Season 1

Season 1
Premiere	Prototype
Finale	Mayor Over Miami
Network	ABC
Starring	Michael J. Fox Barry Bostwick Carla Gugino Richard Kind Alan Ruck Michael Boatman Connie Britton Alexander Chaplin
Aired	17 September 1996 — 13 May 1997
Episodes	24
Showrunner(s)	Gary David Goldberg
Seasons

Season 1 of American comedy series Spin City aired from 17 September 1996 to 13 May 1997 on ABC Television Network.

Synopsis

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.

Starring

Michael J. Fox as Mike Flaherty

Carla Gugino as Ashley Schaeffer (12 episodes)

Richard Kind as Paul Lassiter

Alan Ruck as Stuart Bondek

Michael Boatman as Carter Heywood

Connie Britton as Nikki Faber

Alexander Chaplin as James Hobert

and Barry Bostwick as Randall Winston (23 episodes)

Special Guest Stars Deborah Rush as Helen Winston (3 episodes) George Wendt as Dan Donaldson ("The High And The Mighty") Woody Harrelson as Tommy Dugan ("Meet Tommy Dugan") Former Mayor, Ed Koch as Speaker Rosen ("The Competition") Courtney Thorne-Smith as Danielle Brinkman ("Starting Over") Constance Marie as Gabby Sanchez ("Gabby's Song") Luke Perry as Spence Kaymer ("Kiss Me, Stupid") Marlee Matlin as Sarah Edelman ("Deaf Becomes Her") Daphne Zuniga as Carrie ("Hot In The City") Isaac Mizrahi as Isaac Mizrahi ("The Mayor Who Came To Dinner") SPECIAL APPEARANCES BY Dan Dierdorf ("An Affair To Remember") Patrick Ewing ("An Affair To Remember") Frank Gifford ("An Affair To Remember") Wilson Heredia ("An Affair To Remember") Larry King ("An Affair To Remember") David Letterman ("An Affair To Remember") Al Michaels ("An Affair To Remember") Rosie O'Donnell ("An Affair To Remember") Anthony Rapp ("An Affair To Remember") Daphne Rubin-Vega ("An Affair To Remember") Recurring cast Victoria Dillard as Janelle Cooper (15 episodes) Taylor Stanley as Karen Palmieri (8 episodes) Faith Prince as Claudia Sacks (7 episodes)

Guest starring Gretchen Mol as Gwen ("Pride And Prejudice") Tom Lacy as Mayor Garfield ("The Rivals") Bray Poor as Yale ("The Rivals") Welker White as Maria ("The Rivals") John Bedford Lloyd as Dr. Bronsteen ("A Star Is Born") J. Smith Cameron as Lisa Zorne ("The Competition") Stephen Colbert as Frank ("The Competition") Jennifer Garner as Becky Corrigan ("The Competition") Jerry Adler as Police Commissioner Gould ("Dog Day Afternoon") James Murtaugh as Show Moderator ("Criss Cross") Ken Marino as Dan Fuchs ("Bye Bye Love") Tom Riis Farrell as UPS Guy ("Bye Bye Love") George Stephanopoulos as George Stephanopoulos ("An Affair To Remember") Anna Twomey as Holly Cohen ("An Affair To Remember") Amanda Peet as Shelly McCrory ("Snowbound") Cynthia Watros as Gayley ("Striptease") Sam Seder as Bogus Temp ("Deaf Becomes Her") Lewis Merkin as Tim ("Deaf Becomes Her") J.K. Simmons as Kevin ("Hot In The City") Charle Landry as Tommy ("Hot In The City") Sam Seder as George Rudell ("Bone Free") Anna Holbrook as Heidi Longley ("Bone Free") Marin Hinkle as Carolyn ("Mayor Over Miami") Marcia DeBonis as Ticket Agent ("Mayor Over Miami")

Co-Starring

Sylvia Kauders as Roberta (4 episodes) Robert Trumbull as Priest ("The Great Pretender") James A. Palumbo as Bartender ("The Great Pretender") Kim Serafin as Lila ("The Great Pretender") Michael Goldfinger as First Union Guy ("The Apartment") Sam Stern as Second Union Guy ("The Apartment") John Scurti as First Reporter ("The Apartment") Avery Glymph as Second Reporter ("The Apartment") Eric Slovin as Man In Hallway ("The Apartment") Edmond Ikeda as Mr. Fong ("The Rivals") Mario Mendoza as Jesus ("The Rivals") John Bland as First Reporter ("The Rivals") Kim Yancey as Second Reporter ("The Rivals") Amy Hohn as Third Reporter ("The Rivals") Avery Glymph as Fourth Reporter ("The Rivals") Bill Boggs as Talk Show Moderator ("A Star Is Born") Lisa Louise Langford as First Reporter ("A Star Is Born") William Bogert as Priest ("Grand Illusion") Jane Cecil as Marge ("Grand Illusion") Claudia Rocafort as Beautiful Woman ("Grand Illusion") Andrew Daly as Payroll Guy ("The High And The Mighty") Lisa Louise Langford as First Reporter ("Meet Tommy Dugan") John Bland as Second Reporter ("Meet Tommy Dugan") David Carlson as Third Reporter ("Meet Tommy Dugan") Brian Tarantina as First Homeless Man ("The Competition") Soby as Second Homeless Man ("The Competition") William Preston as Older Homeless Man ("The Competition") James E. Tripp as Reporter ("The Competition") Jason Antoon as Cab Driver ("Dog Day Afternoon")

