Charlie Sheen tries to get Heather Locklear's attention tonight on "Spin City."

This 'City' Could Use Its Old Spin

By STEVEN LINAN
TIMES STAFF WRITER

Looking for something with a savvy, intelligent edge now that "The West Wing" has shut its doors for the summer?
     If so, we'd have to steer you away from "Spin City," the graying ABC comedy about the merry misadventures of a mayoral staff in New York.
     Truth be told, the once bright and bracing sitcom has labored for some time, even before former star Michael J. Fox opted to leave it for his full-time fight against Parkinson's disease.
     Where "Spin" was initially funny and unpredictable, it is now silly and stale.
     Charlie Sheen brings a mischievous grin to his role as former bad boy Charlie Crawford, but there's surprisingly little oomph and energy in his work. Worse, there's no steam or sparkle in his weekly mating dance with Heather Locklear, who earned more laughs pushing people around on "Melrose Place."
     And there's also a stagnancy among the supporting characters. Mayor Winston is still clueless. Paul is still an inept cheapskate. And Stuart is still a lecherous lout, albeit one who oddly seems more in sync with Carter, the gay activist.
     Chuckles are few and far between in tonight's hourlong season finale as Charlie lands in a hospital after being shot during a ride-along with police.
     The bottom line? "Spin" is caught in an unamusing cycle.
• "Spin City" can be seen tonight at 8 on ABC. The network has rated it TV-PG-DL (may be unsuitable for young children, with advisories for suggestive dialogue and coarse language).