Starz fires "Boss" after two seasons.
11-20-12, 02:10 PM
#1
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Starz fires "Boss" after two seasons.
Kelsey Grammer's ruthless Chicago mayor has met his match: Starz, which has opted not to move forward with its political drama Boss after two seasons.
"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."
Starz president Chris Albrecht picked up Boss straight to series, bypassing the traditional pilot stage. The latter is part of Albrecht's larger brand-building strategy for the HBO and Showtime rival, which also includes bold bets and a focus on cinematic dramas over half-hour comedies.
The series, which earned a Golden Globe nomination for best drama and an acting win for Grammer, drew 659,000 total viewers to its original October 2011 premiere en route to 1.72 million overall over its first weekend, falling shy of recent scripted launches. Season two returned down from its freshman run with a mere 317,000 viewers, ending in October with a season high of 440,000 viewers. The Lionsgate TV drama's sophomore season averaged 937,000 viewers when factoring in multiple premiere weekend airings, down from its first-year average of 1.1 million. Worth noting, Magic City -- which Starz produced in-house -- outperformed seasons one and two of Boss, averaging 1.25 million in its freshman run.
"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."
Starz president Chris Albrecht picked up Boss straight to series, bypassing the traditional pilot stage. The latter is part of Albrecht's larger brand-building strategy for the HBO and Showtime rival, which also includes bold bets and a focus on cinematic dramas over half-hour comedies.
The series, which earned a Golden Globe nomination for best drama and an acting win for Grammer, drew 659,000 total viewers to its original October 2011 premiere en route to 1.72 million overall over its first weekend, falling shy of recent scripted launches. Season two returned down from its freshman run with a mere 317,000 viewers, ending in October with a season high of 440,000 viewers. The Lionsgate TV drama's sophomore season averaged 937,000 viewers when factoring in multiple premiere weekend airings, down from its first-year average of 1.1 million. Worth noting, Magic City -- which Starz produced in-house -- outperformed seasons one and two of Boss, averaging 1.25 million in its freshman run.
11-20-12, 02:27 PM
#3
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Starz fires "Boss" after two seasons.
FuuuuuuucK!!!!!
Yet another unfinished story.
Yet another unfinished story.
11-20-12, 02:59 PM
#5
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Starz fires "Boss" after two seasons.
I haven't seen Season 2 yet...did it end with another cliffhanger?
STARZ has a horrible record of axing shows (I still can't believe they gave up on Camelot after one year...it wasn't that bad).
I wonder if this has more to do with Kelsey's recent behavior than the show itself. Maybe he just became too difficult to bother with.
STARZ has a horrible record of axing shows (I still can't believe they gave up on Camelot after one year...it wasn't that bad).
I wonder if this has more to do with Kelsey's recent behavior than the show itself. Maybe he just became too difficult to bother with.
11-20-12, 03:12 PM
#6
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Starz fires "Boss" after two seasons.
They said they may do a movie, but we all know how often those work out.
11-20-12, 05:02 PM
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11-20-12, 05:19 PM
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Re: Starz fires "Boss" after two seasons.
This news isn't unexpected given the ratings, but it's still a loss of a quality show.
I don't see why Rome needs a film. It's history and there are many films about the time period. It's not like it's a mystery how things turn out. For me, Rome was a miniseries that was supposed to end after Season 1, but they gave us a bonus Season 2. I'm glad.
Deadwood? It was good, but I don't feel like I need a movie to tie anything up. There's no overriding mystery we need an ending to.
Likewise for Boss. There were no big mysteries here. The seasons were pretty self-contained. If we want more jut because we want more, I understand that. But we don't need more to tie up the story.
BTW, as we're mourning the loss of entertaining shows, let me add Carnivale to the list. I think I feel slight pangs of sadness everytime I think about that one.
I don't see why Rome needs a film. It's history and there are many films about the time period. It's not like it's a mystery how things turn out. For me, Rome was a miniseries that was supposed to end after Season 1, but they gave us a bonus Season 2. I'm glad.
Deadwood? It was good, but I don't feel like I need a movie to tie anything up. There's no overriding mystery we need an ending to.
Likewise for Boss. There were no big mysteries here. The seasons were pretty self-contained. If we want more jut because we want more, I understand that. But we don't need more to tie up the story.
BTW, as we're mourning the loss of entertaining shows, let me add Carnivale to the list. I think I feel slight pangs of sadness everytime I think about that one.
11-20-12, 05:23 PM
#13
Re: Starz fires "Boss" after two seasons.
Didn't Deadwood end with Hearst on the verge of taking over the whole town? But in any case I can always do with more Deadwood.
Rome...that was concluded on a good note. But instead of 2 seasons, it should have (and was planned) on being more. Skipping 7 years from one episode to the next is not always the best solution.
Rome...that was concluded on a good note. But instead of 2 seasons, it should have (and was planned) on being more. Skipping 7 years from one episode to the next is not always the best solution.
11-20-12, 06:45 PM
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11-20-12, 07:55 PM
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Re: Starz fires "Boss" after two seasons.
You know what COULD have saved the show? If they had made it available to watch on iTunes. Based on all the critical acclaim, I would have paid for it. I don't know anyone who subscribes to Starz. I don't understand why all these cable companies insist on limiting their potential audience. If they were that close to cutting the show, why not perform a little experiment and open it up to iTunes or Amazon. Or cut a deal with Netflix/Hulu?
