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EXCLUSIVE: Boss executive producers/co-showrunners Richard Levine and Lyn Greene are exiting Starz’ new drama series, which was renewed for a second season last month ahead of its premiere last night. The former Nip/Tuck executive producers shepherded the 8-episode first season of Boss alongside series’ creator/executive producer, Apocalypto co-writer Farhad Safinia. Safinia didn’t have TV experience before creating the show but I hear he proved a quick study during production of the first season. Search is under away for a new writing executive producer to join Safinia as well as the series’ other exec producers — director Gus Van Sant, star Kelsey Grammer, Brian Sher and Stella Bulochnikov — for Season 2. Boss, from Lionsgate TV, stars Grammer as a ruthless Chicago mayor who has a secret that threatens to topple him. The series has received mostly favorable reviews, especially when it comes to Grammer’s performance.
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I seen the first show on the FREE internet viewing and it was great. If I wasn’t losing my job next month I would subscribe to Starz just to see BOSS.
WHY are they exiting, though — that’s the question that needs answering — and we count on DEADLINE to do it!
By the way, there seems to be a significant number of early showrunner exits in recent weeks/months — are networks becoming skittish about content or something?
This is the type of move that could only happen at a boutique net like Starz, HBO or AMC. I don’t care how talented the guy who created the show is, if it was on network he’d need all the help he could get. Like two different worlds network and cable. Cable may make the better shows, but making network tv is a much a tougher road. And anyone who has worked in both worlds knows that’s not debatable.
Not surprised with Stella and Brian in the mix. Nightmare.
Levine and Greene are so talented. Funny and smart. Love Boss.
Sounds like the creator needs to be the Showrunner.
Networks seem to think this is so necessary to make a shotgun marriage when a smart creator can figure out how to run the show without anything but a great line producer and some talented Co-Ep’s.
CBS has ruined many a show with this odd pairing of talents.
Levine and Greene deserve their own show.
Don’t just throw in “funny” like it automatically goes with “smart” and “writer”. Green/Levine are accomplished in cable drama, not comedy. And when they have their own show, it might be terrific, but it won’t be laughter-inducing.
They were producers on sit-coms first, Slow Down. And yes, they are very f-ing funny!
Clearly these folks are removed far from the reality most people are living of unemployment & job uncertainty. What a luxury to be able to walk from a job these days!
You think they left a series that got renewed before its premiere VOLUNTARILY?
Re-reading what I wrote, I want to apologize. I’m not trying to imply they got fired. Simply that, unfortunately, there are situations where you can be pushed so hard it looks like you jumped.
Greene and Levine are so far above this group of desperation.Complete talents. Afterall, Brian Sher represents Michael Vick… Should I say more?? Stella…her claim to fame is Paris Hilton. How about that sex tape…alot of quality here. Then again Grammer used to deal drugs and Albrecht beat up woman…they deserve each other…let’s see if you print this.
It’s called show “business”. Do you have any idea how much money Vick makes Sher? Paris Hilton is a HUGE brand. While your sitting on your futon in your single apartment judging others think about getting a job that puts YOU in the game.
Sher’s biggest client is T.I.
It’s William Morris Conflict time…their new client wanted old clients gone..and they did not protect them
This show had great acting but the dialogue sounded like a writer who likes to show off how smart he is but the story lines and characters lacked oomph. Why do new “gritty” shows think you have to make your main character a prick or your female characters cold, an adulterer or a bitch to be considered “complex” – this show is awful with amazing talent being wasted
dude, you need half a brain to post here. Go get one and come back.
I have more brainpower in my fingernail clippings that you Richard. Let’s be honest here – did you like the show because you feel obliged to because of all the hype? Sure Mayor Kane’s character is intriguing, there’s an ‘okay’ dilemma afoot with his “condition” and Grammar’s performance is outstanding – but seriously – are the woman in this showed portrayed in a positive light? Is his character likeable just because he’s good at his job? Do you know where this show is going? Having seen two episodes of “Boss,” the series may be about the fall of a great politcal figure – an icon, but I don’t know if Safinia wants us to see Grammer’s Kane as the symbolic “Satan” referred to in the opening credits or not. It’s entirely feasible that the whole political system in Chicago, long entrenched and long variably corrupt, is meant as Satan. But through two episodes, I don’t know if Safinia wants viewers to root for Tom Kane and/or the system to collapse, or if he’s showing a landscape in which the evil that men do is capable of leading to a collective good for the community. All interesting and an entertaining argument but I couldn’t root for this guy because he’s a prick. Plus again – the female characters are not well written after two episodes. It’s easy to write ho’s and b*tches. Maybe the showrunner will surprise us in Episode 3? God – Let’s hope so.
