Season 3

Season 3
Premiere	Dead Dog Talking
Finale	Klumageddon: Part 2
Network	ABC
Starring	Michael J. Fox Barry Bostwick Richard Kind Alan Ruck Michael Boatman Connie Britton Alexander Chaplin Victoria Dillard Jennifer Esposito
Aired	22 September 1998 — 25 May 1999
Episodes	26
Showrunner(s)	Bill Lawrence
Seasons

Season 3 of American comedy series Spin City aired on ABC television network.

Synopsis

Michael J. Fox is back as Deputy Mayor Mike Flaherty, the damage-controlling spin wizard to New York City's favorite blundering boss man, Mayor Randall Winston. This season spells reelection time, and that means business in the office, aside from a steady stream of assassination plots, supermodels, teenage girl muggers, ex-girlfriends and a city full of problems. With all the ensuing chaos, there are enough distractions and obstacles to make business nearly impossible for Mike and his crew.

Starring

Michael J. Fox as Mike Flaherty

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

Victoria Dillard as Janelle Cooper

Jennifer Esposito as Stacey Paterno

and Barry Bostwick as Randall Winston

Special Guest Stars

Priscilla Presley as Marie Paterno (2 episodes)

Barry Corbin as Peter Noland ("The Deer Hunter")

Lou Diamond Philips as Nate Scott ("An Officer And A Gentlemen")

Christopher Lloyd as Owen Joyce ("Back To The Future IV: Judgement Day")

Jon Stewart as Mitch ("Wall Street")

SPECIAL APPEARANCES BY

Paula Abdul ("It Happened One Night")

Carla Gugino as Ashley Schaeffer ("It Happened One Night")

Paula Marshall as Laurie Parres ("It Happened One Night")

Tracy Pollan as Renee Miller ("It Happened One Night")

Courtney Thorne-Smith as Danielle Brinkman ("It Happened One Night")

Daphne Zuniga as Carrie ("It Happened One Night")

Chris Berman ("The Kidney's All Right")

Jeff Gordan ("The Kidney's All Right")

Jayson Williams ("The Kidney's All Right")

Michael Lupica ("Gobble The Wonder Turkey Saves The Day")

Joe Torre ("Gobble The Wonder Turkey Saves The Day")

Bill Maher ("Politically Incorrect")

Kelly Anne Fitzpatrick ("Politically Incorrect")

Julianne Malveaux ("Politically Incorrect")

Peter Roff ("Politically Incorrect")

Recurring cast

Heidi Klum as Heidi Klum (6 episodes)

Guest starring

Beth Littleford as Deirdre West (5 episodes)

Sam Robards as Arthur (4 episodes)

Mark Nelson as The Therapist (3 episodes)

Faith Prince as Claudia Sacks (3 episodes)

Clayton Prince as Bennet Jones (2 episodes)

Conan O'Brien as Conan ("Dead Dog Talking")

Nancy Giles as The Social Worker ("It Happened One Night")

Michael Gaston as Detective ("Three Men And A Little Lady")

Gerry Becker as Dr. Cosimi ("The Kidney's All Right")

Frankie Muniz as Derek ("The Kidney's All Right")

Philip Bosco as Randall Winston Sr. ("Gobble The Wonder Turkey Saves The Day")

Deborah Rush as Helen Winston ("Gobble The Wonder Turkey Saves The Day")

Justin Theroux as Pete ("Local Hero")

Richard Hamilton as Alfred ("Monkey Business")

Mike Hodge as Lloyd ("Monkey Business")

Todd Barry as Doug ("The Last Temptation Of Mike")

Joseph Sirola as Mario ("The Mayor With Two Brains")

Trivia

• This is the last season of the show with the main cast all together. It is also the last season with series co-creator Bill Lawrence. Lawrence returns to write the Season 4 finale, which is the series exit for Michael J. Fox, alongside Season 1 writer Sarah Dunn.

