On The Radar

Boss

I was intrigued when I heard Kelsey Grammer was returning to TV in a drama. His on screen persona and delivery is much like that of Fred Thompson, straight forward and authoritative. Prototypical powerful alpha dog. That is what makes Kelsey's comedy such gold (see: Down Periscope), it comes from an unexpected source.

In his new series Boss, there is no comedy backdrop. It's all dry, cut to the bone drama. You would think it would allow Kelsey to flex his dramatic plex, so to speak. But what comes out is so dry it makes Death Valley look like a waterpark.

Kelsey plays the fictional mayor/powerbroker of Chicago, a la Richard Daley. He controls the politics, he's corrupt, he moves whores thru his secret apartment at a rate that would impress The L, he has his own private goon squad and of course he has the "Good Wife" that looks at the political big picture over her personal pride. They do throw in a twist, he has an incurable debilitating disease and time is running out.

It's just too cookie cutter for me to swallow. But bless their hearts they do try hard. Personally, the hot blonde Mayor's Assistant and the very married Gubernatorial candidate that are screwing like bunnies anywhere they can find a broom closet is enough to keep me tuned in for the season.

For what it's worth, Kelsey does give some powerful performances, mostly in monologues to this catatonic disabled mentor, presumably suffering from the same disease. He's definitely NOT Dr. Frasier Crane.

Boss, Friday nights on Starz. It's DVR worthy.