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Spin City starring Michael J. Fox, Barry Bostwick, Heather Locklear, Charlie Sheen & Connie Britton

Posted on December 12, 2010 Written by ripitup

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Spin City starring Michael J. Fox, Heather Locklear, Connie Britton, Barry Bostwick & Charlie Sheen
Spin City starring Michael J. Fox, Heather Locklear, Connie Britton, Barry Bostwick & Charlie Sheen

The Plot, Characters and First Episodes

Mike Flaherty (Michael J. Fox) is the Deputy- Mayor of New York City. He is ambitious, hard-working, witty so the often-clueless Mayor Randall Winston (Barry Bostwick) depends on Mike for everything. Mike runs an equally funny group of employees: the introverted and goofy speech writer James (Alexander Chaplin), the always dating Nikki (Connie Britton), goofier, lanky and socially clueless media spokesperson Paul (Richard Kind), and the annoying but harmless Stuart (Alan Ruck).

Mike also manages to squeeze in a serious relationship with the beautiful, ambitious journalist Ashley (Carla Gugino) who gives Paul nightmares. However Mike feels an overwhelming pressure when Ashley talks about letting her apartment go, since they practically live together. Add this to the mayor’s constant goofs and the attack from the leading gay activist Carter (Michael Boatman) and Mike feels at a dead end. But at the end of the day, he always manages to save his own butt, as well the mayor’s. He hires Carter – persuading him that it will be much harder to actually contribute to policies than putting blame and what better job to make the mayor’s life a nightmare?

The team is complete with constant jokes about politics, relationships, friendships, character personalities and sex.

Sense of Humor

Spin City is one of the funniest TV shows I have ever seen.  I don’t care about politics and I am not even a New Yorker, but the jokes are universally hilarious and the characters are original, as well as highly relatable. The show has the advantage of making fun of the politically incorrect situations, and the goofiness of its characters. No character is perfect and despite Mike’s professional success, he can be equally ridiculous when it comes to his personal life.

Some Early Favorite Lines & Scenes

* Mike feels frustrated in his relationship with Ashley so he asks Carter if gay relationships are easier. Carter says that apart from not having the toilet seat argument, it is just as, maybe even more complicated.

* Mike: (on a formal dinner they are all attending) There are 10 commandments. I’d like your dates to check out on at least 7 of them.

**

Nikki: (on phone): I didn’t mean to scare you, it was just a simple run of the mill orgasm… (Mike walks up) …Can you hold on a second, Mom?

Mike: Oh, I’ll let you get back to your mom, before she loses her erection

**

Changes in Cast and the Departure of Michael J. Fox after Season 4

Carla Cugino left after playing in 13 episodes. Connie Britton (Nikki) left after 4 seasons  and so did Alexander Chaplin. While some Spin City fans didn’t like the arrival of Heather Locklear in 1999, I didn’t really have problems with that. While she is not the funniest actress around, she suited her character  and the comedic timing of the rest of the cast remained perfect. For me, the show got its real and crushing blow after season 4, as Michael J. Fox, the leading character of the show, had to leave due to his progressing Parkinson’s disease. Charlie Sheen took over, playing the new deputy mayor Charlie Crawford.

Charlie’s character lacked Mike’s likability and for me, Charlie Sheen failed as an actor where Michael J. Fox had shone. I never found sheen to be a great actor but he is OK. He is just not my type of funny. I don’t really enjoy his popular comedy Two and a Half Man either. I quit watching Spin City a short time after J. Fox left.

Recommended episodes:

All of the first 4 Seasons! But if you are in some way allergic to Heather Locklear, all of the 3 seasons.

Fun Notes:

* Charlie Sheen was married to actress Denise Richards, who was rumored to have had an affair with Richie Sambora while he was married to Heather Locklear.

* Charlie Sheen is best friends with rocker Bret Michaels. Charlie Sheen’s brother Emilio Estevez is best friends with rocker Jon Bon Jovi.

Also on Spin City

Spin City TV Show Guest Stars Trivia: Amanda Peet, Gabriel Macht, Paula Marshall & Tracy Pollan

Spin City TV Show Guest Stars Trivia: Feat. Jennifer Garner, Kim Raver, Carla Gugino, Christopher Llyod & More

Other Posts on Michael J. Fox

My favorite Canadians: #1 Michael J. Fox

Canadian Celebrity Trivia: Featuring Bryan Adams, Jim Carrey, Michael J. Fox, Ryan Reynolds and More

Posts on Heather Locklear

10 Celebrity Couple Break-Ups You May Not Have Seen Coming

Charlie Sheen Movies and Posts

The Three Musketeers starring Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen and Chris O’ Donnell

Actor Families: Michelle Pfeiffer, Dedee Pfeiffer, Emilio Estevez, Martin Sheen and Charlie Sheen

