Mike Flaherty has to juggle the interests of his conservative mayor boss and a gay activist whom the Mayor has unwittingly insulted. At home, Mike has to deal with his reporter girlfriend Ashley, when it finally dawns on him that she doesn't just sleep over but that she actually lives with him. To appease both Carter, by having his voice heard, and the mayor, by correcting his gaffe, Mike hires Carter as his new consultant of minority affairs.

The mayor's vocal wife causes Mike and the staff heartache as Winston and the staffers attend a dinner hosted by Catholic and Jewish leaders in New York City at which the mayor is being honored. Meanwhile, Paul is uptight over Ashley's latest reporting hot streak involving an internal audit at a Queens high school and Mike faces problems with his love life following his being named the Sexiest Man in New York.

Mike and Ashley's hectic schedules cause problems in their personal lives at home. Meanwhile, the garbage strike continues and as negotiations continue between the Mayor and the workers, Stuart is left in charge of the office while Mike keeps Winston in line.

A camera crew for a magazine films Mike and his staff performing their daily office duties and they each give their own spin on what goes on in City Hall every day. While this is going on, the reporter develops the hots for awkward speech writer James and Carter encourages the mayor to address the pressing issue of AIDS in New York City.

Winston, jealous of the old Mayor Garfield's likability factor which he just can't seem to obtain, wishes death on the man and within a couple of days, he gets his wish! Mike and the staff try to console the Mayor by telling him it's not his fault and that Garfield had a bad heart. Nikki bets that none of the men in the office have what it takes to be a dad.

Dr. Bronsteen, an old professor of James', is appointed the city's new School Commissioner by Winston, but it is later revealed by the press that he was caught on camera smoking pot at a 1971 Grateful Dead concert causing duress for Mike and disbelief for James. Ashley is offered a job reporting for a local TV station.

Ashley's job for New York's ABC affiliate isn't as fulfilling as her old one; Carter plans to marry Nikki to make a point to the Mayor on gay marriage. He believes that if two heterosexual people are allowed to marry no matter how close they are or how much they have in common, gays should be able to have the same luxury.

Paul's identity is stolen during a period where crime in the city is at its lowest rate in years. A famous developer signs onto a project for the Mayor's office and hopes for something in return: he suggests an unethical opportunity for Mike to inform the billionaire about the lowest bid for a construction contract he wants.

A childlike janitor wins the Mayor For A Day contest intended for kids only and begins to have more influence over the press than the Mayor himself, who isn't particularly favored by the press.

City Council's Lisa challenges Mike to a turkey cook-off on Thanksgiving to see who can feed more homeless people: the Mayor's office or City Council. Meanwhile, James looks for a way to break up with his girlfriend of seven years. To complicate things, Becky shows up to surprise her long-distance boyfriend for the holiday.

Mike attempts to appease the Police Commissioner by honoring a fallen hero: Bingo, the police dog. Things get out of hand, however, when Paul and Carter lose the dog's body after they're kicked out of a cab and Mike can't stall the service for Bingo any longer. Ashley ponders boundary issues when she overhears a message intended for Mike regarding the Bingo situation.

When the Mayor falls ill due to Paul spreading a nasty flu bug all around the office, Mike steps in for His Honor on the national TV show "Counterpoint." The best part is that his opponent happens to be his girlfriend, Ashley. Also, Carter has the staff coming to him for ridiculous dating and relationship advice. At the end, he thanks God that he's gay.

After Ashley Schaeffer leaves him for a better job in Los Angeles, Mike attempts to cover up by saying it was a mutual decision and that he gave her his approval to take the job. Mike later reaches his breaking point as he nearly strangles Stuart in a restaurant after he calls her a bitch and confesses to Nikki that he begged her to stay but she left anyway.

New Asst D.A. Danielle Brinkman, an old friend of Mike's, is eager to get re-acquainted, but out-of-sorts Mike finds it hard to date after his breakup with Ashley, despite her great looks & advances. Paul meets his fan club president.

Mike tries to charm hard-nosed new appointee Gabrielle Sanchez, by whom the men feel threatened. Claudia wants to get to know Paul intimately.

Valentine's Day brings romantic chaos: Carter's ex-boyfriend Spence comes to visit and has a surprise. James hits on Nikki. Paul and Claudia's liaison is a comedy of errors.

Mike plans a star-studded party for the Mayor's 50th birthday, but tries to keep him away from Holly Cohen, Randall's romantic interest from the governor's office so that the Winston marriage doesn't suffer.

During a blizzard, an inept security guard pursues a nudist in City Hall; Mike's high school crush visits en route to Paris; Paul & Randall make gaffs during a radio broadcast; and Carter and Stuart get locked in the boiler room.

