1 9 9 6 – 2 0 0 2 (USA)
145 x 30 minute episodes
Michael J Fox starred as the hyper-controlling, overworked and highly competitive Deputy Mayor of New York, Michael Flaherty.
Mike took care of PR for the dim-witted Mayor Randall M. Winston Jr (Barry Bostwick) and much of the show’s humour revolved around unfolding political crises and the Mayor’s embarrassing responses to them.
Randall rarely took his job seriously and was oblivious to other people’s feelings, believing that his most redeeming quality was his “trustfulness”. Randall also had a habit of using the nonsense word “further-the-less” as a real word in conversations, and if faced with an important meeting or keeping his massage appointment at the same time, he opted to get his massage.
Mike’s staff at City Hall comprised stunning blonde Communications Director Caitlin Moore (Heather Locklear); Head of Minority Affairs, Carter Haywood (Michael Boatman); fiercely competitive Chief of Staff Stuart Bondek (Alan Ruck); clueless Press Secretary Paul Lassiter (Richard Kind)who habitually stole office supplies; Speech Writer James Hobert (Alexander Chaplin); and accountant Nikki Faber (Connie Britton) who was a frisky double-entendre factory.
In the final two seasons of the show, Mike went to Washington DC to work as an environmental lobbyist (at which point Michael J Fox left the series) and was replaced by womanising gambler Charlie Crawford (Charlie Sheen).
Mike Flaherty
Michael J. Fox
Mayor Randall M. Winston Jr
Barry Bostwick
Paul Lassiter
Richard Kind
Carter Haywood
Michael Boatman
Caitlin Moore
Heather Locklear
Stuart Bondek
Alan Ruck
James Hobert
Alexander Chaplin
Nikki Faber
Connie Britton
Janelle Cooper
Victoria Dillard
Charlie Crawford
Charlie Sheen
Judge Claire Simmons
Farrah Fawcett
Abby Lassiter
Raquel Welch
Allison Wright
Olivia d’Abo
Heidi Klum
Heidi Klum