Spin City: Season 1

1996 · 24 episodes · ★ 7.1

What Season 1 of Spin City

Behind every great mayor is a team barely holding it together. Deputy Mayor Mike Flaherty juggles political fires, public relations nightmares, and a staff full of lovable misfits in this fast-paced political comedy.

24episodes

Sep 17, 1996premiered

May 13, 1997latest episode

8.8 hrtotal runtime

Season 1 Episodes

1x01 Pilot
Sep 17, 1996 · 22 min
Michael Flaherty and his team grapple with a garbage strike and a political gaffe by the Mayor who accidentally insults gays. In addition, Ashley questions Mike's commitment to their relationship when is nervous about moving in together.
Directed by: Thomas Schlamme · Written by: Bill Lawrence, Gary David Goldberg · Starring: Victoria Dillard, Taylor Stanley
1x02 The Great Pretender
Sep 24, 1996 · 22 min
When Mike is named Sexiest Man in New York by ""Manhattan"" magazine, he has difficulty living up to the notoriety at home. In the meantime, the staff must deal with Mayor Winston's problematic wife during an important dinner.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writing: Sarah Dunn · Starring: Deborah Rush, Robert Trumbull, Jimmy Palumbo, Kim Serafin
1x03 The Apartment
Oct 1, 1996 · 22 min
Michael and the Mayor work around the clock to negotiate an end to the garbage strike, which leaves Stuart in charge of the office, to everyone's dismay. And, though they just moved into a new apartment, life is so hectic that Ashley and Michael never get to see each other.
Directed by: Lee Shallat Chemel · Written by: Bill Lawrence · Starring: Victoria Dillard, Michael Goldfinger, Sam Stern, Eric Slovin
1x04 Pride and Prejudice
Oct 8, 1996 · 22 min
Michael allows a TV crew into the office for a profile on himself, and one of his quotes lands him in hot water with Ashley. In the meantime, Carter goes behind Michael's back to get the Mayor to green-light a controversial project.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writing: Brian Buckner · Starring: Victoria Dillard, Gretchen Mol, Taylor Stanley, Rudy Ruggiero
1x05 The Rivals
Oct 15, 1996 · 22 min
The former Mayor of New York is a constant critic of the current administration, and a plan to appease him has tragic consequences. Meanwhile, Michael and Ashley try to avoid their annoying new neighbors. And Nikki holds a contest among the men in the office to prove that none of them could ever be fathers.
Directed by: Lee Shallat Chemel · Starring: Bray Poor, Welker White, Edmund Ikeda, Mario Mendoza
1x06 A Star is Born
Oct 22, 1996 · 22 min
When Mayor Winston's nominee for the Public Schools Chancellor proves an embarrassment to the administration, James urges Mike to stick with the controversial candidate. In the meantime, Ashley considers a career in television on a roundtable show.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Starring: Victoria Dillard, John Bedford Lloyd, Bill Boggs, Sylvia Kauders
1x07 Grand Illusion
Oct 29, 1996 · 22 min
Carter and Nikki plan a fake wedding to make a point about the mayor's stance on same-sex marriages. Meanwhile, Paul is a transformed man when the eye patch he wears after a minor injury gives him unprecedented self-confidence and sex appeal. And an unsatisfied Ashley considers leaving her new TV show for the newspaper again.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Starring: Victoria Dillard, William Bogert, Jane Cecil, Claudia Rocafort
1x08 The High and the Mighty
Nov 12, 1996 · 22 min
Michael needs a favor from famed real estate developer Dan Donaldson, but the price Mike has to pay may not be worth it. In the meantime, Paul finds it hard to crow about the city's lowered crime rate, since he's just become a victim of a robbery-again. And Mike and Ashley can't agree on what show to watch when they're in bed.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Starring: George Wendt, Andy Daly, Taylor Stanley
1x09 Meet Tommy Dugan
Nov 19, 1996 · 22 min
An opinionated school janitor becomes "Mayor for a Day" when he wins an essay contest intended for schoolchildren. Meanwhile, the Mayor wants to change his image.
Directed by: Lee Shallat Chemel · Written by: Tim Hobert · Starring: Woody Harrelson, John Harrington Bland, David Carlson, Lisa Louise Langford
1x10 The Competition
Nov 26, 1996 · 22 min
When the Mayor's office competes against City Council in an annual Thanksgiving contest, the stakes are high, since the losers must croon a show tune in front of the press. James has trouble breaking up with a longtime girlfriend visiting from Wisconsin.
Directed by: Lee Shallat Chemel · Written by: Sarah Dunn · Starring: Victoria Dillard, Ed Koch, J. Smith-Cameron, Stephen Colbert
1x11 Dog Day Afternoon
Dec 10, 1996 · 22 min
Mike tries to appease the disgruntled Police Commissioner by honoring a beloved police dog who has recently died. But things go awry on the way to the funeral when Paul and Carter lose the canine's body. And Mike buys an air hockey table for the staff proving Stuart a very big talker.
Directed by: Lee Shallat Chemel · Starring: Victoria Dillard, Jerry Adler, Jason Antoon, Robert Maschio
1x12 Criss Cross
Dec 17, 1996 · 22 min
Michael substitutes for the Mayor on a political talk show, facing off against Ashley on a hot-button issue. Meanwhile, Paul plays City Hall Santa while battling a terrible bout of the flu that is sweeping the office. And everyone finds themselves going to Carter for romantic advice.
