The BEST episodes of Spin City

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

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: 1/9/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
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An Affair Not to Remember
star
8.22
150 votes

#1 - An Affair Not to Remember

Season 6 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/9/2002

Caitlin takes a trip down memory lane and realizes that she and Charlie met years before and that he was the reason why she lost what might have been the best relationship of her life. Flashback to a preppy and conservative Caitlin and a cool, life-of-the-party Charlie at an old college bash. The flashback makes Caitlin realize that her current boyfriend, Tom, might not be right for her, and she ends up kissing Charlie! Meanwhile, the Mayor bartends at a fundraiser at which Paul is trying to pick up a woman, and the woman's friend has fallen for Carter, who is gay.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon
Chinatown
star
7.91
185 votes

#2 - Chinatown

Season 6 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/27/2001

Charlie endangers his relationship with Jennifer when he realizes that he loves his staff more than her. The Mayor decides to propose to Claire, but she says no because he's in the public eye and must be dishonest. This causes problems, because it's Election Day, and a truth-telling campaign by the Mayor could jeopardize his re-election.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon
Criss Cross
star
7.91
400 votes

#3 - Criss Cross

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/17/1996

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. And everyone finds themselves going to Carter for romantic advice.

Watch Now:Amazon
O Mother, Where Art Thou?
star
7.91
184 votes

#4 - O Mother, Where Art Thou?

Season 6 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/8/2002

Caitlin finds love with an older man, Tom -- whose daughter, Tracy, flirts with Charlie. Meanwhile the Mayor is depressed by the anniversary of his mother's death, but Carter introduces him to a woman, Christine, who cheers him up in more ways than one. Later, though, Carter reveals that Christine is the receiver of the Mayor's mother's donor heart, potentially threatening their relationship.

Directors: Ted Wass
Writer: Jon Pollack
Watch Now:Amazon
The Burgers of Wrath
star
7.83
192 votes

#5 - 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
The Competition
star
7.82
428 votes

#6 - The Competition

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/26/1996

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. James has trouble breaking up with a longtime girlfriend visiting from Wisconsin.

Writer: Sarah Dunn
Watch Now:Amazon
Pride and Prejudice
star
7.82
449 votes

#7 - Pride and Prejudice

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/8/1996

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.

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A Shot in the Dark (2)
star
7.78
158 votes

#8 - 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
Meet Tommy Dugan
star
7.76
456 votes

#9 - Meet Tommy Dugan

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/19/1996

An opinionated school janitor becomes "Mayor for a Day" when he wins an essay contest intended for schoolchildren. Meanwhile, the Mayor wants to change his image.

Writer: Tim Hobert
Watch Now:Amazon
Deaf Becomes Her
star
7.74
418 votes

#10 - Deaf Becomes Her

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/18/1997

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. Meantime, Paul is worried that Claudia wants to move in permanently.

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An Affair to Remember
star
7.73
421 votes

#11 - An Affair to Remember

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/18/1997

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, Al Michaels, Dan Dierdorf, Frank Gifford, Rosie O'Donnell, Larry King, and the cast of Rent. But in the midst of the planning, a scandal swirls about the Mayor's presumed affair with a staffer from the Governor's office.

Watch Now:Amazon
A Star is Born
star
7.73
502 votes

#12 - A Star is Born

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/22/1996

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 on a roundtable show.

Watch Now:Amazon
Sex, Lies and Video Date
star
7.72
206 votes

#13 - Sex, Lies and Video Date

Season 6 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/12/2002

The Mayor's niece, Stephanie, pays a visit to City Hall and flirts with Charlie, who reciprocates - until he finds out who she is. Somewhat later he and Caitlin are caught in a compromising position in the Mayor's bedroom, trying to cover up for Stephanie's wild ways. Meanwhile, Mayor Winston and Carter get trapped in a car for hours, leading Carter to vow to give up his materialistic ways if they are saved, and Paul becomes a contestant on the popular dating show, "Blind Date."

Directors: Matt Drake, Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon
Grand Illusion
star
7.71
504 votes

#14 - Grand Illusion

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/29/1996

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. And an unsatisfied Ashley considers leaving her new TV show for the newspaper again.

Watch Now:Amazon
An Office and a Gentleman
star
7.71
154 votes

#15 - An Office and a Gentleman

Season 6 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/11/2001

Caitlin makes plans with the City Hall Santa without knowing what he looks like. Stuart wrestles with his feelings when he realizes that he's in love with Michelle. And Charlie must decide which staff member is most deserving of a nice new office.

