After the “Boss” wrap party a few weeks back, actor Doug James realized how much he wanted the show to succeed, to endure through many seasons and also to let people know how great the show is.
Talking to his fellow actors at the wrap party and thinking about it afterwards, James came to the conclusion that “the best way to get people to see the show and boost the numbers was to get a buzz going,” says the actor whose ebullient personality contrasts with his recurring role as the mysterious, stone cold killer.
That Chicago buzz will start with a “Boss” Premiere Party that James and some of his fellow actors will host Aug. 17 to celebrate the show’s second season on Starz network at 9 p.m.
“Actors, the crew, ad people, the public, everybody – they’re all invited,” he says. Not only to the Premiere Party but to watch the show for the next nine Friday ‘Boss’ nights.
The venue is The Ogden club, located on the corner of Ogden and Ashland. “The club owners are bending over backwards to make it a special night, with drink and food specials,” says James. “The place is outfitted with 23 flat screens throughout with 100 percent sightlines and even the booths have 18-inch flat screens, so there’s no chance of missing a beat in “Boss.”
James wants people to know that the Premiere Party is the effort of the Chicago actors who worked on the show. “We won’t have Kelsey or any of the other out-of-town stars like Connie Nielsen or Troy Garity, but 50 to 75 actors who worked on ‘Boss’ will be there and the public can mingle and get to know our local talent,” he says.
Casting director Claire Simon and her crew, who cast the Chicago talent, have sent their RSVPs. Among the actors planning to attend are James Vincent Meredith (Ald. William Ross), John Hoogenekker (D.A. Doyle), Danny Goldring (Ryan Kavanaugh), Jeff Hephner (state treasurer Zapac), David Pasquesi (edior Bentley) and Francis Guinan (Gov. Cullen).
As a bonus, his high-energy 7-piece rock/funk/blues band, Doug James and the Pocket, which he fronts as a singer, will entertain from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m., when he will introduce the actors and other show principals. The band will resume after the show at 10 p.m.
If James were in charge of the Starz network, “Boss” would continue as long as there’s television. Hyperbole, sure, but the effusive actor is serious when he says, “I want this very dynamic show to make it.”
Furthermore, James says he was very annoyed by two things. One was not seeing “Boss” promoted on TV stations to drive viewership, other than on the Starz network. The other was the sour news that the Chicago-set “Devil and the White City,” was being filmed in Atlanta.
The Premiere Party starts at 7:30 p.m.; The Ogden is at 1649 N. Ogden, no cover charge and parking available.
