Season 1

09/17/96: [1-1] Pilot (Series Premiere) - The "First" Episode
09/24/96: [1-2] The Great Pretender - The "Mike is Nervous" Episode
10/01/96: [1-3] The Apartment - The "Mike Never Sees Ashley" Episode
10/08/96: [1-4] Pride and Prejudice - The "Carter's Needle Exchange" Episode
10/15/96: [1-5] The Rivals - "The Ex-Mayor" Episode
10/22/96: [1-6] A Star is Born - The "James's Idol" Episode
10/29/96: [1-7] Grand Illusions - The "Marriage" Episode
11/12/96: [1-8] The High and the Mighty - The "Norm from Cheers" Episode
11/19/96: [1-9] Meet Tommy Dugan - The "Woody from Cheers" Episode
11/26/96: [1-10] The Competitors - The "Thanksgiving Cook-off" Episode
12/10/96: [1-11] Dog Day Afternoon - The "Dead Police-Dog" Episode
12/17/96: [1-12] Criss Cross - The "Mike & Ashley Debate" Episode
01/07/97: [1-13] Bye Bye Love - The "Ashley Leaves" Episode
01/14/97: [1-14] Starting Over - The "Claudia Appears" Episode
01/28/97: [1-15] Gabby's Song - The "Mike Meets his Match" Episode
02/11/97: [1-16] Kiss Me, Stupid - The "Mike Acts Gay" Episode
02/18/97: [1-17] An Affair to Remember - The "Mayor's Birthday" Episode
02/25/97: [1-18] Snowbound - The "They're Trapped in City Hall" Episode
03/04/97: [1-19] Striptease - The "Mike Dates a Stripper" Episode
03/18/97: [1-20] Deaf Becomes Her - The "Funny Interpreter" Episode
04/01/97: [1-21] Hot in the City - The "Kidnapped Guys" Episode
04/29/97: [1-22] Bone Free - The "Stand at Attention" Episode
05/06/97: [1-23] The Mayor who Came to Dinner   - The "Mayor Breaks Up" Episode
05/13/97: [1-24] Mayor over Miami  (Season Finale) - The "Mayor & Paul Leave" Episode

Season 1 Synopsis

Well, the first season is now over and all I can say is:  What a long, strange trip it's been.  This page has sometimes been hyper-critical of this show.  However, it's only because I, along with many others, see greatness in this fledgling show and are dissapointed when it doesn't reach our lofty goals.  Here then, is a brief rundown on major storylines in the first season and how they rated...

Mike and Ashley's Relationship

I'll admit:  from the outset, I was against it.  Every other show has a love interest and I was afraid that Ashley would simply be used in that capacity.  How true that was.  What held some promise in the early promos (Ashley antagonizing Mike by using their relationship as a weapon) never materialized and only appeared in Pride & Prejudice and Dog Day Afternoon.  It's safe to say that this storyline was a disapointment, since Ashley left in Episode [1-12].

Mike's Relationship Recovery

With Ashley out of the picture, much of the show focused on Mike trying to find someone else to go out with.  The show started out exploiting Mike's venrebility after the breakup, which was good.  However, Mike could only stay hurt just so long, as he started dating different women every week.  It allowed the other characters to develop but left Mike "relationship stunted."  I'd like to see Mike's love life become less of a topic in the future, but I doubt that.

The Mayor's Divorce

To contrast, this storyline was handled very well.  A vague reference was made in the Pilot to the possibility, and tension was present in The Great Pretender.   However, this story did not kick into gear until Gabby's Song and was seen mainly through The Mayor's eyes.  Although some would say that this is unfair to Ms. Winston, let's not forget who the show is about.  If Ms. Winston is characterized as a sympathetic figure, that makes The Mayor less of an intriguing character.  As with most divorces, fallout is inevitable.  (I should know.)  So far, The Mayor's only act since the announcement has been to run away to Miami with Paul.  It will be interesting to see if there is anymore fallout from the relationship.  I don't think they've dropped the subject now that the divorce is official.  However, since they're broken up, there's not all that much ground left to cover.

Nikki's Love Life

By the time the season was over, Nikki had dated everyone except a gay man.   (Wait, check that.  She tried to marry one in Grand Illusions.)  It's not that a character can't have trouble in the dating scence.   It's just that I got a little tired of seeing how James was going to try to win Nikki, or whether Mike or Stuart would fall for her.  Having characters hook up early in a show's life can lead to making it difficult for writers to keep relationships fresh.   And given the track record of these writers, they won't keep a relationship interesting very long.

Paul and Claudia

It's hard to imagine, but Paul had the most normal relationship of anyone on the show.   Claudia Sachs showed up in Starting Over and continued to appear throughout the second half to provide a foil for Paul.  As unlikely a sex symbol as Paul is, the couple has managed to stay believable, although their relationship has gotten odder with Claudia moving in at the end of the season.  It's probable that this relationship will continue.  But as long as it stays in the back burner as it has, the storyline is nice to see.

Looking Ahead to Season 2

What's ahead for this bunch?  As if I know.  If you haven't figured it out, I'd like for the show to stay away from storylines that depend on relationships.   Sure, it's easier to make story arcs.  However, they're tough to pull off and can easily turn off viewers if it's not interesting.  If I had my way, the show would regain it's political roots, throw in the physical comedy that made the second half so enjoyable, and see Carter become as combative as he started out to be.  The new season starts in only 3 months.  Get ready!

Best Episode:    Dog Day Afternoon  An engaging Ashley story puts it over the top.

Worst Episode:    The High and the Mighty   The title wasn't even funny.

Funniest Episode:    Hot in the City   Allusion at it's best, and the cast really clicks.

Wierdest Episode:    Snowbound   Couldn't figure out why everyone couldn't go home

Best Lines:

	Paul:  (on ABC)  "I don't watch that channel."  from An Affair to Remember
	Reporter:   "What did they expect to find in a '100% NUD_  Bar'?" The Mayor:  "Pure Nud"  from Striptease
	Mike:   "I just came by to remind you this is a party, not a press conference.   Please reserve any offensive, unfounded, potentially libelous questions until tomorrow when I will be happy to mislead, misdirect, and misinform you as per our usual arrangement." from An Affair to Remember
	Stuart:   "Forever!  We have to buy them beer forever!" from The Competitors

	The Tall Podium from Meet Tommy Dugan
	Mike playing the Guitar from An Affair to Remember
	The Meeting the Morning After from Striptease
	The Pre-Funeral from Dog Day Afternoon
	The Interpreter from Deaf Becomes Her

	Stuart:  Made a hateable character loveable
	Carter: Pleasantly abrasive, although wore off later
	Mike:   Didn't think I'd leave him out, did you?
	Sam Seder: (George Rudell, Translator) True, he guested twice.  But both characters were memorable.

	Writers:    Made a cast member quit.
	George Wednt: Simply not funny
	Mayor Winston:  Although he became a stronger prescence, it doesn't make up for his slow start.