“Boss”: Second season premieres Aug. 17

Kelsey Grammer stars in "Boss" - Starz Photo

The Starz original drama series “Boss” will begin its second season at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17.

Kelsey Grammer stars in his Golden Globe-winning role as fictional Chicago Mayor Tom Kane, along with Connie Nielsen, Hannah Ware, Jeff Hephner, Kathleen Robertson, Troy Garity and Rotimi.

Joining the cast this season are Jonathan Groff (“Glee”) as Ian Todd, a smart and ambitious young advisor to Kane, and Sanaa Lathan “Nip/Tuck”) as Alderman Ross’ strong-willed and politically savvy chief of staff Mona Fredricks, according to a news release. Special guest star Tip Harris, aka rapper T.I. (“American Gangster”), will play Trey, a former gangbanger with designs on a career in City Hall, and Amy Morton (“Private Practice”) will also guest star as State Senator Catherine Walsh, who has been defeated in her bid for governor three times, but is now determined to win.

The Season Two summary and production credits for “Boss,” provided by Starz,” are as follows:

Kane ferociously beats back the physical symptoms of his illness with high doses of medication.  But this comes at a cost — experiencing heightened psychological manifestations of the disease.  Without his longtime advisors Stone and Kitty, Kane is also forced to reconfigure his inner circle.  Surrounded by strangers and without much time left, he acts quickly to protect and repair his legacy by cutting out the cancers within the political machine.  But as corrupt heads roll and his list of enemies grows, Kane’s virtuous actions begin to erode the very foundation of power he’s worked a lifetime to build.  In order to maintain it, Kane must govern as he always has—ruthlessly.