Episodes

#	EPISODE	AIRDATE	WRITTEN BY
1	Dead Dog Talking	22 SEPTEMBER 1998	Tom Hertz
Michael becomes a hero when it appears that he saved a runaway baby carriage in Central Park. However, the real Good Samaritan (Conan O'Brien) just wanted to keep his anonymity, and the ensuing hype overshadows the Mayor's announcement that he will run for another term. Also, Carter takes in his geriatric, suicidal family dog.
2	There's Something About Heidi	29 SEPTEMBER 1998	Amy Cohen & Michelle Nader
Mike goes on a date with supermodel Heidi Klum (as herself) and ends up in a compromising position on the front page of the papers. Meantime, Nikki thinks she might have feelings for Mike; and the Mayor can't stop laughing at others' misfortunes.
3	Gone With The Wind	6 OCTOBER 1998	Stephen Godchaux
Michael finds it frustrating that, just as his relationship with supermodel Heidi Klum heats up, she swears him to secrecy. Meanwhile, Paul's new industrial-strength fan causes an unfortunate incident with the ashes of James's Aunt Sarah -- a beloved family cow.
4	The Deer Hunter	13 OCTOBER 1998	Brian Buckner & Sebastian Jones
Michael sets out to bag a deep-pocketed political donor and unexpectedly ends up on a hunting trip in which the only way to snare the big bucks is to literally make a killing. Meanwhile, Janelle schools Stacey in the finer points of managing Stuart, who has been named her boss for the day.
5	It Happened One Night	20 OCTOBER 1998	Gayle Abrams
Mike considers adopting a baby abandoned at a press conference, which fans the flames of Nikki's crush on Mike. In addition, an all-star lineup of Mike Flaherty's ex-girlfriends, portrayed by Tracy Pollan, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Heidi Klum, Paula Marshall, Carla Gugino, Daphne Zuniga and Paula Abdul reveal their opinions about Mike.
6	Three Men And A Little Lady	27 OCTOBER 1998	Tim Hobert
After the Mayor is photographed throwing a baseball softly, Mike tries to give him a more "macho" image. But when the Mayor, Mike and Paul are mugged by a teenage girl, Mike's got more damage control than even he can handle. Meanwhile, Stuart loses his heart to Deirdre, a woman who's just as detestable as he is.
7	An Officer And A Gentleman	3 NOVEMBER 1998	David Rosenthal
As the Mayor proclaims the city's first Tolerance Day, Mike visits a shrink as he awaits a visit from his Navy buddy Nate (Lou Diamond Phillips). Stacy gets monetary advice from Paul.
8	Quest For Fire	10 NOVEMBER 1998	Jay Scherick & David Ronn
Nikki (Connie Britton) fabricates a boyfriend to divert attention from her crush on Mike (Michael J. Fox). Meanwhile, Mike finds it difficult to take a vacation, especially when the Olympic torch-carrier gets lost in the Big Apple; and Janelle is embarrassed by Paul's efforts to fit in when he moves into her Harlem neighborhood.
9	The Kidney's All Right	17 NOVEMBER 1998	Bill Callahan & Philip Wen
NASCAR star Jeff Gordon and New Jersey Nets star Jayson Williams guest star as themselves, making promises to a sick child that the Mayor feels compelled to top. Meanwhile, Carter tries to prove his youth by partying with Stacy till the wee hours; and Paul is intimidated by a bully.
10	Gobble The Wonder Turkey Saves The Day	24 NOVEMBER 1998	Tom Hertz
Mike persuades the staff to have Thanksgiving dinner with the Mayor on television, to show that he's a family guy; unfortunately, the Mayor and his father have a confrontation while on the air. Meanwhile, Stuart tricks Stacey into kissing him, and much to her disgust -- and his surprise -- she likes it.
11	Local Hero	8 DECEMBER 1998	Kirk J. Rudell
When Mike sets up Stacey with a timid city councilman, it is primarily to guarantee an important vote, but both Mike and Stacy are totally surprised when she uncharacteristically falls hard for the guy. Meanwhile, Stuart looks to fake an affair with Nikki in order to get out of his crazy relationship with Deirdre.
12	Monkey Business	15 DECEMBER 1998	Stephen Godchaux
Amid plans for the holidays, Stuart's sexual orientation comes into question and Mike matches wits with a chess-playing chimp.
13	Taxi Driver	5 JANUARY 1999	Tim Hobert
When it looks as if Nikki and Arthur are going to take their relationship to a new level, Mike does everything he can to stop them, including inadvertently causing a taxi driver strike. Mike poses as a cabby and tries to drive an unsuspecting Arthur out of Nikki's life. Meanwhile, Paul is even more shocked than his wife to find he has a girlfriend.
