Starz renews 'Boss' before Season 1 airs

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Starz Entertainment says it has ordered a 10-episode second season of "Boss," its new drama starring Kelsey Grammer as a fictional Chicago mayor.

The first season of the series is to premiere Oct. 21. Production on the second season of "Boss" is expected to begin in early 2012.

Produced by Lionsgate Television and created by Farhad Safinia, the show is Grammer's first dramatic series and the premiere episode is the television directorial debut of acclaimed filmmaker Gus Van Sant.

"The first time we read Farhad's script, we knew we had to make 'Boss,'" Starz President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Albrecht said in a statement Tuesday. "With each episode, the story grew richer, and the cast continued to turn in breakthrough performances. Led by Kelsey and Farhad, this creative team is giving us dramatic storytelling at its very best. For our viewers, we felt it important to start working on the next season as soon as possible."

"This early vote of confidence from our partners at Starz is extremely gratifying and reflects the tremendous work of all those involved with 'Boss' on both sides of the camera," said Kevin Beggs, president of Lionsgate Television Group. "Kelsey's dramatic turn in this series is a powerful and radical departure from his previous television roles and we can't wait for viewers to be drawn into his fascinating world."

Grammer is best known for his portrayal of snobbish psychiatrist Frasier Crane on TV's "Cheers" and "Frasier."