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
When Mike says: ""Let's not get so dramatic, okay? This is not some cheesy soap opera."" he refers to Heather Locklear's long-time role as Amanda Woodward in the soap ""Melrose Place"".
Guest stars Chris Berman, Roger Clemens, James Carville, Heidi Klum, Chuck Bunting, Dar Billingham, Bourke Floyd, Christopher Lucas
Episode 2
James struggles to write an important speech to keep himself from being fired by Caitlin. Meanwhile, Paul is worried that Caitlin wants his office; she ends up moving into Mike's. And Nikki breaks up with Mike.
Guest stars Nipsey Russell, Christopher Lucas
Episode 3
Caitlin implants secret background checks on all City Hall employees. Mike, Stuart and Carter break into her office to see the files. Caitlin goes to Nikki and Janelle's girls' night out. The mayor is offered a part in a movie filming in New York.
Guest stars Matt Besser, Jennifer Lacorte
Episode 4
Mike tricks Nikki into seeing a couples counselor. The mayor takes an eighth grade test after being challenged by junior-high students. Stuart attempts to join Carter's gay gym to meet women.
Written by Tad QuillGuest stars Ann Kittredge, Cassandra Kubinski, Michael McElroy, Malea McGuinness, Jeffrey Donovan
Episode 5
Carter is named Activist of the Year. Stuart has a new paperweight that looks like a breast. Mike's continued jealousy of Caitlin causes him to make remarks to a gay magazine, which is misinterpreted, outing himself and the mayor. Paul is banned from the bathroom after insulting the new attendant.
Guest stars Boomer Esiason, David Ilku, Tony Rigo, Sean Michael Arthur
Episode 6
The mayor considers quitting the senatorial race, teaming Mike and Caitlin to stop him. Carter becomes a kept man, and Paul and James scheme to play a good practical joke on Stuart.
Guest stars Julius Carry, David Cohen, Jeffrey Donovan, Alfonse D'amato, Mark Mortimer, Kim Sykes
Episode 7
Claudia's mother kicks Paul out of his house so he moves in with Stuart and Carter. Nikki dates the office's new young male intern. And Mike courts a wealthy socialite to donate money when the mayor's campaign runs out.
Guest stars Amy Irving, Michael Hobert, Conor Dubin, Omar Scroggins, Sabrina Gennarino
Episode 8
Mike and Caitlin agree to share the mayor on odd/even days. On Caitlin's day, Mike ""borrows"" the mayor to visit a kid who fell in a well. Unfortunately, they're 20 minutes late and the mayor falls in the now vacant well. Carter puts Rags in doggie day care. Paul appears on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and wins $1,000,000. Stuart negotiates with firemen.
Guest stars Deirdre Lovejoy, Regis Philbin, Marceline Hugot, Christopher Innvar, Danny Mastrogiorgio, Mark Kenneth Smaltz, Kal Cauthen, Malcolm Devine
Episode 9
A newly rich Paul thinks Caitlin is hitting on him. The mayor wants a senator's endorsement and invites him, along with his staff, to Gracie Mansion for Thanksgiving. The senator thinks that Mike and Caitlin are a couple so they must share a room. Stuart and Deidre are back together.
Written by Richard DayGuest stars John McMartin, Beth Littleford
Episode 10
Paul has invested in a politically themed restaurant. Mike struggles to run the city while the mayor is out of town. Deidre is stalking Caitlin a la ""Single White Female.""
Written by Tim HobertGuest stars Frank Santorelli, Beth Littleford, William Hill, Reginald Davis, Thomas Lyons, John Christopher Scott, Oliver Solomon, Kim Sykes
Episode 11
Mike celebrates his five-year anniversary working for the mayor by taking Caitlin and going on a joyride with the mayor's '66 Mustang. Nikki and Carter accuse each other of being vain when City Hall ID photos are taken. The mayor wants to rekindle his romance with Janelle. Caitlin's busy schedule forces James back to speechwriting; he hires Deidre to be Mike's new secretary.
Guest stars Beth Littleford, Nick Sullivan, Dael Orlandersmith
Episode 12
Mike invites Caitlin to his Christmas party as his only guest but his plans at romance are spoiled when she arrives with a date. Paul finds John McEnroe's headband in the City Hall clothing drive box. James finds a second job as a suicide hotline operator. Stuart installs a chin-up bar in the mayor's office, which the mayor promptly injures himself on.
Written by Bill CallahanGuest stars Gordon Joseph Weiss, Sydney Anderson, Tracy Appleton, Patrick Boll, William Charlton, Anne Shropshire, Amir Darvish
Episode 13
The mayor struggles to find a date for a mayor's conference. Mike goes out with Caitlin's sister, making Caitlin jealous. Stuart tries to join Nikki, James and Janelle's art class to see nude women. Paul is upset that Carter makes more money than him.
Guest stars Christine Taylor, John Seidman, Dean Strange, Elaina Erika Davis, Bill Patrick
Episode 14
Paul's cheap dentist puts braces on James instead of removing his infected tooth, causing problems in James' date with the new mail girl. The city's raffle to raise money for the Big Buddy program is screwed up when Paul skimps on the raffle tickets. Stuart and Carter blackmail Caitlin to decrease their workload.
