The BEST episodes of Spin City season 5

Every episode of Spin City season 5, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Spin City season 5!

This situation comedy takes place in New York's City Hall. It centers on Mike Flaherty, the deputy mayor, who has to protect the slightly moronic mayor, Randall Winston from those who want to ruin his political career, and from himself, cause he is constantly making an ass of himself and Mike has to try and make sure that his little escapades are either not made public or have very little negative effect on the mayor. Helping Mike is Carter, probably the least quirky member of the mayor's staff and Nikki and James. Stuart and Paul are two members of the staff who cause just as much problems. Mike's secretary, who joined the show during the second season was Stacy. Mike's girlfriend during the first season was Ashley, but the character was dropped, his next girlfriend, during the following season was Laurie, and during the third season it was Nikki, and in the fourth season it was Caitlin Moore, the mayor's campaign manager. Michael J. Fox would leave the show after the fourth season. During the next season, the new deputy mayor would be Charlie Crawford.

Last Updated: 4/4/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
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The Burgers of Wrath
star
7.82
193 votes

#1 - The Burgers of Wrath

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/13/2000

Mike has been in Zimbabwe for three weeks, so Paul teaches Caitlin about celibacy. Stuart convinces Angie that he's a biker guy. War on unemployment forces the mayor to work at a burger joint.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon
A Shot in the Dark (2)
star
7.78
159 votes

#2 - A Shot in the Dark (2)

Season 5 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/23/2001

Charlie and Caitlin double date with Tim and Charlie's crazy ex. However, Tim dumps Caitlin, who calls Charlie to come over. They kiss; he freaks out and just wants to be friends, but reconsiders and shows up on her doorstep later. The mayor remembers why he and Chad didn't get along in the first place.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon
Brotherly Love
star
7.63
162 votes

#3 - Brotherly Love

Season 5 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/16/2001

Charlie attempts to interfere with Caitlin and Tim's burgeoning relationship. Meanwhile, Carter hires his sister to work at City Hall and will go to any length to avoid people discovering their connection.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon
A Shot in the Dark (1)
star
7.60
161 votes

#4 - A Shot in the Dark (1)

Season 5 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/23/2001

Charlie and Caitlin fight as she plans to go to the Caribbean for a week with Tim on the night of a police ride-along. On the ride-along, Charlie is shot...by Paul. Charlie fakes the severity of his injury to get Caitlin's attention. Charlie and Caitlin almost kiss, but Tim interrupts. Meanwhile, Carter and Stuart worry that they bicker like an old married couple and the Mayor hires an old prep school buddy who is now a bum.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon
Minor League
star
7.60
159 votes

#5 - Minor League

Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired 5/2/2001

Charlie tries out for a minor league baseball team, trying to relive his high school glory days. Caitlin encourages the pitcher to go easy on him. The mayor receives a death threat so he gets a bodyguard. After discovering that his job requires him to come into contact with the mayor so often, Paul receives a bodyguard also. Rags spends a day at the office.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon
Rain on My Charades
star
7.56
192 votes

#6 - Rain on My Charades

Season 5 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/28/2001

The mayor's daughter Meg returns and inspires Caitlin to be more spontaneous and free. Paul, Stuart and Carter give Charlie advice about compromising with Julia. This leads to Charlie deciding he's ready to commit, while Julia decides she's not.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon
You've Got Male
star
7.56
131 votes

#7 - You've Got Male

Season 5 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/25/2001

Stuart is hired to write a porno movie. Charlie and Caitlin compete for a donation from a wealthy male chauvinist. After Paul poses as the Mayor's son for a golf tournament, he becomes confused when the Mayor actually begins paying attention to him.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon
Trainstopping
star
7.54
188 votes

#8 - Trainstopping

Season 5 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/21/2001

Julia's having a hard time dealing with her kiss with Charlie, so he asks her out. Their first date is a nightmare. Meanwhile, the mayor and his staff take the subway to prove that the mayor is in touch with the people. The train gets stuck in a tunnel, screwing up Charlie's plans for a second date. Meanwhile, Paul tells an exclusive cafe that Carter is Cuba Gooding Jr. to get reservations.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon
Blind Faith
star
7.54
252 votes

#9 - Blind Faith

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/15/2000

Caitlin goes out of her way to prove that she's fun after a blind man won't date her because she's not. Charlie accidentally talks Claudia into becoming a nun; she leaves Paul. The mayor researches religion.