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Filed Under: TV shows Tagged With: Alan Ruck, Alexander Chaplin, Barry Bostwick, Carla Gugino, cast of spin city, Charlie Sheen, comedy, Connie Britton, heather locklear, Michael Boatman, Michael J. Fox, sitcom, Spin City, spin city cast, spin city tv show, tv show, TV shows

My favorite Canadians: #1 Michael J. Fox

Posted on July 10, 2009 Written by ripitup

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I have loved Canada even before I went there and met its great people. It just left a image on me thanks to J. Fox, Jim Carrey and Bryan Adams.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

So let’s start with the cutest celebrity ever…

MICHAEL J. FOX

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What do you first remember when you hear J. Fox’s his name? Most probably three Back to the Future movies. And right along with them- because I’m such a 80s& mostly 90s movie nut- I think of Secret of My Success, Doc Hollywood, The Concierge  and Casualties of War. He has played the lead in Spin City for 4 seasons and it is my favorite sitcom ever. It is deliciously funny and Mike is a wonderful actor. When I learned that he had Parkinson’s, I remember thinking to myself: Shit!!!  Before I knew he had it, I was really upset that he kept appearing in less and less movies.  He has always been one of my fav. actors and I like anything with him in it- with the exception of the Mars Attacks- Tim Burton and I just don’t belong to the same planet- I have watched most of his movies more than once. Before the internet made it so easy to reach everything, I hunted his movies down at videostores, videotaped stuff from TVs,bought every old magazine I could find with him in it. It wasn’t a teenage crush though. I never thought Michael in a sexual way. He always felt like a part of the family. He looked like the guy that you wanted to be best friends with. He is modest, friendly and probably the loveliest actor that ever came to Hollywood. He is fantastic at romantic comedies- he steals the show every time with his winning smile.  I have admired his sense of family, his loyalty to his wife and his self-depreciating style. He is one of the very few actors who you can admire both personally and professionally.  I guess instead of talking about him, it is time to pay my respects in writing.

Back to the Future (1985) –   Marty McFly is the kid you wish…,

 –…you could date in high school: he is sweet, romantic, fun and well…funny. You also remember that he plays the guitar, right

 -…whose scientist friend you knew:
Dr. Emmet Brown is eccentric, deadly smart and naive enough to buy plutonium from terrorists (soley for fuel purposes.
You got to love this guy)  oh and he has invented a time machine! He gets Marty in and out of trouble,in that order.
 
 
Back to the Future is the absolutely brilliant mixture of comedy and adventure. Marty goes back and tries to save the doctor from the terrorists and also has to deal with his parents’ teenage version. And this is only the first part…
 
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The first movie is set in 1985 and 1955, the second in 2015, 1955 and 1985. The third in 1985 and 1885.  1885 gives us a western comedy, and 2015 has the more Sci-Fi feel to it. I love all three and have watched them…well, too many times to remember.
 
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 Marty has to deal with his mom’s teenage hormones and has to let her call him Calvin.
 
 
 
 
back_to_the_future_3_(front)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Rom-Coms
Michael makes a lovely lead as he falls for the girl and goes to lengths to get her.
 
 
THE CONCIERGE  ( For love or money- 1993)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Concierge a.k.a For love or money
The Concierge a.k.a For love or money

 

Doug (J. Fox) has a dream of building and managing his own hotel so when he falls for the mistress (Gabrielle Anwar) of the guy who is going to help Doug realize that dream makes things complicated.

DOC HOLLYWOOD (1991)

Mike as the big shot stuck in a small town
Mike as the big shot stuck in a small town

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The story involves a pretty girl, her daughter, a pig (literally) and Woody Harrelson.  It is a fun watch. No more needs to be said.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Secret of my Success (1987)
 
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 Again, Mike falls for the mistress of his boss. His boss’s wife wants Mike. He needs to prove his parents and himself that he can make it in the big city.
Fun as expected.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DRAMA
 
CASUALTIES OF WAR- 1989
 
 So what happens when some guys from your troop decides to attack and rape a local girl, just for the hell of it? What happens if they stick together and you are all on your own, trying to save her and stay alive all at once?
 
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           Bright Lights, Big City (1988) 

51T9GVQPD3L__SL500_AA240_J. Fox is no longer the clean cut boy from next door. The movie is a realistic drama about how we deal (or can’t deal) with things that happen to us. It also features Kiefer Sutherland. If you think Michael only did comedy and/or is good at comedy, you should give these two a chance.

Of course he has appeared in many other movies, both dramatic and funny. He has appeared in movies that you won’t tire from watching. But his funniest work to date, I believe, is Spin City.

