ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Oct. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A full-episode
sneak preview of the much-anticipated premiere of the STARZ
Originals series, "Boss," will be available beginning October 14. An all-time Starz Entertainment high
of 76 million households will have access to the sampling
opportunities through select cable, satellite, and Telco affiliates
in the United States. "Boss"
debuts October 21 on STARZ at
10PM ET/PT.
The first episode will be available free for sampling online at
www.starz.com/boss and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/boss.starz,
on-demand and online through affiliates (see complete list below)
and at various times on DISH Network's 101 Channel prior to the
series premiere. The episode will also be available for sampling on
DIRECTV's Audience Network following its debut on October 21. "Boss," which was renewed for a
second season on STARZ last month, is produced by Lions Gate
Television for Starz Entertainment.
"Boss," created by Farhad Safinia
(Apocalypto), stars TV icon Kelsey
Grammer, and has its first episode directed by acclaimed
filmmaker Gus Van Sant in his TV
directorial debut. Over its eight-episode first season, "Boss"
centers on the Machiavellian machinations of Tom Kane, a fictional Chicago mayor (Grammer) with a dark
secret.
Participating cable, satellite, and Telco affiliates offering
the free on-demand sampling opportunities for the first episode
include: Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Time Warner Cable, Verizon
FiOS, Cox Communications, Charter Communications, Mediacom
Communications Corporation, Insight Communications, Armstrong, Midcontinent Communications,
Buckeye CableSystem, GCI, Blue Ridge Communications, Massillon
Cable TV, and Antietam Cable Television.
In addition, the season premiere will be available online
through Comcast's Xfinity TV (www.xfinitytv.com), DISH Network
(www.DISHOnline.com) and Charter Communications (www.charter.net)
online platforms. Users on the go can also view the first episode
on Comcast's Xfinity TV app (www.xfinity.com/tvapp) for the iPad,
iPhone and iPod touch.
"We are delighted that the interest from affiliates in sampling
the series across all platforms has been so strong, netting an
unprecedented level of 'Boss' sampling opportunities," said
Ed Huguez, executive vice president,
affiliate sales and marketing for Starz Entertainment. "As
witnessed by the early season two renewal, we feel great about the
prospects for this magnificent series."
"The marketing campaign for 'Boss' has benefitted greatly from
having an iconic figure in Kelsey playing such a memorable role as
Mayor Kane," said Nancy McGee,
executive vice president of marketing for Starz Entertainment. "The
positive reaction from affiliates mirrors that which we have heard
from early critical reviews and the tremendous support received
from our promotional partners."
Future episodes of "Boss" will be available to STARZ subscribers
on STARZ ON DEMAND and STARZ ONLINE
the day after the Friday premiere.
"Boss" is executive produced by Golden Globe® and Emmy Award®
winner Kelsey Grammer, who also
stars as Mayor Tom Kane, marking the
actor's dramatic TV series debut. Joining Grammer in the main cast
are Connie Nielsen
(Gladiator, The Devil's Advocate) as his wife
Meredith, a formidable Chicago
power in her own right; Hannah Ware
(Cop Out) as the Kanes' estranged daughter Emma;
Jeff Hephner ("The O.C.,"
"Hellcats," "Easy Money") as ambitious young politician
Ben Zajac; Kathleen Robertson ("Girls Club," "Beverly Hills
90210," Hollywoodland) as Mayor Kane's supremely organized
chief of staff Kitty O'Neil; Martin
Donovan ("Weeds," Unthinkable) as Kane's senior
advisor, a savvy Yale graduate who
helps the Mayor achieve his agenda; and Troy Garity (Sunshine, Bandits) as
enterprising journalist Sam Miller,
who is zeroing in on Kane.
"Boss" explores the complexities of Mayor Tom Kane (Kelsey
Grammer), who 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 this through deception and questionable ethics, so be it.
As long as he gets the job done, they look the other way. But now,
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. Kane's
wife Meredith (Connie Nielsen) knows
nothing; theirs is a marriage of convenience. Kitty O'Neil
(Kathleen Robertson), has her
suspicions but stays silent, and Kane's political advisor
Ezra Stone (Martin Donovan) does what the Mayor requires, no
questions asked. Only Emma (Hannah
Ware), Kane's estranged daughter, has a chance of learning
his secret. This is going to be the toughest term yet for the
Boss.
Farhad Safinia is executive
producer on the series, along with Grammer, Van Sant, Brian
Sher, Stella Bulochnikov, Richard
Levine and Lyn Greene.
Lions Gate Television is producing "Boss" in association with
Grammer's Grammnet NH Productions, Roya Productions and Old Friends
Productions.
Grammer, who earned a Tony Award® nomination in 2010 for his
starring role in the Broadway production of "La Cage Aux Folles,"
is a multiple Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award winner for his
portrayal of Frasier Crane in the
long-running TV series "Cheers" and "Frasier." His dramatic feature
film credits include X-Men: The Last Stand and 15
Minutes.
Van Sant's credits include
Milk, Good Will Hunting (both of which earned him Oscar®
nominations for Best Director), Finding Forrester and To
Die For. He also played himself in an episode of the television
series "Entourage."
About Starz Entertainment
Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie and original
programming entertainment service provider operating in
the United States. The company
offers 17 premium channels including the flagship STARZ® and
ENCORE® brands with approximately 19 million and 32.9 million
subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs in total
more than 1,000 movies and original series every month across its
pay TV channels. Starz Entertainment is recognized as a pay TV
leader in providing HD, On Demand, HD On Demand and online advanced
services for its STARZ, ENCORE and MOVIEPLEX brands. Starz
Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC,
which is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation and
is attributed to the Liberty Starz tracking stock group (NASDAQ:
LSTZA).
For high-resolution images and other press materials please
visit the Starz Press Room at www.starz.mediaroom.com.
The official "Boss" trailer, and behind the scenes videos are
available at www.starz.com/boss. Viewers will also be able to
follow "Boss" on Twitter: www.twitter.com/boss_starz and on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/boss.starz.
Contact:
Jenny Taylor
Starz Entertainment
(720) 852-6018
jenny.taylor@starz.com
SOURCE Starz Entertainment