Kelsey Grammer Golden Globes 2012: Wins Best Actor For 'Boss'

In the one of the biggest surprises of the night, Kelsey Grammer took home the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama Series for his role in Starz's "Boss," beating out last year's winner and 2012 frontrunner Steve Buscemi. For a show with a small audience and often mediocre reviews, very few people expected Grammer's name to be inside that envelope.

Grammer stars in the political drama as Tom Kane, the ruthless mayor of Chicago. Grammer beat out Steve Buscemi, for “Boardwalk Empire,” Bryan Cranston for his work in “Breaking Bad," Jeremy Irons for Showtime's “The Borgias” and Damian Lewis for “Homeland.”

"Boss", which was renewed for a Season 2 before Season 1 even premiered, wrapped its first season to an audience of about 500,000 viewers. "Boss" was also nominated for Best Drama series, but lost to Showtime's critically-acclaimed "Homeland." TV winners proved you don't have to be a big player in the Nielsen ratings to take home a Golden Globe. Laura Dern won for "Enlightened," which ended its first season to about 260,000 viewers, Matt LeBlanc won for "Episodes," which had 590,000 viewers for its finale, Claire Danes' "Homeland" ended Season 1 to 1.7 million viewers, Peter Dinklage's "Game of Thrones" ended Season 1 to 3 million viewers and Jessica Lange's "American Horror Story" was the most-watched with 3.2 million viewers for its finale.

For more TV winners, head on over to our full nominee and winners list. Want to weigh-in on the fashions of the night? Check out Moviefone's gallery.

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Comments

[ckfan]

09:43 PM on 01/16/2012

This tea bagger beat out Buscemi who should have won.

[shooki]

09:35 PM on 01/16/2012

Kesley Grammer received the Gloden Globe for his show Boss as a result of the interview with Pierce Morgan...
Pierce Morgan stated that his luck would now change since he took on a British wife. Apparantely that's all the foreign press needed to hear.

Kelsey and his show are offensive to all American women and no female should watch it!

[truthisugly]

09:35 PM on 01/16/2012

Reiterating my post from 3 weeks ago. "It is 100 percent chance that George Clooney will win best actor and best film of the year" The foreign press adores this man, no matter how poorly his movies do. Maybe they live vicariously through his switching out 29 year old girlfriends every year and want to keep him coming so they can awwww. Pitt actually deserved the win. Even Clooney knew that.

[bcamp]

08:43 PM on 01/16/2012

Kelsey Grammar is brilliant in "Boss". I loved him in "Frasier", but for the first time his powerful acting caused me for the first time to not be reminded of that indelible former character. I am sooo glad that he chose to do this show, and really and show his range. Can't wait for Season two. The other cast members are excellent too, but when he is in a scene, the scene is his.

[nlddd2]

08:31 PM on 01/16/2012

Kelsey Grammar is disgusting! I used to watch him and enjoy his humor. I don't think he's funny anymore.

[bcamp]

08:40 PM on 01/16/2012

His new show is not a comedy. Did you mean on "Boss"?

[nlddd2]

09:06 PM on 01/16/2012

I meant his lifestyle of cheating and leaving his children he wanted so badly with Camielle. I just can't find him entertaining anymore..it clouds my ability to see him as worthy of the recognition.

[mountainlora]

08:28 PM on 01/16/2012

After reading many comments here praising his performances on Boss, I am disappointed that it is on a premium channel. I wish I could see it. Maybe they will come out on DVD some day ...

[majesticjkr]

08:23 PM on 01/16/2012

Did everyone get one

[stru249]

07:53 PM on 01/16/2012

boss is bitchin.

[budoinst]

07:10 PM on 01/16/2012

How jaded are these "award shows"???!!! Grammer's show stinks and in the group he was in should have been last. LeBlanc, Dern, you have to be kidding. These shows are ridiculous and controlled.

[UES11]

06:50 PM on 01/16/2012

Kelsey has had a lot of losses in his personal life, he chooses money grubbing women with his other head. I just wish he would stop having kids with them....but them how would they keep the money coming in when it's over w/o child support???

[Georgette Romeu]

06:47 PM on 01/16/2012

The most surprising win of the night wasn't Kelsey Grammer's for Boss, that's one hell of a show and he gives one hell of a performance, that show is phenomenal and the cast is superb, all worthy of Golden Globes. Now, the most shocking win of the night was really Matt LeBlank's for Episodes. Was the HFP drunk when counting votes? or was it given for pitty or to call attention to the show in hopes of getting better ratings?. His performance is so weak and mediocre it just shows he has no range as an actor, and the show is boaring, it seems to go on forever and is simply not funny and a huge waste of time, I was shocked when they called his name and so was he, he was at a loss of words and confused because he knew he didn't deserve it, especially for that show, and I like Matt.

[lincolnparkman]

06:46 PM on 01/16/2012

Boss is the best show on TV and Kelsey deserved the award and an emmy....

[johnbitter1]

06:08 PM on 01/16/2012

Grammer is awsome on Boss, although his character is ruthless and unlikeable the majority of the time. Love Brian Cranston! Matt LeBlanc was the most suprising win.......

[Grechen Allen]

05:46 PM on 01/16/2012

At least he didnt fall off the stage.

[dblueII]

04:21 PM on 01/16/2012

Well, I didn't see it, so I can't say. But, I've always thought that Grammars skills were overrated. I was rooting for Damion Lewis.

[jmslotnick]

08:01 PM on 01/16/2012

Before saying overrated, you have to see him in Boss. Terrific..