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
The staff prepares for the mayor's bid for re-election announcement. Mike becomes a hero when he saves a runaway perambulator, but the reality of the situation isn't what it seems. Carter adopts his family's 19-year-old dog. And, Paul teaches Stacy how to get a sick day without being sick.
Guest stars Conan O'Brien, Heidi Klum, Stewart J. Zully, Sue Jin Song, David Letterman, Lannyl Stephens
Episode 2
After Mike's picture with model Heidi Klum is in the tabloids, people assume he's dating her. But, he soon is after she asks him out. As a result, Nikki reveals to Carter that she has a secret crush on Mike. And The Mayor can't stop laughing at VERY inappropriate times.
Guest stars Heidi Klum, Marion McCorry, Rohan Quine
Episode 3
Mike prepares to have sex with Heidi Klum for the first time. After "it", Heidi asks Mike to keep their relationship a secret. James receives his Aunt Sarah's ashes in the post; his Aunt Sarah was a cow. Mike daydreams while making a statement to the press and accidentally reveals his relationship with Heidi; she breaks up with him. Paul's new fan creates problems for Aunt Sarah (take a wild guess).
Guest stars C.S. Lee, Heidi Klum, Magaly Colimon, Bobby Reed
Episode 4
Carter, Nikki and Mike go deer hunting in a fundraising attempt. While Mike is gone, Stuart becomes Stacy's boss for the day. And, with Claudia's help, Paul campaigns for a raise.
Written by Brian BucknerGuest stars Barry Corbin, Barton Tinapp, Faith Prince
Episode 5
The Mayor brings an abandoned baby to City Hall. Mike's old girlfriends voice opinions about him. The Mayor sends James to see a psychiatrist for him, concerning his sexual problems. Mike wants to adopt the baby. The Mayor takes Viagra to help him out. Mike's interview with the social worker doesn't go very well. Nikki prepares to tell Mike about her crush on him, but can't quite get the words out.
Written by Gayle AbramsGuest stars Carla Gugino, Nancy Giles, Paula Abdul, Tracy Pollan, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Daphne Zuniga, Paula Marshall, Heidi Klum
Episode 6
After the Mayor is photographed throwing a baseball ""like a girl,"" Mike tries to give him a more macho image. But when a teenage girl mugs the mayor, Mike and Paul; Mike's got more damage control than even he can handle. Meanwhile, Stuart loses his heart to Deirdre, a woman who's just as detestable as he is.
Written by Tim HobertGuest stars Michael Gaston, Beth Littleford, Gerry Becker, Heather Gottlieb, Andy Fowle, Frankie Muniz
Episode 7
Mike discovers that his childhood pal, Nate Scott, has more in common with Carter than meets the eye, and finds it difficult to deal with this revelation. Meanwhile, Paul instructs Stacy in the finer art of being a cheapskate.
Written by David S. RosenthalGuest stars Lou Diamond Phillips, Mark Nelson
Episode 8
Paul has moved to Harlem and is annoying Carter and Janelle because he thinks that he's black. The Mayor is preparing to run the Olympic torch around City Hall, but can't because the Nigerian speed walker supposed to deliver the torch to him has disappeared, lost in the city. Mike struggles with the fact that he can't live without his job, while trying to take a vacation. Nikki finds a ringer to pose as her boyfriend, for them to have dinner with Mike. Stacy spills the beans to Mike about Nikki's feelings for him.
Guest stars Sam Robards, Russell G. Jones, Willie C. Carpenter, Dina Pearlman, Jennifer Lacorte, Mark Nelson
Episode 9
Stacy's staying with Carter and Stuart while her apartment is fumigated. Her partying cramps their style. Trying to outdo NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon and NBA player Jayson Williams, the Mayor promises his kidney to a young boy, Derek. Unfortunately, his doesn't match--but Mike's does. Meanwhile, Mike's playing the jealousy game with Nikki and promises to donate his kidney to the boy in hopes that she'll break up with Arthur for him. But when she offers him a chance to speak up about his feelings, he's anesthetized for his surgery and can't say anything.
