First season of 'Spin City' has dimwitted politicians and other relevant elements

January 5, 7:45 AMTV on DVD ExaminerJohn Stahl

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The mayor and his staff

The excitement leading up to the presidential inauguration in two weeks prompted me to watch the
first season DVD set of the 1990s political comedy "Spin City," which got off to a great start and is far superior to the similar "Hearts Afire" about which I wrote just before the election in November.

Watching the show after eight years of the Bush administration put the dimwitted and often not politically savvy character of the mayor of New York City, played by Barry "Brad" Bostwick, in a new perspective that made him even more amusing. I also found the depiction of the deputy mayor, played perfectly by Michael J. Fox, and his staff being the ones who set policy and "spun" the mayor's gaffes particularly relevant. Of course, Fox is much nicer and far less conniving than Karl Rove and Dick Cheney.

Looking back on the series also made me realize that Bill Lawrence, who created and produces the current sitcom "Scrubs," was a co-creator and co-producer of "Spin City." I recognized the same elements of clever writing, well-developed and realistic characters, and a generally moderate political viewpoint.

A friend noted as well that Fox and several "Spin City" cast members have appeared on "Scrubs." These actors are "friends of Bill" in a sense other than an affiliation with the Clintons.

I do think that the first season was one of the strongest for "Spin City." Fox displayed his boyish charm and sarcastic wit well, and the first half of the season devoted a great deal of screen time to his well-depicted romance with a reporter whose job involved uncovering mistakes and bad decisions at city hall.

My favorite episode of this season occurred during this first half; the mayor refusing to support same-sex marriage for apparently political reasons prompted the openly gay director of minority affairs to plan a sham marriage to a female co-worker to show the hypocrisy of allowing a man and a woman who did not love each other to get married but not allowing two men or two women who did love each other that right. This presented an excellent point that is very relevant 12 years later.

The typical interviews that were added as features to the DVD set were good, and Michael J. Fox deserves tremendous credit for giving an interview despite his clearly advanced Parkinson's Disease; I doubt that I would have stepped up like that if I was in his shoes.

Even before seeing Fox's loyalty to the show, he was on my list of celebrities with whom I wanted to share a beer. Alternatively, I would like to meet him for buckwheat pancakes, bacon, and tooth-numbing sweet hot chocolate at my favorite sugar house in Royalton, Vt., which is not far from where Fox owns a farm.

Please feel free to share your thoughts regarding this show as additions to this entry or as e-mail to tvdvdguy@gmail.com.