Directors: Ted Wass
Writer: Tim Hobert
Watch Now:Amazon
The High and the Mighty
star
7.71
466 votes

#16 - The High and the Mighty

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/12/1996

Michael needs a favor from famed real estate developer Dan 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. And Mike and Ashley can't agree on what show to watch when they're in bed.

Watch Now:Amazon
Starting Over
star
7.70
451 votes

#17 - Starting Over

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/14/1997

Michael is uncomfortable with his newly single status when he realizes he's actually on a date with new assistant district attorney Danielle Brinkman. Meantime, Paul meets the president of his fan club, Claudia Sacks, who has arranged the group's first meeting. And Carter and Stuart have a little too much to drink and end up in an awkward situation.

Writer: Jeff Lowell
Watch Now:Amazon
Goodbye (2)
star
7.70
286 votes

#18 - Goodbye (2)

Season 4 - Episode 26 - Aired 5/24/2000

Mike and Caitlin have sex. The staff works damage control but Mike ultimately fires himself to save everybody else. The staff says their goodbyes at the bar. Caitlin promises Mike that she's not going anywhere. Mike says goodbye to the mayor and walks out of City Hall for the last time. Six weeks later, Mike turns up as an environmental lobbyist in DC.

Directors: Andy Cadiff
Watch Now:Amazon
Wife with Mikey
star
7.70
160 votes

#19 - Wife with Mikey

Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/2/2001

Mike calls off his engagement with Allison and increases his presence in the office, making Charlie feel threatened. However, Charlie talks him into staying with Allison and marrying her--in City Hall. Meanwhile, Caitlin helps the mayor dress like a woman for a charity event.

Directors: Ted Wass
Writer: Tim Hobert
Watch Now:Amazon
Let's Give Them Something to Talk About
star
7.69
154 votes

#20 - Let's Give Them Something to Talk About

Season 6 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/16/2002

Caitlin is confused by the kiss she and Charlie shared and seeks the advice of a therapist. Meanwhile, the Mayor buys the staff palm phones which enable Charlie to accidentally eavesdrop on Caitlin's session. He decides to try to fulfill Caitlin's fantasies, which in turn prompts her to decide between Charlie and her current boyfriend, Tom. Paul appears on a controversial radio talk show with Carter feeding him answers.

Directors: Ted Wass
Writer: Stacy Traub
Watch Now:Amazon
Dog Day Afternoon
star
7.68
430 votes

#21 - Dog Day Afternoon

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/10/1996

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. And Mike buys an air hockey table for the staff proving Stuart a very big talker.

Writer: Jeff Lowell
Watch Now:Amazon
Age Against the Machine
star
7.67
151 votes

#22 - Age Against the Machine

Season 6 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/26/2002

Charlie has a hard time keeping up with Tracy, his new 23-year-old girlfriend who likes to party every night. Caitlin and Paul join them at a club one night and they are all arrested after one of Tracy's friends is caught with marijuana. Meanwhile, the Mayor is invited to a fund-raising gala by a very prominent member of the gay community, Martin, whom Carter has a crush on. Both Carter and Stuart also attend, and Martin hits on Stuart who is clueless to his advances, though they feed Carter's jealousy.

Directors: Ted Wass
Writer: Hugh Webber
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Apartment
star
7.65
157 votes

#23 - The Apartment

Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/9/2001

The mayor's approval ratings are going down, thanks to his relationship with the not-yet-divorced Judge Simmons. Charlie convinces the mayor to seek quiet time with Claire at a friend's house--only he didn't anticipate the mayor showing up at his. Paul hires a publicist to improve his image. After going to a friend's baby shower, Caitlin becomes obsessed with having a baby. Carter lets her watch Rags for a day, but he swallows Charlie's pager. Caitlin decides not to have a child, but apparently, Carter does.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon
Sleeping with the Enemy
star
7.64
159 votes

#24 - Sleeping with the Enemy

Season 6 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/6/2001

The mayor prepares to debate his opponent, while Charlie and Jennifer, his opponent's campaign manager have been dating for 3 weeks. The mayor wants Charlie to dump her, but he doesn't. When the mayor visits Charlie in the middle of the night to share something that may be damaging to his campaign, Jennifer may have overheard it. Meanwhile, Paul and Robin become involved; Paul thinks it's a relationship, while Robin thinks it's a fling.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon
Yet Another Stakeout
star
7.64
155 votes

#25 - Yet Another Stakeout

Season 6 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/16/2001

Carter's friend Michelle visits and begins dating Stuart. However, Carter has just asked her to be his child's surrogate mother. Meanwhile, Charlie and Caitlin struggle over what to do with incriminating photos of the mayor's opponent.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Amazon