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.
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.
Season 2 episodes
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While acting as the Mayor's divorce lawyer, Michael is attracted to his opponent, Laurie Parres. Meanwhile, the press thinks Paul has suffered a nervous breakdown, so Michael enlists a psychiatrist, Dr. Benjamin, to pronounce Paul sane. But his plans go awry when Dr. Benjamin unexpectedly commits Paul to an institution.
Episode credits
Written by Bill LawrenceGuest stars Mark Linn-Baker, Paula Marshall, Faith Prince, John Scurti, Lisa Louise Langford
When Mike's new girlfriend, Laurie, bonds with Nikki, Mike must compete with his own staffer for Laurie's attention and free time. Meanwhile, Paul's bombshell mom dazzles his coworkers when she visits the office, and the Mayor is in a mess over an X-rated video.
Episode credits
Guest stars Peter Jacobson, Raquel Welch, Paula Marshall, Blanca Camacho
Mike finds out that his new girlfriend, Laurie, isn't looking for commitment, which he thinks is great-- at first. Meanwhile, James has a mysterious new hobby, which Stuart and Carter are determined to uncover. And Janelle asks for a raise with surprising results.
Episode credits
Guest stars Linda Stephens, Paula Marshall, Melinda Wade, Mia Matthews, Sylvia Kauders
Michael tries to dissuade the Mayor from a relationship with Jennifer, a much younger woman. However, as Mike deals with his own relationship troubles, Jennifer makes a pass at him. Meanwhile, Paul is acting as Michael's assistant, and enjoying it so much that he can't bring himself to hire the best candidate for the job, Stacy Paterno.
Episode credits
Written by Gayle AbramsGuest stars Jennifer Esposito, Marla Maples, Paula Marshall
While jogging in the park to support the Mayor's fitness initiative, Carter is apprehended by the police, who mistake him for a mugger. To Carter's chagrin, Michael wants to downplay the incident for political reasons, while Carter wants to publicize his own outrage. Meanwhile, Paul becomes paranoid that he himself is a racist; and James struggles to pull off a successful date with the new supply girl, Katie.
Episode credits
Guest stars Jennifer Esposito, Raúl Esparza, Zandy Hartig, Manuel E. Santiago, Dennis Paladino, Timothy Devlin, Faith Prince
The Mayor agrees to a mock election with a popular disc jockey. Meanwhile, the women in the office compete for the affections of the water delivery man.
Episode credits
Guest stars Jennifer Esposito, Brian Van Holt, Kathie Lee Gifford, Regis Philbin, Gerry Red Wilson, Rod McLachlan
As Mike's 30th birthday approaches, he is reminded of a promise he made to his high-school sweetheart, Renee Miller, long ago: If they were both still single by the time Mike turned 30, they'd reunite at the top of the Empire State Building on his birthday. Both of them keep their promise, with surprising results. Meanwhile, the Mayor wonders if his nephew is gay.
Episode credits
Guest stars Jennifer Esposito, Geneva Carr, Tracy Pollan, Bradley White, Hope Chernov, Whitney Allen, Jan Owen
When Mike begins dating Lisa, a writer from the soap opera "All My Children", he starts to see their dating life echoed on episodes of the popular serial: A new hunk named Mick Flannery joins "All My Children" and woos the resident vixen, Gillian - until she reveals their bedroom secrets to Edmund. Meanwhile, Stuart "plays gay" in order to get dates with beautiful women.
Episode credits
Guest stars Jennifer Esposito, Susan Floyd, Esta TerBlanche, John Callahan, Kim Raver, Brette Taylor, Sylvia Kauders, Paul Romero
Mike's mom, Macy, is visiting for a week and she and the Mayor hit it off better than Mike ever imagined, or feared. Meanwhile, Nikki dates Steve, a ventriloquist whose dummy, Mr. Bungle, is more romantic (and talkative) than Steve. And Stacy and Stuart scheme to get Hank, an elderly security guard, his job back after he accidentally shoots Paul.
Episode credits
Written by Brian BucknerGuest stars Jennifer Esposito, Meredith Baxter, Mitch Rouse, Charles White
Mike must choose between protecting his mom, Macy, and protecting the Mayor, when he tries to spin the Mayor out of a new scandal--His Honor's alibi would reveal that he spent the night with Macy instead of a prostitute. Meanwhile, Paul is sued and goes to The People's Court to defend his case.
Episode credits
Guest stars Meredith Baxter, Ed Koch, David Aaron Baker, Jay Russell, Josephine Ann Longobardi, Curt Chaplin, Alyssa Milano, Charles White
The Mayor's free-thinking daughter, Meg, with whom he has a somewhat strained relationship, puts the ""bare"" in bareback when she disrupts a rally with hansom-carriage drivers in Central Park to draw attention to her animal rights stance--and not coincidentally, herself. Meantime, the gang tries to reunite a needy Paul with ex-girlfriend Claudia, but he's smitten with his new pen-pal.
Episode credits
Written by Laurie ParresGuest stars Alyssa Milano, Andrea Maulella, Faith Prince
A champagne filled New Year's celebration at the Mayor's mansion gets out of control, resulting in more than a little embarrassment the next day, especially for Mike and Nikki. On the big night, Nikki's date, Jay, two-times her and a protective Mike not only gets even--he gets Nikki. Meanwhile, Stuart is undone over the death of his family cat and Stacy makes James question his own virility.
