Spin City
In this sitcom, Deputy Mayor Mike Flaherty (Michael J. Fox) and his City Hall staff must stop the dim-witted Mayor Randall Winston (Barry Bostwick) of New York City from embarrassing himself in front of the media and the voters. The staff consists of Caitlin Moore (Heather Locklear) the Communications Director, Carter Haywood (Michael Boatman) the head of Minority Affairs, Stuart Bondek (Alan Ruck) the Chief of Staff, Paul Lassiter (Richard Kind) the Press Secretary, James Hobert (Alexander Chaplin), the Mayor's Speech Writer, and Nikki Faber (Connie Britton) accountant. In the final two seasons of the show, Mike was replaced by Charlie Crawford (Charlie Sheen).
- Metascore72
- 1996-2002
- 6 seasons
- ABC
- Comedy
- TV-14
In this sitcom, Deputy Mayor Mike Flaherty (Michael J. Fox) and his City Hall staff must stop the dim-witted Mayor Randall Winston (Barry Bostwick) of New York City from embarrassing himself in front of the media and the voters. The staff consists of Caitlin Moore (Heather Locklear) the Communications Director, Carter Haywood (Michael Boatman) the head of Minority Affairs, Stuart Bondek (Alan Ruck) the Chief of Staff, Paul Lassiter (Richard Kind) the Press Secretary, James Hobert (Alexander Chaplin), the Mayor's Speech Writer, and Nikki Faber (Connie Britton) accountant. In the final two seasons of the show, Mike was replaced by Charlie Crawford (Charlie Sheen).
Season 1 Episode Guide
24 Episodes 1996 - 1997
Episode 1
Pilot
Tue, Sep 17, 1996 30 mins
Mike Flaherty has to juggle the interests of his conservative mayor boss and a gay activist whom the Mayor has unwittingly insulted. At home, Mike has to deal with his reporter girlfriend Ashley, when it finally dawns on him that she doesn't just sleep over but that she actually lives with him. To appease both Carter, by having his voice heard, and the mayor, by correcting his gaffe, Mike hires Carter as his new consultant of minority affairs.
Episode 2
The Great Pretender
Tue, Sep 24, 1996 23 mins
The mayor's vocal wife causes Mike and the staff heartache as Winston and the staffers attend a dinner hosted by Catholic and Jewish leaders in New York City at which the mayor is being honored. Meanwhile, Paul is uptight over Ashley's latest reporting hot streak involving an internal audit at a Queens high school and Mike faces problems with his love life following his being named the Sexiest Man in New York.
Episode 3
The Apartment
Tue, Oct 1, 1996 23 mins
Mike and Ashley's hectic schedules cause problems in their personal lives at home. Meanwhile, the garbage strike continues and as negotiations continue between the Mayor and the workers, Stuart is left in charge of the office while Mike keeps Winston in line.
Episode 4
Pride and Prejudice
Tue, Oct 8, 1996 23 mins
A camera crew for a magazine films Mike and his staff performing their daily office duties and they each give their own spin on what goes on in City Hall every day. While this is going on, the reporter develops the hots for awkward speech writer James and Carter encourages the mayor to address the pressing issue of AIDS in New York City.
Episode 5
The Rivals
Tue, Oct 15, 1996 23 mins
Winston, jealous of the old Mayor Garfield's likability factor which he just can't seem to obtain, wishes death on the man and within a couple of days, he gets his wish! Mike and the staff try to console the Mayor by telling him it's not his fault and that Garfield had a bad heart. Nikki bets that none of the men in the office have what it takes to be a dad.
Episode 6
A Star Is Born
Tue, Oct 22, 1996 23 mins
Dr. Bronsteen, an old professor of James', is appointed the city's new School Commissioner by Winston, but it is later revealed by the press that he was caught on camera smoking pot at a 1971 Grateful Dead concert causing duress for Mike and disbelief for James. Ashley is offered a job reporting for a local TV station.
Episode 7
Grand Illusion
Tue, Oct 29, 1996 23 mins
Ashley's job for New York's ABC affiliate isn't as fulfilling as her old one; Carter plans to marry Nikki to make a point to the Mayor on gay marriage. He believes that if two heterosexual people are allowed to marry no matter how close they are or how much they have in common, gays should be able to have the same luxury.
Episode 8
The High and the Mighty
Tue, Nov 12, 1996 23 mins
Paul's identity is stolen during a period where crime in the city is at its lowest rate in years. A famous developer signs onto a project for the Mayor's office and hopes for something in return: he suggests an unethical opportunity for Mike to inform the billionaire about the lowest bid for a construction contract he wants.
Episode 9
Meet Tommy Dugan
Tue, Nov 19, 1996 23 mins
A childlike janitor wins the Mayor For A Day contest intended for kids only and begins to have more influence over the press than the Mayor himself, who isn't particularly favored by the press.