Written by Bill CallahanGuest stars Chris Berman, Sam Robards, Gerry Becker, Tim Allen, Frankie Muniz, Andy Fowle, Jullie Chung, Geoffrey Wigdor
Episode 10
The Mayor is disturbed by a campaign commercial by his opponent, starring his ex-wife. Mike plans the City Hall Thanksgiving, scheduled to be televised live throughout New York City, with the Mayor's father scheduled to attend. At the dinner, the Mayor blows up at his father on live TV. Meanwhile, Stacy mistakes Stuart for her boyfriend in the dark and lays a big wet one on him, making her think twice about her feelings for him.
Guest stars Deborah Rush, Todd Stashwick, Joe Torre, Mike Lupica, Philip Bosco
Episode 11
The staff prepares for the Mayor's costume ball. Stuart tries to break up with Deidre. And after Mike sets Stacy up with a councilman to get his vote, she likes the set-up as the councilman plays the hero.
Guest stars Justin Theroux, Beth Littleford, Jonathan Walker, Darrell Carey, Mary B. McCann, Shelly Palmer
Episode 12
Carter and Stuart plan to spend Christmas together. Mike must baby-sit a smart monkey that will be given to the city zoo as a gift from Ghana. The staff prepares the City Hall greeting card. Carter and Stuart meet two old men from their building who mirror themselves in 30 years.
Guest stars Richard Hamilton, Mike Hodge, Judy Toma
Episode 13
Mike can't stop thinking about Nikki. Nikki is ready to take the next step with Arthur, but Mike is worried about that. Paul unwittingly has an affair because Stuart needs him to. Stacy dates a job-obsessed cabbie just because he looks good. James inadvertently causes a taxi driver strike, which interferes with Arthur getting to the airport. You see, if Arthur misses a plane, he and Nikki will have sex.
Written by Tim HobertGuest stars Lorri Bagley, Sam Robards, Jason Antoon, Scott Decker, Jennifer Lacorte, Faith Prince
Episode 14
The mayor submits a personal ad in a newspaper as the rest of the office men prepare for the mayor's annual male bachelor charity auction. Mike chooses to spend some extra city money on a futuristic new bathroom for City Hall. The new bathroom is insensitive to overweight people. The mayor asks Paul for advice on how to approach a woman. Stacy teaches James how to model so that he can garner more money than Mike in the big auction. Mike puts on a fat suit to appease the head of the overweight person's commission. Stuart's sister is in town but no one has seen her.
Written by Brian BucknerGuest stars Jenna Stern, Ric Stoneback, Madelon Marfield, Tony Devon
Episode 15
When the mayor starts to worry about becoming the object of a violent attack, a videotape showing Mike apparently leaving him in the line of "gunfire" damages their relationship. Meanwhile, Nikki sees Mike in an entirely different light after her viewing of the same video reveals he was trying to protect her. And, Arthur wants to propose to Nikki, but puts his relationship with her at risk by confiding in Stuart.
Guest stars Sam Robards, Joe Zaloom, Stephen Trimble
Episode 16
Mike and Nikki struggle with taking their relationship to the next level, i.e. sex. Stacy runs a phony psychic hotline on Paul. And the rest of the staff participates in a stakeout to demonstrate the city's new police technology.
Written by Gayle AbramsGuest stars Peter Krause, Michael Hobert, Gerard O'Brien
Episode 17
Mike and Nikki decide to keep their relationship a secret. Stacy's Aunt Marie visits. Deidre files sexual harassment charges against Stuart after he dumps her. Carter is talking about himself in the third person. Marie tries to seduce James. Stuart is close to being fired. Deidre offers to drop the charges for sex, immediately, with Mike. Thanks to the building's new security cameras, Deidre is exposed. The mayor finds himself growing attracted to Janelle, and the two kiss while discussing the sexual harassment case.