I sense that the opening songs are meant to tie “Boss” and “The Wire” together in some sort of collective meditation on the evil inherent in the urban space. Although I don’t feel like “Boss” is anywhere near that “Wire” level of discourse — literally nothing else in the history of the small screen is — I admire its willingness to dive into the sort of terrain that TV ought to be well-suited to explore, but so rarely does. I can’t even say that “Boss” is on the same level as Shawn Ryan’s “The Chicago Code,” which used the police as a pivot for delving into all aspects of the Windy City, but “Boss” is what’s on TV right now and if it lives up to even some of its ample potential, it could become a series of some substance.
Interesting post, but is there a specific reason that we “have” to like or root for Grammer’s character? Can’t it be an intriguing drama without feeling the need to relate?
This is one of the reasons I enjoy some of the shows on the premium channels. They don’t have to be likeable for them to be watchable.
Sounds like a description of Boardwalk Empire. Lots of bad writing showing off.
Season 2 has shown significant writing. Did you see that scene with Gillian and the commodore? Very beautifully written.
Who are you kidding? I’ve heard nothing has changed.
Sounds like the writer himself posting here. One good does not a worthwhile series make.
Wow, agree with OldGuard, this show was terrible. Very boring and mediocre and seems to agree the reality of politics. Every political show I watch seems to ignore the Republican/Democrat factor. They also seem to think every politician is some genius. Uh uh, no. Why not portray these people as human? Then these shows would last.
The show was great. Very much needed and I’m looking forward to this season and the next. It nails Chicago’s patronage system. Grammer is great.
They’re the minors of tv.
The show got SOLID ratings. Remind me not to give you a job in TV.
In watched the show and LOVED it! Best new show on tv. This will run for several seasons and be the darling of the award seasons for years to come. Grammer is amazing, best role he’s ever played by far!
Grammer is so unlikeable as a human being that I can’t even. I could have until the recent press around his ex. That was it.
If I’m thinking about it the whole time I can’t enjoy the show.
Jesus christ, I hate it when people refuse to watch a show or movie based on an actor’s personal life. There’s more people on it then just that one person. Sure, Kesley Grammer has had a questionable personal life but the show itself is amazing and he deserves all the praise he has been getting. If you can’t get past one actor then you really must have one crappy ass life.
I was born and raised in Chicago and the series pretty much nails the power Daley Sr. had. Even the council chamber looks like the real one. Grammar is refreshingly abrasive, Connie Nielsen is spot on as the trophy wife and it’s great to see Kathleen Robertson get the spotlight, after shining in a bunch of indies and tv work.
As for producer turnover, it’s a pretty good bet that Starz has watched all 8 episodes they paid for and they think it could be tweaked. Plus, who’s to say the outgoing producers aren’t busy with their next big idea.
I spoke with someone who is intimately connected to the show. Green and Levine were fired. It seems they were highly overpaid, wrote very little that actually made it to the screen, and their veteran egos could not handle reporting to Safinia, who is a newcomer-superstar. Apparently Green was never on set (not sure she was even allowed), and Levine was on set but in a “scouting” capacity only. Its clear that Starz knows they have a real hit on their hands, and that they are acting accordingly in letting go of Green and Levine. Starz wants to find real pros, heavy hitters who can bring value and muscle to the project.
I don’t know any of the people on the show, but the creator is a GENIUS. So was the directing, acting, music and editing… Fricken’ fantastic…
I only watched the pilot and I thought it was terrific. Grammer embodies every Illinois politician of the last 50 years. He evokes the machine politics that I’ve only read about. Starz may be HBO Lite, but this is a good place to start.