At a constituent's bachelor party in a strip club, the staffers find that Mike's new girlfriend is a stripper, then must deal with bad publicity from reporters and photographers.

Paul's leg injury, Mike's toothache, and possibly falsified resumes all get mixed up with accidental insults to the hearing-impaired community.

Mike's aggressive former girlfriend Carrie makes him uncomfortable by asking to have a child with him; a drop in the mayor's approval rating coincides with the reunion of rock musicians.

Randall's secret fantasies about a speaker lead the public to believe that he has a heart condition. Is Nikki's new boyfriend George really writing a screenplay or just taking advantage of her?

James helps Stuart write a speech for his condo association meeting; Nikki models in a charity fashion show; Randall breaks up with his wife after 22 years and moves in with Mike.

Randall is depressed after signing divorce papers. Claudia pursues Paul. So both men skip town for Miami, leaving the other staffers to cover for them. Stuart has a personality change due to his new girlfriend.

Claudia has trust issues, and the press questions Paul's sanity, after his impulsive trip to Florida. Mike handles Randall's divorce and falls for the opposing lawyer. Carter spies on neighbors and is accused of heterophobia.

Randall is caught on camera while visiting an X-rated video store to research a crusade against porn on public access TV. Paul's visiting mother Abby turns out to be a hottie. Nikki bonds with Mike's new girlfriend Laurie.

Mike's new girlfriend Laurie wants no commitment. Janelle applies for a raise. Stuart and Carter try to find out what James' new hobby is.

Mike discourages Randall from pursuing a young woman two weeks after his divorce, for fear of a media frenzy. With Janelle's promotion to Randall's personal assistant, Mike needs a new one and Stacey Paterno applies for the job.

Carter goes jogging to plug Randall's fitness program but gets mistaken for a mugger and publicizes the arrest to soothe his outrage. Paul accidentally insults a Mexican councilman. Stacey and Nikki coach James on wooing the supply girl.

Mike and Randall clash repeatedly with an obnoxious deejay. Paul tries to write an objective critique of Randall's autobiography. The female staffers fantasize about the handsome man who delivers bottled water to the building.

Everyone struggles to figure out what to give Mike for his 30th birthday, as he prepares to meet with a high school girlfriend atop the Empire State Building. Meanwhile, the mayor asks Carter to find out whether the mayor's nephew Stephen is gay.

Mike dates Lisa, a writer for "All My Children", then sees details of their romance played out on episodes of the show. A newspaper photo's caption names Stuart as Carter's boyfriend, so Stuart uses the ruse to get dates.

Winston is accused of paying a call girl, and Mike sets out to prove it false. But Winston was with Mike's visiting mother at the time. Nikki dates a shy ventriloquist. A panicky security guard shoots Paul by mistake.

Mike's mom can save Randall from scandal by revealing their tryst. Carter's planned trip to the Bahamas goes awry when co-workers want to join him. Paul hires Stacy to represent him when he faces off against Hank on The People's Court.

James is asked to chaperon Randall's visiting free-spirited daughter Meg, who disrupts an animal rights rally. Paul corresponds with a pen pal.

Randall accidentally tells the public that there is no Santa Claus, and sets off a chain of mishaps during the Christmas season.

Randall hosts a New Year's party, where Nikki's boyfriend dumps her for the catering girl, Carter helps Stuart grieve over a deceased house pet, everyone suggests resolutions for each other, and several people drink way too much alcohol.

Randall has a tight deadline for writing a book but can expect no help from close-mouthed Mike, whose recent doctor visit hints that he may have cancer. And several staffers try to obtain new office chairs from a snooty supply technician.

Mike tries to talk Mayor Winston out of joining a private club that prohibits women, but his efforts lead to both of them and several other staffers being trapped in the club steam room by a muckraking reporter. Meanwhile, Stuart tries to join the women's book club at the office and Paul tries to help when James is swindled by a local card shark.

Randall has hearing problems; Stuart gets a new office upstairs; Stacey wants to move out of the family household, so her grandmother blames Mike and puts a curse on him.

Paul chooses an engagement ring for Claudia, but Mike pays for it and keeps it until Paul can reimburse him. When Laurie finds the ring in Mike's pocket, she thinks Mike is proposing to her. Meanwhile, Stuart and Stacy go on a date.

Mike and Laurie plan their wedding with Randall as best man; Paul gets cold feet about marrying Claudia; Nikki is the first to fantasize about what it would be like being married to Mike.

As a preemptive strike against illegal drug use, Mike mandates that the staff will undergo mandatory drug testing, then accidentally ingests peyote during a visit with Native American constituents.

The Pope's visit to New York City inspires Randall to mix politics with religion; Paul's pet turtle goes missing; Nikki and Stacy both date Carter's friend Daniel; and Mike and Stuart work to avert an MTA strike.