11-20-12, 08:31 PM
#17
DVD Talk God
Re: Starz fires "Boss" after two seasons.
I have Starz and thought it was a fantastic show. One of their best original productions.
At least they still have Magic City along with Spartacus' final season. Plus, I'm interested in David S. Goyer's new show Davinci's Demons, which premieres in the Spring.
Hopefully they work on developing something for next Fall.
At least they still have Magic City along with Spartacus' final season. Plus, I'm interested in David S. Goyer's new show Davinci's Demons, which premieres in the Spring.
Hopefully they work on developing something for next Fall.
11-20-12, 08:42 PM
#18
DVD Talk God
Re: Starz fires "Boss" after two seasons.
You know what COULD have saved the show? If they had made it available to watch on iTunes. Based on all the critical acclaim, I would have paid for it. I don't know anyone who subscribes to Starz. I don't understand why all these cable companies insist on limiting their potential audience. If they were that close to cutting the show, why not perform a little experiment and open it up to iTunes or Amazon. Or cut a deal with Netflix/Hulu?
11-20-12, 08:47 PM
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Re: Starz fires "Boss" after two seasons.
Starz only got into producing original scripted dramas about 3-4 years ago with Spartacus and a few other small shows. Spartacus is their highest rated show and it's ending after next season. They don't have the same subscriber base and money coming in like HBO and Showtime has. So, I think they are limited on the number of shows they can afford.
11-20-12, 08:58 PM
#20
DVD Talk God
Re: Starz fires "Boss" after two seasons.
http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/29/tech...tarz/index.htm
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/ente...deal-ends.html
The contract they had with Netflix expired in February and Netflix passed on renewing. Talks actually broke off in November 2011. Starz wanted alot more money, which probably would have raised Netflix's subscription rates, so they passed on renewing.
I remember they would stream Spartacus, Torchwood, Crash the day after they aired on Starz. The 1st season of Boss was also on there. Then Starz instigated a 90 day delay once the talks broke off.
Edit:
Another reason why they passed on a 3rd season of Boss was that it's produced by a different studio (Lionsgate) Starz has to pay a licensing fee in addition to production costs. The ratings have to be really good for networks to renew a show not produced by them.
Spartacus and Magic City are both produced in house by Starz. Spartacus apparently makes alot of money overseas. Magic City was also sold to several international territories.
When shows like those are sold overseas, that also helps keeping them on the air.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/ente...deal-ends.html
The contract they had with Netflix expired in February and Netflix passed on renewing. Talks actually broke off in November 2011. Starz wanted alot more money, which probably would have raised Netflix's subscription rates, so they passed on renewing.
I remember they would stream Spartacus, Torchwood, Crash the day after they aired on Starz. The 1st season of Boss was also on there. Then Starz instigated a 90 day delay once the talks broke off.
Edit:
Another reason why they passed on a 3rd season of Boss was that it's produced by a different studio (Lionsgate) Starz has to pay a licensing fee in addition to production costs. The ratings have to be really good for networks to renew a show not produced by them.
Spartacus and Magic City are both produced in house by Starz. Spartacus apparently makes alot of money overseas. Magic City was also sold to several international territories.
When shows like those are sold overseas, that also helps keeping them on the air.
Last edited by DJariya; 11-20-12 at 09:09 PM.
11-20-12, 09:07 PM
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Re: Starz fires "Boss" after two seasons.
http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/29/tech...tarz/index.htm
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/ente...deal-ends.html
The contract they had with Netflix expired in February and Netflix passed on renewing. Talks actually broke off in November 2011. Starz wanted alot more money, which probably would have raised Netflix's subscription rates, so they passed on renewing.
I remember they would stream Spartacus, Torchwood, Crash the day after they aired on Starz. The 1st season of Boss was also on there. Then Starz instigated a 90 day delay once the talks broke off.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/ente...deal-ends.html
The contract they had with Netflix expired in February and Netflix passed on renewing. Talks actually broke off in November 2011. Starz wanted alot more money, which probably would have raised Netflix's subscription rates, so they passed on renewing.
I remember they would stream Spartacus, Torchwood, Crash the day after they aired on Starz. The 1st season of Boss was also on there. Then Starz instigated a 90 day delay once the talks broke off.
11-20-12, 09:22 PM
#22
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Starz fires "Boss" after two seasons.
Boss was probably the best written show on television, but so few ever got a chance to watch it. I think Starz is looking for a breakout hit to draw subscribers and unfortunately Boss wasn't it. The Blu-ray edition for the first season is phenomenal:
http://www.doblu.com/2012/07/25/boss-season-one/
http://www.doblu.com/2012/07/25/boss-season-one/
11-20-12, 09:25 PM
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Re: Starz fires "Boss" after two seasons.
And my other question about a show like Boss is, why not sell it to another content provider who CAN afford to keep it afloat. With how much people AND critics liked this show, surely someone would have paid for the rights to the show - HBO? Hulu? Netflix? Amazon??
11-21-12, 01:51 AM
#25
Re: Starz fires "Boss" after two seasons.
That raises the question: When is Amazon (and possibly Hulu) going to get into original programming? It seems like the next step, since Netflix is doing it with Lilyhammer and AD.
