- Okey-dokey!
Karen Palmieri is a recurring character in Season 1 of Spin City, portrayed by Taylor Stanley.
Story[]
Karen is a sweet, naive and bubbly college intern with the Winston Administration for a semester. Mike tries to show her the ropes and introduce her to the harsh reality of politics, but Karen's wide-eyed optimism usually foils those efforts. She's always in a good mood and tends to abandon a situation if it brings her down. For instance when she and Paul attend a work function together and he's in a bad mood, she complains to Mike and he lets her 'off the hook' as the office all paired off to avoid chaperoning Mrs. Winston.
At one point, Karen gets a crush on James, who in turn is crushing on Nikki, but Karen is too shy to tell him and confides in an increasingly exasperated Carter. He encourages Karen to just tell James how she feels, but she can't bring herself to do it. Karen graduates college at the end of 1996 and in January she turns to Nikki for advice on how to get a job at City Hall. Karen reveals that she has no money as she is still an intern despite having graduated, and that they made her move out of her dorm when she did. Nikki asserts it must've been at least two months at that point, which Karen affirms.
Nikki takes it upon herself to guide Karen in approaching Mike for a position, that she must become tougher to show she is an adult professional. Karen dresses up in a suit and talks to Mike in his office. She tells him that she graduated, and Mike wishes her the best in her career. Nikki waits outside the door and Karen turns to her, miserable, as Nikki points out she has to actually ask for the job. Karen makes her pitch to Mike and Mayor Winston, who applauds her work and hires her, much to Karen's delight. After she leaves to celebrate with Nikki, the mayor asks Mike who she is. Karen isn't seen around the office after that, indicating she got a position somewhere else at City Hall.
Episodes[]
- SEASON 1 (8/24)
- 01. Prototype
- 02. The Great Pretender
- 04. Pride And Prejudice
- 07. Grand Illusion
- 08. The High And The Mighty
- 11. Dog Day Afternoon
- 12. Criss Cross
- 15. Gabby's Song