The staffers throw prenuptial parties for Paul and Claudia, but Stuart plays a prank on the women by changing the planned entertainment for Claudia's party; an offensive statue turns up on display in City Hall.

Mike's clingy girlfriend Kaari is a magician who doesn't take kindly to his rejection; Stuart and Carter open their own bar; James loans money to Randall and then tries to get reimbursed.

Stuart wants to become Carter's new roommate so that both of them can have lower rent; animal lover James objects when Paul brings his cat to kill the rat that's on the loose in Mike's office.

Paul and Claudia's wedding day is fraught with problems: Randall suddenly suffers from a speech impediment and best man Mike learns that the church is double-booked with a funeral.

Mike takes credit when someone else saves a baby from falling into the zoo's sea lion tank. Paul uses crutches to obtain undeserved sick leave but Stacy knows he's faking. Carter brings home a 19-year-old dog named Rags.

Mike's dates with Heidi Klum are tabloid fodder. Randall laughs at inappropriate moments because his father told him that crying is a sign of weakness. Nikki has a sex dream about Mike and tells it to Carter, who blabs it to Stuart.

The care package that James gets from home contains a dead pet and Mike's relationship with Heidi leaves no time to help. Since Carter and Paul have no air conditioning, Carter springs for a large fan but Paul won't pay his share.

Mike goes hunting with campaign contributor Peter Noland, who makes killing deer a prerequisite for his contribution. Acting deputy mayor Stuart drives Stacy nuts until Janelle intervenes. James subs for Paul, who wants a raise.

Mike may adopt an abandoned baby; his former flames dish on him. Randall needs to go to therapy but gets nervous and briefs James to go in his place.

While trying to help Randall improve his image, Mike, Randall, and Paul are mugged by a young woman. Stuart starts dating Deirdre West, who turns out to be just as loathsome as he is.

When an old friend of Mike's who's in the navy comes to town, he's happy to see him. Until he learns that he hooked up with Carter.

An Olympic torch-bearer from Nigeria gets lost in NYC, so workaholic Mike vacations at the office. Paul moves to Harlem and tries to assimilate by adopting black stereotypes. Nikki talks of a fictitious beau and Mike wants to meet him.

Randall accidentally volunteers to donate a kidney to a sick child; Paul avoids an aggressive reporter; Stacey stays with Carter and Stuart while her place is fumigated.

Randall's cranky father joins the staff for a live televised Thanksgiving dinner at the Mayor's mansion, where he and Randall argue, Carter and James stage a puppet show to promote family values, and Stuart tricks Stacey.

Mike plays matchmaker for Stacey and a timid city councilman, while everyone prepares to attend a costume party at which several staffers may perform.

At Christmas time, Randall plays Santa Claus; Stuart and Carter meet an older gay couple who have moved into their building; and Mike tangles with an intelligent chimp named Bobo who was given to the Central Park Zoo as a gift.

Stacey dates a simpleton cab driver, while Randall & Mike negotiate with his labor union's temperamental representative. Stuart tricks Paul into dating while Claudia is out of town. Mike takes a drastic step to separate Arthur and Nikki.

Mike learns about weight discrimination when he dons a fat suit for a day, while James plans to beat him in a bachelor auction for charity. Stuart won't introduce his sister to the staff.

After a false alarm shooting at a pier opening, paranoid Randall thinks Mike deserted him in a life-or-death situation, and then gives Mike the cold shoulder. Mike is obsessed with Nikki but can't have her because Arthur has proposed.

Nikki breaks up with Arthur and joins Mike for a hotel tryst, which goes awry when Mike wants to keep their relationship secret. Stacey plays a phone prank on Paul. Carter, James, and Stuart all go on a stakeout with Randall.

Stuart breaks up with Deidre, who files sexual harassment charges against him. Stacy's visiting aunt Marie hits on James. Randall starts a romance with a staff member.

Mike's political mentor comes to City Hall to help on the Millennium project, and displays a literal Messianic complex. Things heat up between Randall and Janelle. A mishap occurs when Paul dog-sits Rags as a favor to Carter.

Randall says the wrong thing on a TV talk show. Paul is addicted to Stacy's meatball sandwiches. Carter dates closeted gay boxer Bennett Jones, who fights a match with Stuart.

The staffers try to finish work so they can watch the Academy Awards, and they pass the time by sharing their favorite movie moments.

Mike may help Paul and Claudia conceive a child. Doug, a City Hall tour guide, annoys the staffers, especially Stacey. James can't get peace and quiet in the office.

