History Series / SpinCity

* ActorAllusion: See the {{Crossover}} entry below.
** In the noted Crossover above, Michael mentions his old therapist was like a father to him and wonders how the new guy can just fill that spot. Enter [[Series/FamilyTies Michael Gross]].

Flaherty relied on his group of quirky, yet somehow competent, staff to manage all the details and keep things in check. James Hobert was the midwest farmboy who wrote the political speeches, Nikki Faber was a romantic yo-yo who managed the accounting, Stuart Bondek was the sex-crazed publicity adviser, Janelle Cooper and Stacey Paterno sometimes switched roles as secretaries between Mike and the Mayor, Paul Lassiter served as the ButtMonkey press conference mediator and Carter Heywood was the minority representative as a gay black man (done to meta levels). And despite his general CloudCuckoolander nature, Mayor Randall Winston on occasion would reveal a surprisingly adept mind that surprised the others.

* SexySecretary: Stacy Paterno

* StraightGay: Aside from a fondness for nice suits and the occasional innuendo or high culture reference, Carter doesn't act any more gay than anyone else on the show. The only times it comes up are when his past boyfriends are plot-relevant or when Stewart wants to use Carter as a benchmark for [[HaveIMentionedImHeterosexualToday how not-gay he is]].

* TheLoinsSleepTonight: in "The Great Pretender", mike has a brief "hydraulics problem" after Manhattan Magazine names him "the sexiest man in Manhattan" and the Mayor tells him that "once you're in the public spotlight, you can't get out".

* SpeedSex: * In "All the Mayor's Men", Paul uses sex with his wife as part (albeit a very short part) of an alibi.

** The closest they got to acknowledging the disappearances of James, Nikki, Janelle, and Stacy was in Season 5's "Smile", where the Mayor (while grieving over the death of his favorite dentist) expresses lament over the fact that some people who were important to him have left within the past few months. Granted, he doesn't mention any names, but let's just say he's talking about Stacy, Nikki, Janelle, James, and of course Mike.

* BeenThereShapedHistory: When detailing her first meeting with Charlie, Caitlin reveals her then-boyfriend punched out Michael Dukakis before the 1988 election, requiring his handlers to try to devise a stunt to cultivate a macho persona. Caitlin, on hearing he was visiting an army base the next day, suggests he [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Dukakis#Tank_photograph pose in a tank.]]

** EpilepticTrees: James had already gotten fired last season and was on Mike's payroll as the "Deputy Deputy Mayor", so when Mike left..?
*** James was re-hired as the Mayor's speech writer prior to Mike's departure, presumably due to budget cuts which meant they were understaffed.
*** The closest they got to acknowledging the disappearances of James, Nikki, Janelle, and Stacy was in Season 5's "Smile", where the Mayor (while grieving over the death of his favorite dentist) expresses lament over the fact that some people who were important to him have left within the past few months. Granted, he doesn't mention any names, but let's just say he's talking about Stacy, Nikki, Janelle, James, and of course Mike.

Political satire about the Deputy Mayor of New York Michael Flaherty]], played by MichaelJFox, and the challenge of keeping a [[PointyHairedBoss hopelessly inept man]] in office. Political ribbing was always at the forefront but it soon came to revolve more around the characters' personal lives.

Flaherty relied on his group of quirky, [[BunnyEarsLawyer yet somehow competent]], staff to manage all the details and keep things in check. James Hobert was the midwest farmboy who wrote the political speeches, Nikki Faber was a romantic yo-yo who managed the accounting, Stuart Bondek was the sex-crazed publicity adviser, Janelle Cooper and Stacey Paterno sometimes switched roles as secretaries between Mike and the Mayor, Paul Lassiter served as the ButtMonkey press conference mediator and Carter Heywood was the minority representative as a gay black man ([[TokenMinority done to meta levels]]). And despite his general CloudCuckoolander nature, Mayor Randall Winston on occasion would reveal a surprisingly adept mind that surprised the others.

