Reviews in: ‘Boss’ is a big winner with great future

Kelsey Grammer as Mayor Kane in “Boss”

EVERYONE HERE who worked on the Chicago-set, Chicago-filmed “Boss” – all the unions, the Cinespace owners, all of us who believe in our industry and want to see it thrive – will be ecstatic hearing the rave reviews the show is starting to garner.

The Hollywood Reporter’s Tim Goodman sets the tone with his must-read Oct. 19 review that states the series has all the success elements to continue as a game-changer for the Starz cable network and could run for a very long time, as another “The Shield” or “The Sopranos.”  

“The drama seems to have the ‘it’ factor from the opening credits” and has “the potential to be a game-changer for the pay TV network,” says Goodman. “The impressive new drama comes out of the gate with gravitas, swagger, originality and intrigue.” 

The series kicks off with “a beautiful directorial stamp from Gus Van Sant” and star “Kelsey Grammer is in nearly every scene and superb in all of them,” praises Goodman and goes on with accolades in every sentence.

The professional Hollywood review is sure to make you feel proud about your city and your craft.

AFTER 15 YEARS AT DRAFTFCB Chris Pultorak joined DDB in the newly-created position of SVP/integrated brand leader on the Capital One business.  He’d spent eight years at FCB before the merger and rose to SVP/group management director on the SC Johnson corporate business.

Matthew Schabdach also joined DDB as account director on Capital One.  He’d been an account director at McGarryBowen on its Verizon and Chase business.

CHANGING TIMES. Big Shoulders was awarded the contract to produce the half-hour local TV show, “Connections,” sponsored by the CTA and seen on Chs. 23 and 25… The Chicago Park District’s long-running show, “Chicago at Play,” produced by Peter Karl Productions for many years, was opened for bids. 

We don’t know how many bids were submitted for the Oct. 18 deadline, but 60 companies downloaded the forms.

ENERGY BBDO’S CREATIVE SALON series on Oct. 27 hosts Dan Sinker, the creative genius behind the @MayorEmanuel Twitter feed during the mayoral election.  Sinker, a journalism professor at Columbia College, caricatured Rahm Emanuel, known for his potty mouth as the former White House chief of staff.  Sinker’s mischief was lauded by The Atlantic magazine as “the best fake Twitter account ever.”

CHICAGO CAMP KULESHOV – the contest that stretches the fertile imagination of full-time assistant editors of AICP member companies  – is looking for those zany 90-trailer submissions by midnight, Oct. 28.  This year the challenge is to create a new film, a mashup or new genre from “Jaws,” horror; “What about Bob?” comedy and “Lost in Translation,” drama.

The Whitehouse producer Dawn Guzowski, who also is the AICE treasurer, has the heavy lifing job of coordinating the event with AICE memer companies for the second year.  

Submissions will be judged by a panel of experienced AICE editors. The Nov. 8 award show at the Volcano Room upstairs at the Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake, starts at 6:30 p.m.

“THE LAST RITES OF JOE MAY” starring Dennis Farina, is one of the six indie films showcased n the Nov. 11–13 Tribeca Film Festival at Landmark Century Centre Cinema. Among the filmmakers and actors in the post-screening Q&A sessions are actress Abigail Breslin (“Janie Jones”) and director Vincent D’Onofrio (“Don’t Go in the Woods”).

Tickets – $8 per screening and $12 for opening night film and after-party – include complimentary popcorn and soda, courtesy of sponsor American Express

NEW AT THE AICP SHOW Nov. 17, when 1,200 adbiz and ad-production folks are expected to congregate at the Cultural Center in the biggest event of the year.

For the first time at the show, a reel of winners in the Next special category honoring new media will screen at 4 p.m., prior to the 5 p.m. cocktail party.

Then, to accommodate all those who also come to see the Show Reel, there will be two consecutive screenings at 6:30 and 8 p.m., reports Story’s Mark Androw, AICP/Midwest chapter president and a former national AICP president and holder of other AICP offices.

Androw is in Dallas today for Story’s sponsorship of a party at that city’s AICP Show. The company used to have a Dallas office and continues to maintain strong relationships there.

THE THIRD COAST FILMLESS FESTIVAL Sunday, Oct. 23 is a daylong celebration of sound, story and the fine art of listening, i.e. radio. Special guests include Jonathan Goldstein (host and producer “Wiretap” and frequent contributor to “This American Life”), Samara Freemark (“Radio Diaries”), Peter Sagal (“Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!”), Jeff Towne (tech guru of Transom.org) and more.

At the Joffrey Tower, 10 E. Randolph, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Don’t be shy.  Share your news and events with Reel readers who want to know what’s going on.  Email Ruth@reelchicago.com.