Guest stars Priscilla Presley, Beth Littleford, Richard Thomsen, Charles White
Episode 18
Mike's political mentor is preparing to visit with the mayor preparing to appoint him head of the city's millennium project. Marie is still in town and messing around with James. The mayor and Janelle plan a get-together. Owen has changed a little over the years and believes he is the Messiah. After Carter puts Rags in Paul's care, Paul accidentally kills the ailing dog. Owen brings Rags back to life with a touch.
Written by David S. RosenthalGuest stars Priscilla Presley, Christopher Lloyd, Beth Littleford, Regis Philbin
Episode 19
Nikki wants to make her relationship public knowledge. The mayor prepares to appear on "Politically Incorrect". Carter is dating a gay boxer. Paul becomes addicted to Stacy's aunt's meatball subs. The mayor accidentally outs his relationship with Janelle while on TV. Nikki and Mike fight after he's not ready to expose their relationship yet.
Guest stars Deirdre Lovejoy, C.S. Lee, Julianne Malveaux, Bill Maher, Clayton Prince, Shawn Stallworth, Karen Rogers, Kelly Anne Fitzpatrick
Episode 20
Mike makes the staff work on Oscar Sunday due to a screw-up of Paul's. The staff reminisces about their favorite movie moments to pass the time. ("Clip show" filler episode)
Written by Gayle Abrams, Tim HobertGuest stars Philip Bosco, Barry Corbin, Carla Gugino, Heidi Klum, Beth Littleford, Christopher Lloyd, Lou Diamond Phillips, Priscilla Presley
Episode 21
Mike agrees to donate sperm for Paul and Claudia, not realizing what Paul forgot to tell him. A City Hall tour guide is harassing Stacy. James has been commissioned to write a piece for "Sassy".
Guest stars Todd Barry, Brett Groneman, George Sarris, Faith Prince
Episode 22
A feuding Carter and Stuart become friends with the other's ex, just for spite.
Written by Mike RoyceGuest stars Carrie Preston, Beth Littleford, Clayton Prince, Faith Prince
Episode 23
It's Nikki and Mike's four-month anniversary. James is still the only person who knows, but he wants to tell. Stuart takes Carter's job for a day, helping the mayor deal with various ethnic groups. James develops a rash from keeping the secret. Mike prepares for a magazine interview, but during the interview, the reporter's focus shifts to Carter. Stuart enlists Stacy's help with the ethnic groups. James spills the beans.
Guest stars Joseph Sirola, Nelson Landrieu, Buzz Bovshow, Allison Daugherty Smith, David Cohen
Episode 24
The staff pesters Nikki for details about her sex life with Mike. James asks Mike to invest his life savings in an Internet company, but when Mike holds off on investing, the stock goes up several points, and Mike must find a way to make the money back. Meanwhile, the mayor has an action figure made of himself but unfortunately, they're all anatomically correct.
Written by Bill CallahanGuest stars Jon Stewart, William Robbins
Episode 25
Mike is tested when Nikki is out sick and the mayor hires his ex, Heidi Klum, to help publicize the new animal rights campaign. Meanwhile, the mayor and Paul try to inject some humor into their press conferences. When Mike accidentally tells Nikki that even though Heidi came onto him, he had feelings for her and still turned her down, she walks out.
Guest stars Kevin Carolan, William Christian, Heidi Klum
Episode 26
Mike tries to convince Nikki that nothing is going on between himself and Heidi Klum. The mayor doesn't understand that Janelle wants to break up with him. Janelle gets Mike to do it for her, but Nikki overhears Mike talking to Carter about it and thinks that Mike is going to break up with her. After Rags poops in his shoe, Stuart gives him to Heidi. Nikki breaks up with Mike. The next day, there is tension in the office. Carter tells Nikki the truth. She goes to Mike's apartment where Mike is hung over. As he goes back into his room to put on his pants, Heidi sits up in his bed...
Written by Bill CallahanGuest stars Heidi Klum, Kathleen Goldpaugh
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