Later episodes brought in Heather Lochlear as campaign manager Caitlin Moore. Originally Creator/CarlaGugino served as a co-lead character as Mike's 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.

Not to be confused with SinCity, which incidentally starred Carla Gugino as well.

** Happens to [[spoiler: Mike]] waiting up for [[spoiler:Nikki]] when the two are going to settle their UST.

* [[AsHimself As Herself]]: Heidi Klum
* BeenThereShapedHistory: When detailing her backstory, Caitlin reveals her then-boyfriend punched out Michael Dukakis before the 1988 election, requiring his handlers to try to devise a stunt to cultivate a macho persona. Caitlin, on hearing he was visiting an army base the next day, suggests he [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Dukakis#Tank_photograph pose in a tank.]]

** 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.

* CanonWelding: In the last episode of ''Spin City'' where MichaelJFox appears as a regular, it is suggested that the series takes place in the same universe as ''Series/FamilyTies'', although with some CelebrityParadox, as Flaherty states he went up against Alex P Keaton, who was played by Fox.

** Nikki was something of a female version of this at first, then she [[RomanticFalseLead got a boyfriend]], who she dumped for Mike. Then when Locklear joined she went back to being a loser in love.

* ComicallySmallBribe: Paul attempts to bribe the office efficency expert to keep silent about his hoarding of office supplies with a 'Buy One, Get One Free' frozen yogurt coupon.

* CrossOver: When Fox left the show, his character supposedly went to Washington to oppose a conservative threat - Senator Alex P. Keaton, [[CelebrityParadox Fox's character]] from ''Series/FamilyTies''.

* [[FinishingEachOthersSentences Finishing Each Other's Sentences]]: Played with.

* {{Flanderization}}: In earlier seasons, James was just a run-of-the-mill nice guy from a small town, and not the unbelievably naive rube he became later on. Similarly, the Mayor began as a competent and intelligent elected official who depended on Mike's organizational skills; in later episodes, it seems improbable that he would have been elected to anything in the first place. Further, Paul started out as "oafish yet lovable", but spiraled down into [[{{Too Dumb To Live}} incorrigibly, malignantly stupid]] as the series progressed.

-->"That's [[DoubleEntendre one package]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fedex I absolutely, positively have to have tonight.]]"
* HiredForTheirLooks: Caitlin hired a guy who probably moonlit as a Chippendale's dancer (almost immediately after she chewed out Charlie [[HypocriticalHumor for the same thing]]).
* HollywoodHeartAttack: Winston's opponent in the mayoral race is campaigning on his physical prowess. During an ad hoc debate with the two candidates on treadmills, the out-of-shape Winston seems to be losing ground. Suddenly, his fit opponent [[DeathByIrony dies of a heart attack]]. His trophy wife ends up running against Winston instead.

** Many old Michael J. Fox-castmates, including [[Franchise/BackToTheFuture Christopher Lloyd]] (as an old mentor), [[Series/FamilyTies Meredith Baxter Birney]] (as his mother) and [[Series/FamilyTies Tracy Pollan]] (his wife) as an old girlfriend.
** 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. He opens the door, and it's Michael Gross, Fox's father on ''Series/FamilyTies''.

* {{Metaphorgotten}}: In "Pride and Prejudice", when the journalist interviews Nikki, she quickly drifts from talking about her bookkeeping job to how numbers [[{{Subtext}} aren't like the men she's dated]].

* NoPartyGiven: The Mayor's political affliations are never explicitly stated, although he's implied to be a Democrat. Given Mike goes to Washington to oppose a conservative, he's probably also a Democrat.

* PutOnABus: Not least of which, Mike himself! (see "Real Life Writes The Plot"). Michael J. Fox returned in Season 6 to get married, with the Mayor as an attendee (and [[DragQueen in drag]]. Aww...)