14	The Nutty Deputy Mayor	12 JANUARY 1999	Brian Buckner & Sebastian Jones
When the city's new, state-of-the-art public restrooms end up being inaccessible to the overweight community, Mike agrees to walk a day in their shoes by donning a fat suit. Later, at the Annual Charity Bachelor Auction, the Mayor is disappointed with his bidders.
15	Not In The Line Of Fire	26 JANUARY 1999	Michelle Nader & Amy Cohen
When the Mayor starts to worry about becoming the object of a violent attack, a videotape showing Mike apparently leaving him in the line of gunfire damages their relationship. Meanwhile, Nikki sees Mike in an entirely different light after her viewing of the same tape reveals he was trying to protect her.
16	Internal Affairs	9 FEBRUARY 1999	Gayle Abrams
As Valentine's Day nears, Mike and Nikki grapple with taking their relationship to the next level. But their attempts at a romantic hotel rendezvous result in Nikki's arrest for solicitation. Meanwhile, the Mayor and the staff participate in a stakeout in a surveillance truck with disastrous results; and Stacy masquerades as a psychic to dupe Paul.
17	Dick Clark's Rockin' Make-Out Party '99	16 FEBRUARY 1999	Tom Hertz
Stacy's visiting aunt (Priscilla Presley) takes a shine to James (Alexander Chaplin), while Stuart fights a sexual-harassment charge.
18	Back To The Future IV: Judgement Day	23 FEBRUARY 1999	David Rosenthal
Mike persuades the Mayor to appoint Mike's political mentor, Owen Joyce (Christopher Lloyd, Back to the Future), head of the city's millennium project.
19	Politically Incorrect	2 MARCH 1999	David Ronn & Jay Scherick
The Mayor makes a visit to Politically Incorrect, and shocks Mike when he reveals an office secret to Bill Maher and the other panelists. Meantime, Carter dates a boxer who remains closeted about his sexuality; and Stacy turns Paul into a meatball sub addict.
20	That's Entertainment	16 MARCH 1999	Tim Hobert & Gayle Abrams Michelle Nader & Amy Cohen
To his staff's chagrin, Mike makes them work on the Sunday of the Academy Awards. As they gripe about Mike, they share their favorite movie moments, revealed in movie parody flashbacks from previous episodes. Movies spoofed include Ghost, Saturday Night Fever, The Graduate, Back to the Future and Titanic.
21	The Last Temptation Of Mike	6 APRIL 1999	J.O.S. Hartung & Clayton Hamilton
When Paul discovers he has "lazy sperm," he asks Mike to help Claudia conceive by being the donor. To Nikki's shock, Mike agrees, but he's in for a surprise on his big night with Claudia. Meanwhile, Stacy is stalked by an over-enthusiastic tour guide at City Hall; and the Mayor tries to bond with James.
22	Carter & Stuart & Bennet & Deirdre	13 APRIL 1999	Mike Royce
Carter and Stuart wreak revenge on each other by becoming best buddies with the other's annoying ex-partner. Meanwhile, Nikki prods Mike into going public about their romance; and James rejects the Mayor's submission for the office newsletter.
23	The Mayor With Two Brains	4 MAY 1999	Godchaux & Rudell Buckner & Jones
A New York Times Magazine cover story about Mike ends up being a profile on Carter, prompting tension between the two. Meanwhile, the pressure of keeping mum about Mike and Nikki's relationship gives James a horrible rash, and Stuart convinces Stacey to play diplomat with the Mayor's foes.
24	Wall Street	11 MAY 1999	Philip Wen & Bill Callahan
Jon Stewart guest stars as Mike's stockbroker, as Mike tries to teach James a little fiscal responsibility. But when James selects a volatile Internet stock for his initial foray into the market, Mike secretly holds off on investing -- and must come up with a bonanza when the stock soars. Meanwhile, an action figure of the Mayor is too much of a good thing.
25	Klumageddon (1)	18 MAY 1999	Kirk J. Rudell
Supermodel Heidi Klum returns, and the Mayor enlists Heidi to help publicize his new animal rights campaign. But working with Michael brings out the animal within, and Heidi tries to rekindle her romance with him while Nikki's sick at home. Meantime, Paul and the Mayor try to enliven their press conferences with stand-up routines.
26	Klumageddon (2)	25 MAY 1999	Bill Callahan & Philip Wen Jay Scherick & David Ronn
Heidi Klum is determined to come between Mike and Nikki, and a misunderstanding causes Nikki to think Mike will dump her. Meanwhile, the Mayor is deaf to Janelle's attempts to break up with him; and Stuart gives Rags away to Heidi without telling Carter.