Watch Now:Amazon
Lost and Found
star
7.51
197 votes

#10 - Lost and Found

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/29/2000

Caitlin and Charlie fight the attention of Caitlin's new friend. Carter, Stuart and Paul compete for a trip to New Orleans with the mayor.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon
All the Wrong Moves
star
7.51
195 votes

#11 - All the Wrong Moves

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/6/2000

An overworked Charlie causes problems after beating the mayor at racquetball. Paul's annual request for a raise is approved by the mayor after his loss of self esteem. Stuart hires an actor to go out with Carter.

Directors: Ted Wass
Writer: Stacy Traub
Watch Now:Amazon
Science Friction
star
7.50
135 votes

#12 - Science Friction

Season 5 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/9/2001

Caitlin falls hard for a rich, young, sexy philanthropist. The Mayor is threatened when Charlie temporarily takes over as acting Mayor, and Paul becomes addicted to Carter's nicotine gum.

Directors: Ted Wass
Writer: Reese Bryant
Watch Now:Amazon
Toy Story
star
7.50
194 votes

#13 - Toy Story

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/20/2000

Paul struggles to find the best joke for the mayor's Christmas card. Carter convinces Caitlin to volunteer with him at a retirement community. The mayor's attempt to be more involved in the office process goes awry.

Directors: Ted Wass
Writer: Chris Henchy
Watch Now:Amazon
The Gambler
star
7.49
194 votes

#14 - The Gambler

Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/24/2001

Paul, Stuart and Carter rope reformed gambler Charlie into their poker night, and are responsible for his subsequent gambling bender. Caitlin tries to teach the mayor to be more self-sufficient.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon
Balloons over Broadway
star
7.49
193 votes

#15 - Balloons over Broadway

Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/22/2000

Paul convinces his mother that he is dating Caitlin, so she won't be upset that Claudia left him. Charlie tries to prove to Caitlin that his girlfriend isn't dumb. A quickly made balloon for the Thanksgiving parade goes awry in New York.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon
Hey Judith
star
7.49
191 votes

#16 - Hey Judith

Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/17/2001

Caitlin sets the mayor up with her neighbor, Judith, who becomes way too much of an influence on the mayor. Carter helps Stuart prepare for a million dollar shot at a Rangers' game. Paul thinks he's Canadian.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
In the Company of Dudes
star
7.48
190 votes

#17 - In the Company of Dudes

Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/7/2001

When a supermodel sues the mayor, Charlie hires his old college friend to defend him. Charlie finds himself torn between two friends after Scott hits on Caitlin. Meanwhile, Paul and Stuart compete for the same woman.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon
The Perfect Dorm
star
7.47
193 votes

#18 - The Perfect Dorm

Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/10/2001

In an attempt to get over Claudia, Paul decides to move into a college dorm. Caitlin tries dating, after ending her relationship with Mike--but doesn't have much luck. The Mayor builds an access ramp after he gets caught parking in a handicapped parking space.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon
The Image Maker
star
7.46
198 votes

#19 - The Image Maker

Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/14/2001

Carter discovers an old love letter written by Stuart. He decides to set Stuart up with the addressee of the letter, a woman who turns out to be Stuart's ex-wife. The woman quickly manages to set a whipped Stuart into his old rut. Meanwhile, Caitlin hires an image consultant when the mayor's approval ratings go down. The consultant discovers that the mayor has a problem with women, causing Charlie to make himself over. And also, Paul worries that he's unrecognizable.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon
The Bone Collectors
star
7.44
193 votes

#20 - The Bone Collectors

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/8/2000

Caitlin auditions for the job of co-host on "Live with Regis." Stuart and Paul work together supervising after bones are discovered under the Westside Highway. The mayor has an audio/visual link connected to the office while he is on vacation.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon
Hello Charlie
star
7.37
290 votes

#21 - Hello Charlie

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/18/2000

Charlie Crawford is late for his first press conference as the new deputy mayor. He later runs into trouble trying to settle a tollbooth workers strike when their lawyer is an ex-flame of his.

Directors: Ted Wass
Writer: Tom Hertz
Smile
star
7.34
227 votes

#22 - Smile

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/25/2000

Charlie tries to get the mayor to a dentist before an important photo shoot. Caitlin hires a new male assistant only because he's attractive. Carter and Stuart deal with someone who keeps parking a bike in their parking space.

Directors: Ted Wass
Writer: Chris Henchy
The Spanish Prisoner
star
7.34
256 votes

#23 - The Spanish Prisoner

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/1/2000

Caitlin causes a misunderstanding when she believes that Charlie is taking a Spanish class to improve relations with the Latin American community. Paul and the mayor struggle to create office water-cooler talk. Stuart becomes jealous of the time Carter has been spending with Caitlin.

Directors: Ted Wass