* RagtagBunchOfMisfits

** Paul's obsession with saving money, to the point that he suggests a double wedding to Mike (who was at that time engaged) illicting the following response:

* StatusQuoGameShow: Exception: Paul ''wins'', and ''keeps'', the $1 million prize on ''WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire''). [[spoiler:For a while, anyway.]]
* StoryArc: The first few episodes deal with the characters attempting to negotiate a garbage-collectors' strike, and a later season has a taxi drivers strike. Later on, there was a long-running storyline about the Mayor running for Senator, in which he cites [[{{continuity nod}} the two previous arcs]] during a debate.

* TakingTheBullet: In a possible assasination attempt (the shots heard were actually a secret serivcewoman's balloons popping), Mike leaves the Mayor (who to be fair was well protected by other members of his staff) to protect Nikki. This upsets the Mayor, who tries to replace Mike with Paul. Later, a hot dog vendor who the Mayor offended, throws a hot dog 'with everything on it' at him and Mike 'takes the bullet' for the Mayor. Later, Mike rewatches the tape of him leaving the Mayor to protect Nikki, which Nikki sees, leading to them [[CrowningMomentOfHeartWarming getting together]].

* ThrowTheDogABone: Paul, the show's resident ButtMonkey, wins the grand prize in ''WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire'' in one episode, by ''guessing at every question.'' Of course, see YankTheDogsChain below.

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

* TwoferTokenMinority: Carter - [[StraightGay gay]] and black, and Janelle, black and a woman.

* YankTheDogsChain: After winning the grand prize on ''WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire,'' Paul uses his winnings to open a politically-themed restaurant. It's a spectacular failure, and he's back to being the press secretary the very next episode.

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

Political satire about the Deputy Mayor of New York [[TheDanza Michael Flaherty]], played by MichaelJFox, and the challenge of keeping a [[PointyHairedBoss hopelessly inept man]] in office. Political ribbing was always at the forefront but it soon came to revolve more around the characters' personal lives.

* TheAllegedCar: Paul's car has a "Crush On Sight" order registered to it. Mike mistakingly switches his license plate for the Mayor's Mustang, and, [[OhCrap well]]...

* BlindWithoutEm: Stuart, as revealed in the ''NYPDBlue'' spoof scene in "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?".

* Metaphorgotten: In "Pride and Prejudice", when the journalist interviews Nikki, she quickly drifts from talking about her bookkeeping job to how numbers [[{{Subtext}} aren't like the men she's dated]].

After Fox's departure 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.

* 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]]."

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

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/spin-city_fox_1394.jpg]]

* CanonWelding: In the last episode of ''Spin City'' where MichaelJFox appears as a regular, it is suggested that the series takes place in the same universe as ''FamilyTies'', although with some CelebrityParadox, as Flaherty states he went up against Alex P Keaton, who was played by Fox.

* CrossOver: When Fox left the show, his character supposedly went to Washington to oppose a conservative threat - Senator Alex P. Keaton, [[CelebrityParadox Fox's character]] from ''FamilyTies''.
** There was another subtle one in the third season, when Mike turned on the TV to watch SportsNight.

* IWantYouToMeetAnOldFriendOfMine: Many old Michael J. Fox-castmates, including [[Film/BackToTheFuture Christopher Lloyd]] (as an old mentor), [[FamilyTies Meredith Baxter Birney]] (as his mother) and [[FamilyTies Tracy Pollan]] (his wife) as an old girlfriend.
** 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. He opens the door, and it's Michael Gross, Fox's father on ''FamilyTies''.

Political satire about the Deputy Mayor of New York [[TheDanza Michael Flaherty]], played by MichaelJFox, and the challenge of keeping a [[PointyHairedBoss hopelessly distracted man]] in office. Political ribbing was always at the forefront but it soon came to revolve more around the characters' personal lives.

* ADateWithRosiePalms: Happens to [[spoiler: Mike]] waiting up for [[spoiler:Nikki]] when the two are going to settle their UST.