Directed by: Lee Shallat Chemel · Written by: Brian Buckner · Starring: James Murtaugh, Paul Reggio, Taylor Stanley, John Scurti
1x13 Bye Bye Love
Jan 7, 1997 · 22 min
The office rallies to lift Mike's spirits after his break-up with Ashley, but he resists their best efforts. That is, until he decides he needs a friend and reaches out to Nikki in the middle of her date with the perfect man. And Paul sets a New Year's resolution to be less gullible.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writing: Bill Lawrence · Starring: Ken Marino, Tom Riis Farrell, Eric Kushnick, Sylvia Kauders
1x14 Starting Over
Jan 14, 1997 · 22 min
Michael is uncomfortable with his newly single status when he realizes he's actually on a date with new assistant district attorney Danielle Brinkman. Meantime, Paul meets the president of his fan club, Claudia Sacks, who has arranged the group's first meeting. And Carter and Stuart have a little too much to drink and end up in an awkward situation.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Starring: Victoria Dillard, Iraida Polanco, Judy Stadt, Courtney Thorne-Smith
1x15 Gabby's Song
Jan 28, 1997 · 22 min
Mike butts heads with a hard-nosed new chief of staff appointee, Gabby Sanchez, who is unmoved by his best efforts to win her over. Meanwhile, Paul ponders taking his relationship with Claudia to the next level.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writing: Tim Hobert · Starring: Constance Marie, Taylor Stanley, Jared Johansen, Tom Shillue
1x16 Kiss Me, Stupid
Feb 11, 1997 · 22 min
It's Valentine's Day, and Carter's old flame Spence wants to meet with him. Meantime, Mike goes on a date from hell with a beautiful friend of Nikki's, and Paul's romantic evening with Claudia becomes unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writing: Sarah Dunn · Starring: Luke Perry, Kim Dickens, Anney Giobbe, Faith Prince
1x17 An Affair to Remember
Feb 18, 1997 · 22 min
For the Mayor's 50th birthday, Paul is determined to get his ""old friend"" George Stephanopoulos to attend the event; as Michael arranges for birthday wishes from David Letterman, Patrick Ewing, Al Michaels, Dan Dierdorf, Frank Gifford, Rosie O'Donnell, Larry King, and the cast of Rent. But in the midst of the planning, a scandal swirls about the Mayor's presumed affair with a staffer from the Governor's office.
Directed by: Lee Shallat Chemel · Written by: Amy Cohen, Michelle Nader · Starring: Deborah Rush, George Stephanopoulos, Anne Twomey, Dan Dierdorf
1x18 Snowbound
Feb 25, 1997 · 22 min
A major snowstorm hits Manhattan, causing a chain reaction of mishaps at City Hall. Mike desperately tries to meet his longtime crush on her last night in the city; Paul accidentally offends the Mayor on the radio; Carter and Stuart are locked in the boiler room; and a nudist is on the loose in the Mayor's office.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writing: Brian Buckner, Sebastian Jones · Starring: Victoria Dillard, Amanda Peet, Gabriel Macht, Faith Prince
1x19 Striptease
Mar 4, 1997 · 22 min
Michael discovers that his new girlfriend, Gayley, is paying for law school by moonlighting as a stripper. Meantime, Claudia catches Paul in a lie, and Nikki plays mind games with Stuart.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writing: Tim Hobert · Starring: Victoria Dillard, Cynthia Watros, Stephen Scibetta, Sylvia Kauders
1x20 Deaf Becomes Her
Mar 18, 1997 · 22 min
It's damage control time when the Mayor's inept new sign-language interpreter inadvertently offends the deaf community, and Michael rushes to appease one of its leaders, Sarah Edelman. Meantime, Paul is worried that Claudia wants to move in permanently.
Directed by: Lee Shallat Chemel · Starring: Victoria Dillard, Marlee Matlin, Sam Seder, Lewis Merkin
1x21 Hot in the City
Apr 1, 1997 · 22 min
On the personal front, Mike struggles with his ex-girlfriend, Carrie, who is desperate to bear his child (with or without his participation). At the office, he's playing peacemaker after the mayor's ill-chosen words split up a beloved band just before their reunion concert.
Directed by: Lee Shallat Chemel · Starring: Victoria Dillard, J.K. Simmons, Charle Landry, Kathleen Chalfant
1x22 Bone Free
Apr 29, 1997 · 22 min
The men in the office find love-or rather, lust-is in the air, causing more than a few problems. And Nikki wonders whether her new heartthrob, George, is a struggling writer or an untalented mooch.
Directed by: Lee Shallat Chemel · Starring: Victoria Dillard, Sam Seder, Anna Holbrook, Rebecca Boyd
1x23 The Mayor Who Came to Dinner
May 6, 1997 · 22 min
The Mayor separates from his wife and moves in with Michael, much to Mike's chagrin. Meanwhile, designer Isaac Mizrahi helps the Mayor's office with a charity fashion show and gives Nikki a once-in-a-lifetime chance to strut the runway in one of his creations.
Directed by: Lee Shallat Chemel · Written by: Tim Hobert · Starring: Victoria Dillard, Deborah Rush, Isaac Mizrahi, Rachel York
1x24 Mayor Over Miami Season Finale
May 13, 1997 · 22 min
Despondent over his separation with his wife, the Mayor decides on a whim to take a road trip with Paul, leaving Mike in charge of New York City and scrambling to find out where they went.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writing: Brian Buckner · Starring: Victoria Dillard, Marin Hinkle, Marcia DeBonis, Timothi-Jane Graham