The usually indomitable Mike can't cope at the office because of upsetting news he's unwilling to share--his doctor suspects Mike has prostate cancer. The timing couldn't be worse, since the Mayor needs Mike to help write his newest book, so Mike brings in best-selling author Donald Trump to advise the Mayor on writing. Meanwhile, a chair-snatching bureaucrat is terrorizing the staffers. (Warning: Donald Trump is in this episode.)
Episode credits
Written by Bill LawrenceGuest stars Sam Lloyd, Donald Trump, Jennifer Van Dyck, Stephen Kunken, Anne James
Mike tries to dissuade the Mayor from joining a club for males only. Stuart joins the City Hall all-female reading group. Paul schools James in playing three-card monty.
Episode credits
Written by Tim HobertGuest stars Yasiin Bey, Josh Stamberg, Leslie Barrett, Reathel Bean, John Elsen
Stacey's grandmother puts a curse on Mike after he convinces her to move out, into Manhattan. The Mayor is concerned he's losing his hearing. And there's a void in Stuart's life after he is moved upstairs and is not allowed to make sarcastic comments anymore.
Episode credits
Guest stars Adam Graves, Dan Cloutier, Pat LaFontaine, Richard Portnow, Maria Tucci, Matt Malloy, Margaret Reed, Rod McLachlan
Faced with the prospect of spending Valentine's Day alone for the first time in eighteen years, Mike is thrilled when old flame Laurie steps back into his life. But he doesn't know what to do when she discovers a ring Mike was holding for Paul, and assumes it's for her. Meanwhile, Paul plans to propose to Claudia.
Episode credits
Guest stars Jimmy Fallon, Paula Marshall, Chris Tallman, Faith Prince
When Laurie accepts Mike's proposal, he begins to worry that they are too different. Meanwhile, Paul struggles to get the courage to propose to Claudia, and various staff members fantasize about what their life would be like if they married Mike.
Episode credits
Guest stars Paula Marshall, Natalie Venetia Belcon, Jay Potter, Faith Prince, Joel Hurt Jones
Mike suggests the staff undergo drug testing to demonstrate the mayor's new anti-drug campaign. But after he accidentally gets high while visiting some Native Americans, he risks failing the drug test that he initiated.
Episode credits
Written by Laurie ParresGuest stars Ned Romero, Raquel Welch, Sue Cremin, David Tawil, Faith Prince
The Pope is visiting New York City, leading to spiritual revitalizations for Mike and the mayor. Carter fixes Nikki up with a friend of his. And Paul's turtle is loose in City Hall.
Episode credits
Guest stars Steve Ryan, Joe Urla, Clayton Hamilton, Raymond Anthony Thomas, Andrew Weems
The staff prepares for Paul and Claudia's bachelor and bachelorette parties as the city prepares to unveil a new statue that it commissioned. The girls play ""I Never...."". Paul's party is in the office because the Mayor can't go to strip clubs. The new statue, called ""The Bird,"" is, you guessed it.... The girls think a visiting priest is a stripper because of a prank pulled by Stuart. James and Carter go to the hardware store and it is robbed with them in it. Mike is trapped in the store too, after he goes checking for James and Carter. Stacy sends the guys the male stripper Stuart canceled for the girls.
Episode credits
Written by Brian BucknerGuest stars Anthony Mangano, David Lee Russek, Tom McCarthy, Faith Prince, Joel Hurt Jones
A female magician performs at City Hall and Mike asks her out. Stuart and Carter purchase a bar. After sleeping together and telling him she's not interested in a long-term relationship, the magician says ""I love you"" to Mike. Stuart wants to make the bar a gay bar. Mike has trouble breaking up with his girlfriend. The bar is closed because it was missing a permit, leaving Stuart and Carter penniless. Mike finally tells his girlfriend how he feels and they break up.
Episode credits
Written by Gayle AbramsGuest stars Noelle Beck, Lee Bryant, Steve Brady, Sam Fox
Stuart lobbies to become Carter's roommate. After Carter's apartment is robbed, he must let Stuart stay. A rat on the loose in City Hall wreaks havoc on the staff and Paul's cat.
Episode credits
Guest stars Amy Poehler, Jonathan Walker, Mike Royce, Faith Prince, Oliver Solomon, John Harrington Bland
The Mayor has a stuttering problem. And Mike has a big problem when he promises to coordinate Paul and Claudia's wedding but discovers that the church is also booked for a funeral at the same time.
Episode credits
Written by Tim HobertGuest stars Milo O'Shea, Karen Shallo, Faith Prince, Ned Van Zandt, Barbara Gulan
Tim Hobert, Bill Callahan, Brian Buckner, Gayle Abrams, Bill Lawrence, Bonnie Schneider, Hadley Davis, Chris Henchy, Sarah Dunn, Tad Quill, David S. Rosenthal, Laurie Parres, Gary David Goldberg, Michelle Nader, Richard Day, Dawn Urbont, Sebastian Jones, Mike Royce, Amy Cohen
Production details
Status
Ended
Series type
Scripted
Episodes
145
Original language
English
Networks & production
ABCUnited States
Ubu Productions
DreamWorks TelevisionUnited States
Themes
mayornew york citypolitical satirepoliticssitcomusa politics