Written by Tim HobertGuest stars Jill Tracy, Michael Charles Roman, Tony Mennuto, Wills Robbins, John E. Mack
Episode 15
After eating some of Rags' dog food, Paul develops a rash before he appears on ""The View."" Nikki helps him discover the wonders of makeup, though. Stuart tries to convince James that he's gay. Mike hires a hotshot director to film the mayor's Senate commercial, unaware that Trevor is Caitlin's ex-husband. After the commercial turns out to be a flop and Mike fires Trevor, Caitlin accuses him of being jealous. When a talk with Nikki persuades Mike to express his feelings for Caitlin, he sees her and Trevor in a heated embrace.
Directed by John FortenberryWritten by Tad QuillGuest stars Star Jones, Lisa Ling, Meredith Vieira, Joy Behar, Gregg Curtis, Maurice Godin
Episode 16
To quell a protest by senior citizens, Mike plans to get the city's first woman voter to vote for the mayor. When Mike finds out that Trevor isn't really British, he must decide whether to tell Caitlin or not. Carter protests anti-gay discrimination in an apartment building. James and Paul fight over a ""hey guy.""
Guest stars Alice Drummond, John C. Vennema, Brad Raider, George Ede, Barbara Winters Pinto
Episode 17
While a reporter visits City Hall to do a story on Paul, the mayor thinks she's really there for him. Mike thinks Carter's boyfriend is hitting on him. The staff looks for good samaritans for a dinner. Stuart tries to convince James that he's getting fat.
Written by Dawn UrbontGuest stars James Patrick Stuart, Cynthia Vance, Lori Tan Chinn, Robb Pruitt, Peter Arpesella, Paolo Pagliacolo
Episode 18
Mike has a meeting with a tomato stand owner who refuses to move his stand so that the city can build a new performing arts center. He ultimately enlists James to compete against the man in a ""pig-off"" to decide whether the stand will stay or move. The mayor befriends a rapper who sampled one of his speeches in a song. Paul and Deirdre have memories of having sex at a concert 20 years before, driving Stuart jealous.
Guest stars Kevin Mambo, Beth Littleford, John Ellison Conlee, Ron Crawford, Kim Sykes
Episode 19
Mike helps the mayor deal with his feelings when his father unexpectedly dies. James thinks Caitlin has a crush on him. Paul's magic eight ball proves helpful to the staff.
Written by Tim HobertGuest stars Cody Arens, Mark Nelson, Joshua Clarke, Patrick Welsh, Traci Ann Wolfe
Episode 20
With the President coming to visit City Hall, Mike is upset when Caitlin gets to meet him instead until plans change. The rest of the staff gathers at the bar, where Caitlin joins them. Nikki and Carter bet on who can pick up more women. Stuart tries to get Caitlin drunk; he succeeds and she leaves a drunken message for Mike. Paul tries to get James to help take his picture with the President.
Written by Tad QuillGuest stars Judah Friedlander, Geoffrey Ewing, Sarah Knowlton, Sara Ramirez, Wali Collins, Blaise Hemingway, John E. Mack
Episode 21
The mayor prepares for a three-day trip across New York on his new campaign bus. Paul and James grow mustaches when they think that Carter's gets him the best assignments. Nikki becomes a female version of Stuart when she consults him for dating advice. After Mike discovers that Trevor has asked Caitlin to marry him again, he accidentally hits him with the bus. Mike and Caitlin kiss but their session is interrupted when Mike reveals he was deliberately aiming for Trevor.
Written by Bill CallahanGuest stars Maurice Godin, Peter Hermann, Elaina Erika Davis, Bill Patrick, Bill Kux
Episode 22
While Michael and Caitlin fly to San Francisco, Stuart joins Carter for a protest and the mayor tries to have a light bulb changed.
Guest stars Deirdre Lovejoy, Rachel Jacobs, Patrick Ewing, Nicholas Wyman, Michael Aronov, Timm Sharp, Victor Verhaeghe, Nahanni Johnstone
Episode 23
Caitlin prepares to marry Trevor and elopes to Paris, where Mike follows and reveals that he loves her. James becomes angered with the mayor when he receives an undeserved war award. Stuart asks Nikki to pose for a ""charity"" swimsuit calendar.
Written by Bill CallahanGuest stars Ryan Marsini, Richard Robichaux, Stephanie McVay, Mario Brassard
Episode 24
Mike and Caitlin return from Paris as a couple. Caitlin wants more than a physical relationship, so Mike bets her that he can resist her for a week, while tries to break his willpower. The mayor falls in love with Rags after filming an animal rights commercial with him.
Guest stars Scott Robertson
Episode 25
Mike discusses his attempts to have sex with Caitlin with his new therapist. Nikki's new boyfriend is too likable. Caitlin isn't in the mood when Mike is. A reporter accuses the mayor of being involved in organized crime; Nikki's boyfriend turns out to be a mobster who has been getting the office staff to do favors for him. Mike weighs giving his friends up, but ultimately throws himself on his sword and takes all blame.
Guest stars Michael Gross, John Bedford Lloyd, Peter Rini
Episode 26
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.
Written by Bill LawrenceGuest stars John Bedford Lloyd
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
