[1-23]The Mayor who came to Dinner

Writers: Tim Hobert & Kirk J. Rudell
Producers: Jeff Lowell & Walter Barnett
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel

Episode Length: 21:44
Guest Stars:

Deborah Rush: Helen Winston

Issac Mizrahi: Himself

Victoria Dillard: Janelle

Rachel York: Beautiful Woman

Kathleen Claypool: Mrs. Schnell

Rating:# million viewers rating share (n/a)

Rating: TV-14

First Broadcast: May 6, 1997

Opening sound: Glass Breaking

Storyline #1: Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Mike, The Mayor, and Carter are hosting Carter's new boyfriend at Gracy Mansion for dinner to promote Issac's charity fashion show. However, Helen shows up late and is particurlaly testy. The Mayor and Helen exchange words and Helen storms off. The Mayor is visibly upset since he feels he has had to put up with this abuse for far too long. One night, as Mike is recovering from Karaoke with Paul, The Mayor shows up at his doorstep and declares that he has moved out and separated from his wife. He had planned on staying at a hotel but Mike is able to talk him out of it and the resulting scandal. So The Mayor crashes at Mike's apartment, making himself right at home, taking Mike's bedroom and using all the hot water the next morning. Mike begins to question the move as it is visibly shaking him. Later, at the show, (see Storyline #2), The Mayor & Helen must be seen together in public. They are outwardly cordial but internally bitter to begin with. But when Helen throws water on The Mayor, Mike rushes out to cover up the papparazzi. Later, as The Mayor packs up to move back into Gracy Mansion, he confides in Mike that up until now, he had never contemplated divorce. Mike assures him by saying he could handle the ramifications if that was what The Mayor really wanted.

Storyline #2: Supermodel
In anticipation of Issac's fashion show, Cindy Crawford (not pictured) calls in sick. However, it is determined that Nikki will be able to fill in for her. This is great news for Nikki who has dreamed of being a runway model all her life. The big day arrives and Nikki can hardly contain herself. (Neither can her corset.) However, as Nikki begins to make her way down the runway, Mike bursts out from behind the stage to cover cameras. (see Storyline #1) As he runs out, he hits Nikki from behind causing her to fall.

Storyline #3: Bondek Takes Charge
Stuart is upset that none of the women ("she-meat") in his apartment complex are doing their laundry in house. He proposes to make a speech at the next tenant's meeting in order for the laundry room to be upgraded. However, his idea of a powerful speech is sorely lacking. James offers to lend his expertise to the matter and the two set out to sway the masses. Stuart, while heavily imitating JFK, lets loose a killer speech. It turns out the speech is so effective, he is elected president of the apartment building. However, all is not wine and roses as some of the tenants begin to call and complain about problems with their apartments. Stuart, wishing to spend as little time as possible on such matters begs James to write him a "retirement" speech in order to back out of his administrative commitment. His rise to power backfires at the fashion show as he is recognized by a model and turned down. Finally, at the meeting, he turns in an impressive Jesse Jackson-type performance but only one patron is there to here it and she remains unimpressed.

Review: The Mayor who Came to Dinner

Overall, a moving episode. The 3D portion stunk as I figured it would. Hopefully, they will shy away from such dumb stunts in the future. There is only one main concurrent storyline but it is quite a large one. Mayor Winston's problems with Helen has been ongoing since The Great Pretender and even hinted at beforehand. There have been many references to this occuring in the past few months as documented in this site. (Hate to say I told you so...) However, it is compelling to see a public figure deal with family problems in the public eye. About the only complaint is that there was very little to see from Helen's point of view. I don't know whether it's because Helen isn't as established fully as a character or whether we should feel bad about The Mayor and side with him. It will be interesting to see whether they make up or the inevitable happens. As for the rest of the episode, I was very impressed with the teaming of Stuart & James, one of the few comic teams on the show largely unexplored. I found their portion of the show highly entertaining and Stuart continues to solidify himself as my personal favorite character. (Don't like it? Vote in the character poll!) The Issac storyline was simply put in to have Nikki wear high fashion instead of her usual accountant garb. She looked very glamorous. (Perhaps all those remaining Ashley fans will find a new flame to drool over.) And the Mike-Nikki tension seemed to gain a little momentum. Once again, watch next week's finale to find out what happens...

Rating [5 pt. scale]: 4.0

Did you notice ...

the episode was rated TV-14 but there was little offensive in the outing?

the 3D effects?

Paper tube
Bubbles
Paul's Tonsils
Mike's Letter Opener

this is the first episode where Stuart's last name is mentioned? (Bondek)
Mike again refers to Paul as "Big Daddy"?

Top 10 Lines

10. Mike: "I had dinner at the Irish consulate. My last name is Flaherty. You can do the math."

9. Mike: "Did they catch you sunbathing nude again?"
Stuart: "I never saw what the big deal was with that."
Mike: "You were on sonebody's skylight."

8. Mike: "You know what they say about time?"
The Mayor: "It eventually catches up to you and forces you to face the emptiness that's become your life?"

7. Mike: (on The Mayor's theft) "I thought both your suitcase and your hair looked fuller."

6. The Mayor: "You know what you need in your bathroom?"
Mike: "A bouncer?"

5. Mike: "I could call Mrs. Winston right now."
The Mayor: "Oh, You wnat me to leave you alone?"

4. Helen: "If I have to stay here for more than an hour, I'm going to kill someone."
The Mayor: "Dear God, let it be me."

3. Stuart: "I hold supreme executive power."
Carter: "What are you going to do? Declare war on another building?"

2. Carter: "I don't like the partys, the clubs, the whole fashion scene."
Nikki: "And you have the nerve to call yourself gay?"

1. Mike: (on the Mayor's public breakup) "We'll just behave like those people who crashed in the Andes and not talk about it."

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