Robert Maschio as Bingo's Partner ("Dog Day Afternoon") Paul Reggio as Bartender ("Criss Cross") John Scurti as Reporter ("Criss Cross") Eric Kushnick as Pizza Guy ("Bye Bye Love") Iraida Polanco as Cleaning Lady ("Starting Over") Judy Stadt as Waiter ("Starting Over") Jared Johansen as George ("Gabby's Song") Tom Shillue as Man In Hall ("Gabby's Song") Kim Dickens as Veronica ("Kiss Me, Stupid") Anney Giobbe as Melissa ("Kiss Me, Stupid") James E. Tripp as First Reporter ("An Affair To Remember") John Bland as Second Reporter ("An Affair To Remember") Shelton L. Palmer as Bandleader ("An Affair To Remember") Gabriel Macht as Naked Guy ("Snowbound") Nick Phelps as Security Guard ("Snowbound") John Bland as First Reporter ("Striptease") Jordan H. Fischer as Second Reporter ("Striptease") Marie Gabrielle as Third Reporter ("Striptease") David Carlson as Reporter ("Deaf Becomes Her") Carole Addabbo as First Dinner Guest ("Deaf Becomes Her") Frank L. Dattolo as Second Dinner Guest ("Deaf Becomes Her") Kathleen Chalfant as Mother Superior ("Hot In The City") Steve Gaasche as Band P.A. ("Hot In The City") Rebecca Boyd as Dr. Barrow ("Bone Free") Ellen Bethea as Reporter ("Bone Free") Rachel York as Beautiful Woman ("The Mayor Who Came To Dinner") Kathleen Claypool as Mrs. Schnoll ("The Mayor Who Came To Dinner") John Bland as Reporter ("Mayor Over Miami") Timothi Jane Graham as Waiter ("Mayor Over Miami")

Photos

Season 1/Gallery

Episodes

#	EPISODE	AIRDATE	WRITTEN BY
1	Prototype	17 SEPTEMBER 1996	Goldberg & Lawrence
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.
2	The Great Pretender	24 SEPTEMBER 1996	Sarah Dunn
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.
3	The Apartment	1 OCTOBER 1996	Bill Lawrence
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.
4	Pride And Prejudice	8 OCTOBER 1996	Brian Buckner & Sebastian Jones
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.
5	The Rivals	15 OCTOBER 1996	Amy Cohen & Michelle Nader
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.
6	A Star Is Born	22 OCTOBER 1996	Kirk J. Rudell
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.
7	Grand Illusion	29 OCTOBER 1996	Amy Cohen & Michelle Nader
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.
8	The High And The Mighty	12 NOVEMBER 1996	Kirk J. Rudell
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.
9	Meet Tommy Dugan	19 NOVEMBER 1996	Tim Hobert
A school janitor (Woody Harrelson) becomes "Mayor for a Day" when he wins an essay contest intended for schoolchildren.
10	The Competition	26 NOVEMBER 1996	Sarah Dunn
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.
11	Dog Day Afternoon	10 DECEMBER 1996	Jeff Lowell
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.
12	Criss Cross	17 DECEMBER 1996	Brian Buckner & Sebastian Jones
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.
13	Bye Bye Love	7 JANUARY 1997	Kirk J. Rudell & Bill Lawrence
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.
14	Starting Over	14 JANUARY 1997	Jeff Lowell
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.
15	Gabby's Song	28 JANUARY 1997	Jeff Lowell & Tim Hobert
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.
16	Kiss Me, Stupid	11 FEBRUARY 1997	Sarah Dunn
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.
17	An Affair To Remember	18 FEBRUARY 1997	Michelle Nader & Amy Cohen
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.
18	Snowbound	25 FEBRUARY 1997	Brian Buckner & Sebastian Jones
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.
19	Striptease	4 MARCH 1997	Jeff Lowell & Tim Hobert
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.
20	Deaf Becomes Her	18 MARCH 1997	Sarah Dunn & Kirk J. Rudell
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.
21	Hot In The City	1 APRIL 1997	Jay Scherick & David Ronn
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.
22	Bone Free	29 APRIL 1997	M. Nader & A. Cohen M. Craven & R. Childs
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.
23	The Mayor Who Came To Dinner	6 MAY 1997	Tim Hobert & Kirk J. Rudell
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.
24	Mayor Over Miami	13 MAY 1997	Brian Buckner & Sebastian Jones Sarah Dunn
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)