Workaholic Mike Flaherty (Michael J. Fox) is the Deputy Mayor of New York City, serving as Mayor Randall Winston's (Barry Bostwick) key strategist and much-needed handler. Mike runs the city with the help of his oddball staff: an anxious and insecure press secretary (Richard Kind); a sexist, boorish chief of staff (Alan Ruck); a brilliant and dedicated gay activist running minority affairs (Michael Boatman); a sharp and efficient, unlucky-in-love accountant (Connie Britton); and an idealistic young speechwriter (Alexander Chaplin). Like Mike, they are all professionally capable, but personally challenged.
Michael and his team grapple with a garbage strike and a political gaffe by the Mayor. In addition, Ashley questions Michael's commitment to their relationship when he is nervous about living together.
When Michael 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.
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.
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.
The former Mayor of New York is a constant critic of the current administration, and a plan to appease him has tragic and hilarious consequences. Meanwhile, Michael and Ashley try to avoid their annoying new neighbors.
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.
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.
Cheers alumnus George Wendt guest stars as a famed real estate developer, Dan Donaldson. Michael needs a favor from 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.
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. Former Mayor of New York Ed Koch makes a cameo guest appearance as Speaker Rosen, head of the City Council.
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.
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.
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.
Michael is uncomfortable with his newly single status when he realizes he's actually on a date with Assistant District Attorney Danielle Brinkman (Courtney Thorne-Smith). Meanwhile, Paul meets the president of his fan club, Claudia Sacks, who has arranged the group's first meeting.
Mike butts heads with a hard-nosed new 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.
It's Valentine's Day, and Carter's old flame Spence (Luke Perry) 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.
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, Rosie O'Donnell, Larry King and others. But in the midst of the planning, a scandal swirls about the Mayor's presumed affair with a staffer from the Governor's office.
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.
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.
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 (Marlee Matlin). Meanwhile, Paul is worried that Claudia wants to move in permanently.
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.
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.
The Mayor separates from his wife and moves in with Michael, much to Mike's chagrin. Meanwhile, designer Isaac Mizrahi (as himself) 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.
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.
Media[]
Spin Control (ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY • NOVEMBER 1996)
