TV series
Workaholic Mike Flaherty is the Deputy Mayor of New York City, serving as Mayor Randall Winston's key strategist and much-needed handler. Mike runs the city with the help of his oddball staff: an anxious and insecure press secretary; a sexist, boorish chief of staff; an impeccably groomed gay activist running minority affairs; a sharp and efficient, man-crazy accountant; and an idealistic young speechwriter. Like Mike, they are all professionally capable but personally challenged.
Availability
Checked Jul 22, 2026
Spin City premiered September 17, 1996. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Workaholic Mike Flaherty is the Deputy Mayor of New York City, serving as Mayor Randall Winston's key strategist and much-needed handler. Mike runs the city with the help of his oddball staff: an anxious and insecure press secretary; a sexist, boorish chief of staff; an impeccably groomed gay activist running minority affairs; a sharp and efficient, man-crazy accountant; and an idealistic young speechwriter. Like Mike, they are all professionally capable but personally challenged.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
Michael Flaherty and his team grapple with a garbage strike and a political gaffe by the Mayor who accidentally insults gays. In addition, Ashley questions Mike's commitment to their relationship when is nervous about moving in together.
Directed by Thomas SchlammeWritten by Bill Lawrence, Gary David GoldbergGuest stars Victoria Dillard, Taylor Stanley
Episode 2
When Mike 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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelWritten by Sarah DunnGuest stars Deborah Rush, Robert Trumbull, Jimmy Palumbo, Kim Serafin, Taylor Stanley, Sylvia Kauders
Episode 3
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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelWritten by Bill LawrenceGuest stars Victoria Dillard, Michael Goldfinger, Sam Stern, Eric Slovin, John Scurti, Avery Glymph
Episode 4
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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelWritten by Brian BucknerGuest stars Victoria Dillard, Gretchen Mol, Taylor Stanley, Rudy Ruggiero, John Scurti
Episode 5
The former Mayor of New York is a constant critic of the current administration, and a plan to appease him has tragic consequences. Meanwhile, Michael and Ashley try to avoid their annoying new neighbors. And Nikki holds a contest among the men in the office to prove that none of them could ever be fathers.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelGuest stars Bray Poor, Welker White, Edmund Ikeda, Mario Mendoza, Tom Lacy, John Harrington Bland, Avery Glymph, Amy Hohn
Episode 6
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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelGuest stars Victoria Dillard, John Bedford Lloyd, Bill Boggs, Sylvia Kauders, John Harrington Bland, Lisa Louise Langford
Episode 7
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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelGuest stars Victoria Dillard, William Bogert, Jane Cecil, Claudia Rocafort, Taylor Stanley
Episode 8
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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelGuest stars George Wendt, Andy Daly, Taylor Stanley
Episode 9
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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelWritten by Tim HobertGuest stars Woody Harrelson, John Harrington Bland, David Carlson, Lisa Louise Langford
Episode 10
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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelWritten by Sarah DunnGuest stars Victoria Dillard, Ed Koch, J. Smith-Cameron, Stephen Colbert, Jennifer Garner, Brian Tarantina, John Sobestanovich, William Preston
Episode 11
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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelGuest stars Victoria Dillard, Jerry Adler, Jason Antoon, Robert Maschio, Taylor Stanley
Episode 12
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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelWritten by Brian BucknerGuest stars James Murtaugh, Paul Reggio, Taylor Stanley, John Scurti
Episode 13
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. And Paul sets a New Year's resolution to be less gullible.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelWritten by Bill LawrenceGuest stars Ken Marino, Tom Riis Farrell, Eric Kushnick, Sylvia Kauders
Episode 14
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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelGuest stars Victoria Dillard, Iraida Polanco, Judy Stadt, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Faith Prince
Episode 15
Mike butts heads with a hard-nosed new chief of staff 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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelWritten by Tim HobertGuest stars Constance Marie, Taylor Stanley, Jared Johansen, Tom Shillue, Faith Prince
Episode 16
It's Valentine's Day, and Carter's old flame Spence 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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelWritten by Sarah DunnGuest stars Luke Perry, Kim Dickens, Anney Giobbe, Faith Prince
Episode 17
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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelWritten by Amy Cohen, Michelle NaderGuest stars Deborah Rush, George Stephanopoulos, Anne Twomey, Dan Dierdorf, Frank Gifford, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Larry King, David Letterman
Episode 18
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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelWritten by Brian Buckner, Sebastian JonesGuest stars Victoria Dillard, Amanda Peet, Gabriel Macht, Faith Prince
Episode 19
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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelWritten by Tim HobertGuest stars Victoria Dillard, Cynthia Watros, Stephen Scibetta, Sylvia Kauders, Faith Prince, John Harrington Bland, Marie Gabrielle, Jordan H. Fischer
Episode 20
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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelGuest stars Victoria Dillard, Marlee Matlin, Sam Seder, Lewis Merkin, Carole Addabbo, Frank Dattolo, Faith Prince, David Carlson
Episode 21
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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelGuest stars Victoria Dillard, J.K. Simmons, Charle Landry, Kathleen Chalfant, Steve Gaasche, Daphne Zuniga
Episode 22
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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelGuest stars Victoria Dillard, Sam Seder, Anna Holbrook, Rebecca Boyd, Ellen Bethea
Episode 23
The Mayor separates from his wife and moves in with Michael, much to Mike's chagrin. Meanwhile, designer Isaac Mizrahi 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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelWritten by Tim HobertGuest stars Victoria Dillard, Deborah Rush, Isaac Mizrahi, Rachel York, Kathleen Claypool
Episode 24
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.
Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelWritten by Brian BucknerGuest stars Victoria Dillard, Marin Hinkle, Marcia DeBonis, Timothi-Jane Graham, Faith Prince, John Harrington Bland, Marie Gabrielle, Christopher J. Marcinko
Episode information updated Jul 25, 2026
Available now in United States
These shows are available now and closely match Spin City.
Michael J. FoxMike Flaherty
Charlie SheenCharlie Crawford
Heather LocklearCaitlin Moore
Barry BostwickRandall Winston
Richard KindPaul Lassiter
Alan RuckStuart Bondek
Michael BoatmanCarter Heywood
Connie BrittonNikki Faber
ABCUnited States
DreamWorks TelevisionUnited States