Episode 10
The Competition
Tue, Nov 26, 1996 23 mins
City Council's Lisa challenges Mike to a turkey cook-off on Thanksgiving to see who can feed more homeless people: the Mayor's office or City Council. Meanwhile, James looks for a way to break up with his girlfriend of seven years. To complicate things, Becky shows up to surprise her long-distance boyfriend for the holiday.
Episode 11
Dog Day Afternoon
Tue, Dec 10, 1996 23 mins
Mike attempts to appease the Police Commissioner by honoring a fallen hero: Bingo, the police dog. Things get out of hand, however, when Paul and Carter lose the dog's body after they're kicked out of a cab and Mike can't stall the service for Bingo any longer. Ashley ponders boundary issues when she overhears a message intended for Mike regarding the Bingo situation.
Episode 12
Criss Cross
Tue, Dec 17, 1996 23 mins
When the Mayor falls ill due to Paul spreading a nasty flu bug all around the office, Mike steps in for His Honor on the national TV show "Counterpoint." The best part is that his opponent happens to be his girlfriend, Ashley. Also, Carter has the staff coming to him for ridiculous dating and relationship advice. At the end, he thanks God that he's gay.
Episode 13
Bye Bye Love
Tue, Jan 7, 1997 23 mins
After Ashley Schaeffer leaves him for a better job in Los Angeles, Mike attempts to cover up by saying it was a mutual decision and that he gave her his approval to take the job. Mike later reaches his breaking point as he nearly strangles Stuart in a restaurant after he calls her a bitch and confesses to Nikki that he begged her to stay but she left anyway.
Episode 14
Starting Over
Tue, Jan 14, 1997 23 mins
New Asst D.A. Danielle Brinkman, an old friend of Mike's, is eager to get re-acquainted, but out-of-sorts Mike finds it hard to date after his breakup with Ashley, despite her great looks & advances. Paul meets his fan club president.
Episode 15
Gabby's Song
Tue, Jan 28, 1997 23 mins
Mike tries to charm hard-nosed new appointee Gabrielle Sanchez, by whom the men feel threatened. Claudia wants to get to know Paul intimately.
Episode 16
Kiss Me, Stupid
Tue, Feb 11, 1997 23 mins
Valentine's Day brings romantic chaos: Carter's ex-boyfriend Spence comes to visit and has a surprise. James hits on Nikki. Paul and Claudia's liaison is a comedy of errors.
Episode 17
An Affair to Remember
Tue, Feb 18, 1997 23 mins
Mike plans a star-studded party for the Mayor's 50th birthday, but tries to keep him away from Holly Cohen, Randall's romantic interest from the governor's office so that the Winston marriage doesn't suffer.
Episode 18
Snowbound
Tue, Feb 25, 1997 23 mins
During a blizzard, an inept security guard pursues a nudist in City Hall; Mike's high school crush visits en route to Paris; Paul & Randall make gaffs during a radio broadcast; and Carter and Stuart get locked in the boiler room.
Episode 19
Striptease
Tue, Mar 4, 1997 23 mins
At a constituent's bachelor party in a strip club, the staffers find that Mike's new girlfriend is a stripper, then must deal with bad publicity from reporters and photographers.
Episode 20
Deaf Becomes Her
Tue, Mar 18, 1997 23 mins
Paul's leg injury, Mike's toothache, and possibly falsified resumes all get mixed up with accidental insults to the hearing-impaired community.
Episode 21
Hot in the City
Tue, Apr 1, 1997 23 mins
Mike's aggressive former girlfriend Carrie makes him uncomfortable by asking to have a child with him; a drop in the mayor's approval rating coincides with the reunion of rock musicians.
Episode 22
Bone Free
Tue, Apr 29, 1997 23 mins
When the Mayor is attending a speech being given by a woman, he is aroused and when she stops speaking he is supposed to stand up as a sign of respect... but he can't. So now people are wondering why he didn't stand up. They tell Paul to tell the press that he was not feeling well. But when he says yes to a reporter's questions, he just said the Mayor has a coronary condition, So the staff scramble to find a plausible explanation for his condition. In the meantime, the guys tell Nikki that her new boyfriend a struggling playwright whom she is supporting, is sponging off her. But she doesn't believe them.
Episode 23
The Mayor Who Came to Dinner
Tue, May 6, 1997 23 mins
James helps Stuart write a speech for his condo association meeting; Nikki models in a charity fashion show; Randall breaks up with his wife after 22 years and moves in with Mike.
Episode 24
Mayor Over Miami
Tue, May 13, 1997 23 mins
Randall is depressed after signing divorce papers. Claudia pursues Paul. So both men skip town for Miami, leaving the other staffers to cover for them. Stuart has a personality change due to his new girlfriend.
