History Series / SpinCity

* GettingCrapPasttheRadar: When Mike asks Heidi Klum what she is thinking about after they had sex, she answers "You know, mushy (pronounced as muschi) stuff." If you speak German you probably did a SpitTake after hearing that out of the blue on a PG-13 show: "muschi" means cunt, pussy.

Later episodes brought in Heather Lochlear as campaign manager Caitlin Moore. Originally CarlaGugino served as a co-lead character as Mikes girlfriend Ashley Schaefer, a reporter who evoked a [[DatingCatwoman certain animosity]] with the rest of the administration. Deciding it would be more interesting for Mike to be a bachelor they wrote her out after the first half season. Especially given the presence of [[EnsembleDarkhorse fan favorite]] [[StraightGay Carter]] by the end the series it often contained more HoYay per half hour than three seasons of ''WillAndGrace'' combined.

-->'''Mike:''' No, [[SarcasmMode I was not aware of that sir]]

-->'''Mike:''' No, that was [[TitleDrop spin]]—masking an untruth with assorted facts.
-->'''Charlie:''' So...lying?

** In Mike's last episode (a two-parter), he begins seeing a new therapist. Just before walking into the office, he says to his old therapist (on the phone) that he doubts that this guy could ever be the father to him that his last doctor was. Opens the door, and it's Michael Gross, Fox's father on ''FamilyTies''.

** This ties in with his cheapness. Paul takes the case to ThePeoplesCourt (probably for the money and certainly for the publicity) where he gets destroyed. If he had taken the case to a proper court, he probably would have won.

* ObfuscatingStupidity: Caitlin uses this to get Mike to hire her as the Mayor's campaign manager. It's really Obfuscating Inexperience, especially after Mike turns down James Carville, since Mike wants someone he can overrule. After she's hired, Caitlin quickly drops the facade when she meets the Mayor, showing how sharp she is. Annoyed, Mike tells her "This isn't some "[[MelrosePlace cheesy soap opera]]."

Later episodes brought in Heather Lochlear as campaign manager Caitlin Moore. Originally CarlaGugino served as a co-lead character as Mikes girlfriend Ashley Schaefer, a reporter who evoked a [[DatingCatwoman certain animosity]] with the rest of the administration. Deciding it would be more interesting for Mike to be a bachelor they wrote her out after the first half season. Especially given the presence of [[EnsembleDarkhorse fan favorite]] [[StraightGay Carter]] by the end the series it often contained more HoYay per half hour than three seasons of ''WillAndGrace'' combined. The actual politics

Political satire about the Deputy Mayor of New York. When the show began, it was all about politics -- particularly, about the challenge of keeping an [[PointyHairedBoss idiot]] in office -- but soon came to revolve around the characters' personal lives.

The show became somewhat meta over the seasons: just as the mayor serves absolutely no apparent purpose to the city (being, well, dumb as a brick), the character eventually serves no purpose to the ''plot'' -- apart from screwing up, so that the rest of the cast has something to do. That's not a bad thing, though, and he still got to be TheMentor sometimes. Though not as often as in the beginning, and sometimes unbeknownst to himself.

In later episodes, the series often contained more HoYay per half hour than three seasons of ''WillAndGrace'' combined.

Originally created as a vehicle for MichaelJFox, but when his Parkinson's Disease grew worse, he left the show and was replaced by CharlieSheen -- who, acting as himself, seemed like a second Stuart (albeit sexually more successful). Many consider this the point where the show [[{{JumpTheShark}} jumped the shark]], and it was canceled two years later. The show's creator, Bill Lawrence, and most of the staff went on to create the even more successful ''{{Scrubs}}'', on which most of the major Fox-era ''Spin City'' actors (including Fox) have appeared in cameos/guest roles.

** For both Fox and Christopher Lloyd when the latter guest starred in "BackToTheFuture IV: Judgment Day."

** In "All the Mayor's Men," Mike quotes Johnny B. Goode - his signature song from ''BackToTheFuture'' - as a Bible passage.

* IWantYouToMeetAnOldFriendOfMine: Many old Michael J. Fox-castmates, including [[BackToTheFuture Christopher Lloyd]] (as an old mentor), [[FamilyTies Meredith Baxter Birney]] (as his mother) and [[FamilyTies Tracy Pollan]] (his wife) as an old girlfriend.

** Stuart, in spite of his obvious flaws, has been said to have a date every week , though how far the dates go is never clear.

** In season Four Mike wants to get together with Caitlin, who is going to re-marry her ex-husband Trevor. They're on a plane in the bathroom and Mike tries to convince her of the ways they're compatible, and says they finish each other's sentences, prompting this exchange:

Originally created as a vehicle for MichaelJFox, but when his Parkinson's Disease grew worse, he left the show and was replaced by CharlieSheen -- who, acting as himself, seemed like a second Stuart (albeit sexually more succesfull). Many consider this the point where the show [[{{JumpTheShark}} jumped the shark]] and show was canceled two years later. The show's creator, Bill Lawrence, and most of the staff went on to create the even more successful ''{{Scrubs}}'', on which most of the major Fox-era ''Spin City'' actors (including Fox) have appeared in cameos/guest roles.

The show became somewhat meta over the seasons: just as the mayor serves absolutely no apparent purpose to the city (being, well, dumb as a brick), the character eventually serves no purpose to the ''plot'' -- apart from screwing up, so that the rest of the cast has something to do. That's [[BetterThanItSounds not a bad thing,]] though, and he still got to be TheMentor sometimes. Though not as often as in the beginning, and sometimes unbeknownst to himself.

* SmithWillSuffice: See Angel Unaware above

--> "'Charlie:'" That was all a lie?
-->"'Mike:'" No, that was [[TitleDrop spin]]—masking an untruth with assorted facts.
-->"'Charlie:'" So...lying?
-->"'Mike:'" Yeah, pretty much.

-->"'Charlie:'" So, lying?

--> ""Charlie:"" That was all a lie?
-->"'Mike:"" No, that was [[TitleDrop spin]]—masking an untruth with assorted facts.
-->""Charlie:"" So, lying.
-->""Mike:"" Yeah, pretty much.

The show became somewhat meta over the seasons: just as the mayor serves absolutely no apparent purpose to the city (being, well, dumb as a brick), the character eventually serves no purpose to the ''plot'' -- apart from screwing up, so that the rest of the cast has something to do. That's [[BetterThanItSounds not a bad thing,]] though, and he still got to be TheMentor sometimes -- though not as often as in the beginning, and sometimes unbeknownst to himself.