of Seasons: 2
- Number of Episodes: 18
- Status: Canceled
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: October 21, 2011 (United States - TV-MA), October 21, 2011 (Canada - 18+), October 21, 2011 (Germany - 18), October 21, 2011 (France - 18), October 21, 2011 (Australia - MA 15+), October 21, 2011 (Brazil - 16), October 21, 2011 (Spain - 16), October 21, 2011 (South Korea - 19)
- Networks: STARZ
- Production Companies: Lionsgate Television, Roya Productions, Old Friends Productions, Grammnet NH Productions, Small Wishes
- Production Countries: United States of America
Boss - Plot
Mayor Tom Kane sits like a spider at the center of Chicago's web of power; a web built on a covenant with the people. They want to be led, they want disputes settled, jobs dispensed, and loyalties rewarded. If he achieves all this through deception and immorality, so be it. As long as he gets the job done, they look the other way. Yet despite being the most effective mayor in recent history, a degenerative brain disorder is ripping everything away from him. He can't trust his memory, his closest allies, or even himself.
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Boss - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Farhad Safinia
Main Cast
- Kelsey Grammer
- Connie Nielsen
- Hannah Ware
- Jeff Hephner
- Kathleen Robertson
- Troy Garity
- Rotimi
- James Vincent Meredith
- Martin Donovan
- Mary Hollis Inboden
Writers
- Angelina Burnett
- Kevin J. Hynes
- Bradford Winters
- Farhad Safinia
- Julie Hébert
Executive Producers
- Farhad Safinia
- Gus Van Sant
- Brian Sher
- Stella Bulochnikov
- Kelsey Grammer
Boss - FAQs
Why was Boss cancelled after only two seasons?
Boss was cancelled by Starz in 2012 despite critical praise and a Golden Globe win for Kelsey Grammer. The network cited low viewership numbers as the primary reason. The show never found the broad audience its ambitions deserved, making its cancellation one of the more frustrating decisions in prestige cable history.
Is Boss worth watching for political drama fans?
Absolutely. Boss is a darkly compelling portrait of power and moral decay, anchored by Kelsey Grammer's career-best performance. If you enjoy Shakespearean political drama with a raw, unflinching edge, this series delivers. Think House of Cards with more tragedy and a genuinely unsettling human cost at its center.
What is Boss the TV series about?
Boss follows Tom Kane, the iron-fisted mayor of Chicago, who secretly receives a diagnosis of a degenerative neurological disorder. As his grip on power begins to slip, the series explores the corruption, manipulation, and moral compromises that underpin his reign — and the personal wreckage left in his wake.
Where can you stream Boss online?
Boss is available to stream free on Tubi TV, Plex, and Fawesome with ads. If you prefer ad-free viewing, episodes can be purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It is also available through the MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel subscription.
Did Kelsey Grammer win any awards for Boss?
Kelsey Grammer won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series in 2012 for his role as Mayor Tom Kane — a victory that surprised many in the industry and remains one of the most celebrated moments of his career. The win brought significant attention to the series during its run.
Is Boss based on a true story or real politician?
Boss is not based on any single real politician, though its portrait of Chicago machine politics draws heavily from the city's storied history of powerful, morally compromised mayors. Creator Farhad Safinia crafted Tom Kane as an archetypal figure — part Richard J. Daley, part Shakespearean tragic hero — rather than a direct biographical portrait.
Who directed episodes of Boss?
Acclaimed filmmaker Gus Van Sant, known for Good Will Hunting and Elephant, directed the pilot episode and served as an executive producer, lending the series a cinematic visual language from the outset. His involvement helped establish Boss's distinctive, brooding aesthetic that set it apart from conventional cable political dramas.
What are some shows similar to Boss?
Fans of Boss tend to gravitate toward House of Cards for its ruthless political maneuvering, The Good Wife for Chicago-set legal and political intrigue, and Luther for morally complex protagonists operating on the edge. Show Me a Hero and Pearson also capture that same sense of institutional power colliding with personal disintegration.
More About Boss
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