Season 1: 1996-1997
| Series # |
Season # |
Title | Director | Writer(s) | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Prototype" | Thomas Schlamme | Gary David Goldberg & Bill Lawrence | September 17, 1996 |
| Michael Flaherty (Michael J. Fox) and his City Hall team grapple with a garbage strike and a political gaffe by the Mayor who accidentally insults gay people. Mike's girlfriend Ashley (Carla Gugino) questions Mike's commitment to their relationship when he is nervous about moving in together. | |||||
| 2 | 2 | "The Great Pretender" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Sarah Dunn | September 24, 1996 |
| Mike is named Sexiest Man in New York by Manhattan magazine and the staff must deal with Mayor Winston's problematic wife during an important dinner. | |||||
| 3 | 3 | "The Apartment" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Bill Lawrence | October 1, 1996 |
| The continuing dilemma of the garbage strike keeps Mike and Ashley too busy to spend time together at their new apartment. Stuart makes a blunder when left in charge of the office. | |||||
| 4 | 4 | "Pride and Prejudice" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Brian Buckner, Sebastian Jones | October 8, 1996 |
| During a television interview, Mike makes an insensitive comment about his working relationship with Ashley. Carter goes over Mike's head and encourages the Mayor to support a controversial policy on AIDS. A reporter (Gretchen Mol) is attracted to James. | |||||
| 5 | 5 | "The Rivals" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Amy Cohen, Michelle Nader | October 15, 1996 |
| The Mayor feels responsible for the death of his predecessor. Mike and Ashley try to avoid their new neighbors. | |||||
| 6 | 6 | "A Star is Born" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Kirk J. Rudell | October 22, 1996 |
| The Mayor's low approval ratings sink even lower when the Winston Administration supports a nominee with a checkered past. | |||||
| 7 | 7 | "Grand Illusion" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Amy Cohen, Michelle Nader | October 29, 1996 |
| Carter stages a mock wedding in protest of the Mayor's stance against same-sex marriage. Ashley is unhappy with the quality of her assignments at her new job. | |||||
| 8 | 8 | "The High and the Mighty" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Kirk J. Rudell | November 12, 1996 |
| Mike asks a powerful land developer (George Wendt) for a favor. As the Winston Administration celebrates a reduction in crime rates, Paul gets mugged. | |||||
| 9 | 9 | "Meet Tommy Dugan" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Tim Hobert | November 19, 1996 |
| A janitor at a local public school (Woody Harrelson) surprises the staff by winning the "New York City Mayor for a Day" contest. The Mayor tries to conform his image to the guidelines of a focus group. This is the second episode in a row to guest star a Cheers alumnus. | |||||
| 10 | 10 | "The Competition" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Sarah Dunn | November 26, 1996 |
| The Mayor's staff compete with the City Council as to who can serve the most homeless on Thanksgiving. James tries to break up with his high school sweatheart (Jennifer Garner) who is visiting from Wisconsin. (Guest Stars: Stephen Colbert as Frank, and former mayor Ed Koch as a city councilman.) | |||||
| 11 | 11 | "Dog Day Afternoon" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Jeff Lowell | December 10, 1996 |
| Paul and Carter lose the body of a beloved police dog on its way to burial. Mike buys an air hockey table to help the staff relax. | |||||
| 12 | 12 | "Criss Cross" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Brian Buckner, Sebastian Jones | December 17, 1996 |
| When the Mayor comes down with a cold, Mike must debate Ashley on a political talk show (last appearance of Ashley). | |||||
| 13 | 13 | "Bye Bye Love" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Kirk J. Rudell, Bill Lawrence | January 7, 1997 |
| Mike breaks up with Ashley. Paul sets a New Year's resolution to be less gullible. | |||||
| 14 | 14 | "Starting Over" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Jeff Lowell | January 14, 1997 |
| Michael is uncomfortable with his newly single status. Paul meets the president of his fan club, Claudia Sacks, who has arranged the "group's" first meeting. Carter and Stuart have a little too much to drink and end up in an uneasy situation. (First appearance: Claudia (Faith Prince)) |
|||||
| 15 | 15 | "Gabby's Song" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Jeff Lowell, Tim Hobert | January 28, 1997 |
| Mike's attempts to woo a new member of the City Council (Constance Marie) is thwarted when she decides to play dirty. Claudia tries to convince Paul to have sex. | |||||
| 16 | 16 | "Kiss Me, Stupid" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Sarah Dunn | February 11, 1997 |
| Carter is reunited with his ex Spence (Luke Perry), who is engaged to a woman. Mike goes on a disastrous first date with Nikki's friend. | |||||
| 17 | 17 | "An Affair to Remember" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Michelle Nader, Amy Cohen | February 18, 1997 |
| As the Mayor's 50th birthday approaches, the media react to rumors he is having an affair. James edits the Mayor's birthday video which features cameos by Rosie O'Donnell, Patrick Ewing, David Letterman, Larry King, the cast of Rent, and George Stephanopoulos; whom nobody believes that Paul is good friends with. | |||||
| 18 | 18 | "Snowbound" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Brian Buckner, Sebastian Jones | February 25, 1997 |
| A massive blizzard hits New York, when Mike is approached by a high school crush for a one-night stand. Carter and Stuart become trapped in the boiler room. Paul makes a remark about the Mayor while on the radio that lands him in hot water. Amanda Peet guest stars. | |||||
| 19 | 19 | "Striptease" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Jeff Lowell, Tim Hobert | March 4, 1997 |
| Mike dates a law student who happens to work part-time as a stripper. Nikki uses the advice of a guy she is dating to freak out Stuart. | |||||
| 20 | 20 | "Deaf Becomes Her" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Kirk J. Rudell, Sarah Dunn | March 18, 1997 |
| When an office temp's attempt at sign language ends up offending the deaf community, a leading advocate (Marlee Matlin) for deaf rights threatens to demonstrate on City Hall. Claudia moves in with Paul after he suffers a leg injury. | |||||
| 21 | 21 | "Hot in the City" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Jay Scherick, David Ronn | April 1, 1997 |
| Mike's ex-girlfriend Carrie (Daphne Zuniga) desperately wants to bear his child, so she steals his sperm. Another gaffe by the Mayor threatens to break up the reunion of a popular rock band. | |||||
| 22 | 22 | "Bone Free" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Michelle Nader, Amy Cohen | April 29, 1997 |
| Rumors about the Mayor's health abound, when he refuses to stand during a press conference. The guys don't approve of Nikki's freeloading screenwriter boyfriend. | |||||
| 23 | 23 | "The Mayor Who Came to Dinner" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Tim Hobert, Kirk J. Rudell | May 6, 1997 |
| Mike must deal with a new roommate: The Mayor. Isaac Mizrahi helps the Mayor with a charity fashion show, and gives Nikki the chance of a lifetime. | |||||
| 24 | 24 | "Mayor Over Miami" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Brian Buckner, Sebastian Jones (teleplay) Sarah Dunn (story) |
May 13, 1997 |
| The Mayor deals with his recent separation by taking Paul on a trip to Miami, leaving Mike to cover for him at City Hall. |
Read more about this topic: List Of Spin City Episodes
Famous quotes containing the word season:
“At this season I seldom had a visitor. When the snow lay deepest no wanderer ventured near my house for a week or fortnight at a time, but there I lived as snug as a meadow mouse.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)