7.4/10288 votes#1 - Pilot
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/17/1996
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.
Director: Thomas Schlamme
Writer: Bill Lawrence, Gary David Goldberg
7.3/10216 votes#2 - The Great Pretender
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/24/1996
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Sarah Dunn
7.3/10197 votes#3 - The Apartment
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/1/1996
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Bill Lawrence
7.2/10192 votes#4 - Pride and Prejudice
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/8/1996
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Brian Buckner
7.5/10187 votes#5 - The Rivals
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/15/1996
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: N/A
7.3/10186 votes#6 - A Star is Born
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/22/1996
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: N/A
7.2/10183 votes#7 - Grand Illusion
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 10/29/1996
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: N/A
7.5/10180 votes#8 - The High and the Mighty
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/12/1996
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: N/A
7.9/10195 votes#9 - Meet Tommy Dugan
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/19/1996
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Tim Hobert
7.7/10190 votes#10 - The Competition
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 11/26/1996
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Sarah Dunn
7.7/10189 votes#11 - Dog Day Afternoon
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/10/1996
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: N/A
7.3/10177 votes#12 - Criss Cross
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/17/1996
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Brian Buckner
7.6/10180 votes#13 - Bye Bye Love
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/7/1997
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Bill Lawrence
7.4/10171 votes#14 - Starting Over
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/14/1997
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: N/A
7.5/10173 votes#15 - Gabby's Song
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/28/1997
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Tim Hobert
7.7/10180 votes#16 - Kiss Me, Stupid
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 2/11/1997
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Sarah Dunn
7.3/10171 votes#17 - An Affair to Remember
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/18/1997
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Michelle Nader, Amy Cohen
7.6/10181 votes#18 - Snowbound
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 2/25/1997
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Brian Buckner, Sebastian Jones
7.5/10169 votes#19 - Striptease
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 3/4/1997
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Tim Hobert
8.1/10227 votes#20 - Deaf Becomes Her
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 3/18/1997
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: N/A
7.4/10162 votes#21 - Hot in the City
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 4/1/1997
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: N/A
7.5/10158 votes#22 - Bone Free
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 4/29/1997
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: N/A
7.3/10156 votes#23 - The Mayor Who Came to Dinner
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 5/6/1997
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Tim Hobert
7.3/10152 votes#24 - Mayor Over Miami
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 5/13/1997
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.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Brian Buckner
The Best Episodes of Spin City Season 1
Every episode of Spin City Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Spin City Season 1!
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...
Genres:ComedyDrama
Network:ABC
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "Spin City" season 1. It scored 7.4/10 based on 288 votes. Directed by Thomas Schlamme and written by Bill Lawrence, Gary David Goldberg, it aired on 9/17/1996. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "The Great Pretender".