 

SPIN CITY

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I am not going to go into much detail since Spin City will have its own spot. I just need to say though; I just couldn’t handle watching it after Charlie Sheen took over the lead after 4 years .It wasn’t funny any more. OK- it was funny but with J. Fox, it was freaking hilarious. The characters were outrageous, both the physical comedy and one-liners were amazing. The script was as entertaining and original as it could get. You have a tall,handsome, nice yet extremely naive and air-headed major who probably wouldn’t remember to tie his shows without his short,funny,sharp and self-centered deputy major (J. Fox). The rest of the staff consists of a clumsy,big,weird, stingy and oh-not-so-smart Paul, lovely, pretty and single Nikki, the unsuccessful womanizer Stu and the geeky James. I prefer it over almost any sit-come. It might draw a tie with Friends but mind you- Friends had its episodes that were not so great.But Spin City made me laugh in 4 seasons-as much as friends did in a total of 10 years. You do the math…

 

  

 

 

I miss Michael J. Fox. I hate the fact that he can only get small roles now, due to his illness. I am for any sort of research that could help this terrible disease. I hope that he can get rid of it. I know it is wishful thinking but…fingers crossed, it just might happen in the future. He is a great entertainer and a talented actor. He is also a nice guy so he definitely deserves better…

 

 

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: Back to the futre movies, Casualties of War, For Love or Money, Gabrielle Anwar, Michael J. Fox, Spin City, The Concierge, time travel

That Old Feeling starring Bette Midler, Dennis Farina, Paula Marshall, Danny Nucci and James Denton

Posted on July 9, 2009 Written by ripitup

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THAT OLD FEELING (1997)

Starring: Bette Midler, Dennis Farina, Paula Marshall, James Denton, Gail O’ Grady and Danny Nucci

That Old Feeling starring Bette Midler, Dennis Farina and Paula Marshall
That Old Feeling starring Bette Midler, Dennis Farina and Paula Marshall. Funny. Very funny.

I am not always gonna talk about dramatic pieces. Here’s a great comedy on love, marriage, relationships and old/new sparks.

And if you are thinking I am discriminating, here the guy-Dan (Farina) – also commits adultery and I am perfectly fine with it.

Molly (Marshall) is getting married. The wedding is extra stressful for her. Not because she’s getting cold feet. But her parents Lilly and Dan (Midler and Farina) are divorced and they really despise each other. She has to make sure they don’t kill each other during the couple of hours they see one another.

Dennis Farina, Bette Midler
Dennis Farina, Bette Midler in the middle of another heated argument.

And what she fears happens. They do start fighting- The mother is now married to their marriage counselor and the father is married to a woman she is sure Farina cheated on her with. However Farina claims she cheated on him before. This was all expected. What wasn’t though is when they are alone, the attraction comes rushing back and they have sex. More than that, they run off together. Paula’s fiancé (James Denton) is a candidate senator so the last thing this young politician needs is a scandal. So before she can go their honeymoon, she has to console two hectic and borderline crazy second spouses, deal with a paparazzi (Nucci) who is determined  to find the parents…

It is hilarious and romantic- mostly the romance resulting from the chemistry between the paparazzi and Molly- although he could not be more different than her husband, he just is so fun to be around!!!

I laughed my butt off during this film. It might actually be my ultimate favorite romantic comedy.

Adultery can be OK if the people you are married to are no angels and did use the problems in your marriage to seduce you-and helped you commit adultery in the first place. To see who ends up with who and how, just watch it.

P.S:  Molly’s fiancé is played by James Denton. I did not notice how good-looking his guy was until he appeared as a plumber in Desperate Housewives. And even though I am not one of the biggest fans of th show, I have to say I was hooked on James. In this movie, he is too uptight and insensitive and the charm card goes to Nucci.

A little on the actors:

James Denton
James Denton

Talk about rugged good looks…His fans might check this movie out to see a younger James.

As for Farina and Midler…They are as marvelously hilarious as always.

Bette Midler and Dennis Farina in That Old Feeling
Yep, fighting again.

Buy That Old Feeling from Amazon.com

If you like romantic comedies, you might want to check out:

He is just not that into you: Starring Bradley Cooper, Scarlett Johannson, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly

Just Like Heaven: Starring Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo

It’s a boy girl thing: Starring Kevin Zegers

You’ve Got Mail: Starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan

Yours, Mine and Ours: Starring Rene Russo and Dennis Quaid

Playing by Heart: Starring Angelina Jolie, Sean Connery, Dennis Quaid, Madeleine Stowe, Ryan Phillippe

Enchanted: Starring Patrick Dempsey, Amy Adams, James Marsden and Susan Sarandon

Pretty Woman: Starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere

Made of Honor: Starring Patrick Dempsey

Someone Like You: Starring Hugh Jackman and Ashley Judd

Adam: Starring Hugh Dancy and Rose Bryne

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Filed Under: Movies and Actors Tagged With: Bette Midler, comedy, Danny Nucci, Dennis Farina, Gail O' Grady, James Denton, Michael J. Fox, Paula Marshall, romance, romcom, Spin City, That Old Feeling

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