[1-24] Mayor over Miami

Teleplay: Brian Buckner & Sebastion Jones
Story: Sarah Dunn
Producers: Jeff Lowell & Walter Barnett
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel

Episode Length: 21:34

Guest Stars:

Victoria Dillard: Janelle

Faith Prince: Claudia

Marvia Hinkle: Carolyn

Marcia DeBonis: Ticket Agent

John Bland: Reporter

Timothi Jane Graham: Waitress

Rating:# million viewers rating share

Rating: TV-PG

First Broadcast: May 13, 1997

Opening sound: Glass Breaking

Storyline #1: Has Anyone Seen the Mayor?

It's time once again for the State of the City address, (I know, see below) and The Mayor is despondent. He can only focus on the shortcomings of his tenure, and just when he begins to cheer up, he's served his divorce papers. Mike decides to cheer up the Mayor by inviting him to his apartment and hang out with the Staff. However, The Mayor has other ideas and convinces Paul to go with him to Miami to escape. Mike now must conted with running a city without a Mayor. He successfully rearranges The Mayor's schedule, but has a predictably difficult time at the press conference. Mike runs with the story that the Mayor never left and is in town, just not doing anything. Eventually, Claudia tells Mike where Paul is located and Mike jets off to find them as the episode ends.

Storyline #2: Moving Day
It's moving day for Claudia. She's set to move in with Paul, but Paul begins to have jitters. He balks at letting her copy his keys, tries to get the Mayor to talk him out of it, and cringes at Claudia changing his answering machine. So, to escape, he goes with the Mayor to Miami. Once there, The Mayor tries to give Paul advice on how to get women. Unfortunately, Paul acts like Paul and, well you know what will happen...

Storyline #3: Ladies Man
It seems Stuart has a girlfriend, and she appears normal. When questioned about it, he shrugs it off and acts ... normal. The Staff is shocked until they uncover Stuart's secret: he's not acting like Stuart. When confronted, Stuart finally realizes that he is living a sham, but debates as to whether to keep up the charade in order to stay with Carolyn.

Review: The Mayor who Came to Dinner

Overall, a cliff-hanging episode. Will The Mayor come back to New York? Will Paul get back together with Claudia? Will Stuart tell Carolyn the truth? Will Mike kill the Mayor? Can we have more unanswered questions? Actually yes, but the episode does end abruptly. I know that it's the last episode, but some of the story threads were a little contrived. I have little doubt that The Mayor will return. (Else why the show?) But, I guess it's a little anticlimactic anyway, being that The Mayor got divorced last week and all.

As for th episode itself, the show goes out on a high note. Very well acted, especially by Michael J. Fox, as you can probably tell by the number of Top Lines he receives. The show puts the focus on him trying to run the city without a Mayor and he pulls it off nicely. I've got nothing but praise for his performance this season. I liked the Stuart storyline. Now that the characters have been built, they can begin to play against stereotype. I look forward to the "James as Assured Gentleman" episode.

Well, that's about it for this season. Look for the show to be picked up. (In fact, the official order came from the network a couple of weeks ago.) See you in September!!

Rating [5 pt. scale]: 4.0 (on the basis of Mike's performance)

Did you notice ...

the Staff plans to eat at the Tribeca Grill after the State of the City Address?

the Mayor actually had the State of the City Address in Deaf Becomes Her?

The Mayor made mention of past episodes?

Killing an Ex-Mayor in The Rivals.
Offending the Gay Community in the Pilot.
Poisioning the Homeless in The Competitors.
Offending the Women's Action Caucuss in Bone Free.
Offending the Deaf Community in Deaf Becomes Her.

the Administration has met 70% of it's promises?
Nikki had a dog when she was young?
Mike looks like his mom in photographs?
Paul hides a toothbrush in his desk?
The Mayor married Helen 3 weeks after moving in together?
The Reporter makes mention that The Mayor was sick in Bone Free?

Top 10 Lines

10. The Mayor: "Well, I see the Paul Lassiter Girl Repellant seems to have coated the pool area."

9. Reporter: "So why did you call this press conference?"
Mike: "I just wanted to say Hi!"

8. Mike: "It's official. We are short one Mayor. I gotta think people are going to notice."

7. Mike: (to Stuart) "Shes just the type of nice normal woman I figured you'd be with. Only I thought she'd be more ... inflatable."

6. Mike: (to The Mayor) "Normally we save the grilling of the Administration to the press."

5. Mike: "I prefer the beer-flavored beer."

4. Mike: (about Paul) "He's probably looking for someplace to get SPF 4000."

3. The Mayor: "I just wish we could account for all the waste."
Mike: "Well, that's what we got the street sweepers for."

2. The Mayor: "What's it all about Mike?"
Mike: "Well Sir, this is politics. So unless it's a trick question, winning!"

1. Mike: (about Carolyn) "There's got to be a logical explanation for this. She's serving him a supoena."

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