Stuart befriends Carter's ex-boyfriend Bennett, so Carter takes revenge by befriending Deidre. Subbing for absent Stacey, temp Gayle thinks Mike is coming on to her. James starts writing a City Hall newsletter.

A magazine cover story about Mike winds up focusing on Carter instead. James learns of Mike's affair with Nikki and struggles to keep it a secret, with unfortunate results to his physical appearance.

Mike and his stockbroker help James invest responsibly. Randall commissions an action figure that looks like him, in order to donate all the profits to charity.

Randall asks Heidi Klum to help with an animal rights campaign, but she comes between Mike and ailing Nikki. James objects to Randall adding humor to his press conferences.

Nikki thinks Mike is dumping her for Heidi Klum. Stuart gives Carter's dog to Heidi to elicit her sympathy. Paul and James compete to see who can give better massages to Stacey.

Mike can't recall how he and Heidi Klum wound up in bed together. At the office, he must interview applicants to manage Randall's Senate campaign. Paul applies for a free life insurance policy but asks Stuart to take the physical for him.

James is under pressure to write a speech so that Caitlin doesn't take over his job and fire him. Paul sucks up to Caitlin, who tries to take his office away from him. Mike tries to re-establish communication with angry Nikki.

When Caitlin instigates background checks on the staff, Mike tries to one-up her by staging an internal break-in and stealing the files. Meanwhile, James tries to coach Mayor Winston for an upcoming appearance in an independent film.

Mike tricks Nikki into attending couples counseling. Stuart visits Carter's gym for gay clients. Eighth graders challenge Randall to take a standardized test, and Paul winds up wearing a strange costume for a press conference.

Mike accidentally convinces a magazine reporter that he and Randall are lovers. Paul fights the new restroom attendant. Carter is named Activist of the Year. Stuart brings a suggestive paperweight into the office.

Tired of Stuart's pranks, Paul and James team up to fight back. Carter falls for a rich man whose principles he doesn't share. Randall ponders a run for Senator, and sends Mike and Caitlin to couples therapy to stop their bickering.

Mike courts a wealthy NYC socialite to fund Randall's Senate campaign, which Caitlin bankrupted. Nikki and Janelle compete to mentor a hunky intern. Paul moves in with coworkers temporarily after a tiff with Claudia.

Paul is set to appear on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" and recruits the other staffers to help him in case he needs to "phone a friend." During a rescue operation to free a trapped baby, Mayor Winston falls into an adjacent pit and causes a media frenzy. Carter takes Rags to a day-care facility for canines. The city firefighters go on strike.

Mike and Caitlin play a couple to win the endorsement of widowed Senator Grady during Thanksgiving at Randall's Connecticut home, while Nikki and Janelle try to keep James from killing a turkey for their holiday dinner.

Randall accidentally slights Mike during a press conference. Mike deals with angry reps from the doorman's union. Deidre meets Caitlin and begins to dress like her. Paul opens a politically-themed restaurant with James and Nikki helping.

Mike and Caitlin borrow the Mayor's car for a joy ride. James hires Deidre to work in the office as Mike's personal assistant. Carter and Nikki bicker over photo ID's.

Caitlin misinterprets a private evening with Mike as a holiday party, and brings a date. Paul infiltrates Nikki's holiday clothing drive in order to mooch. James volunteers to work for a crisis hot line.

Caitlin tries to sabotage Mike's date with her visiting sister Catherine. Stuart joins the other staffers in taking an interest in art. Paul is upset to learn that Carter makes more money than Paul does, so Paul starts acting immaturely about the matter.

Paul's raffle ticket glitch results in dozens of winners. James gets braces at the same time that the new mail girl finds him attractive. Stuart and Carter blackmail Caitlin in order to get out of doing her busy work for her.

In order to improve Mayor Winston's political advertisements, Mike hires a British director named Trevor who turns out to be more than just an old friend to Caitlin. James obsesses over whether or not he is gay. Paul uses makeup to cover a skin rash.

Mike hires New York's oldest living voter, a 107-year-old woman, for a job. Caitlin's romance with Trevor upsets him. Paul muscles in on James' Hey Guy. Carter accuses a landlord of discriminating against gays.

Carter's new boyfriend Alex may be coming on to Mike. Paul tries to impress a reporter from his hometown until Randall upstages him. A Good Samaritan contest brings out five finalists. Stu plays a fat neck gag on James.

Angry farmers fight Randall's land proposal, and their leader turns out to be an ex-rival of James, who may be able to save the day. Deidre had a fling with Paul years ago. Carter disapproves of Randall spending time with a rap singer.

Randall seems unaffected by his cold father's death and rides an emotional roller coaster; Paul uses the opportunity to kiss up to him. Staffers use Paul's Magic 8 ball to make simple decisions. Is Caitlin attracted to James?

President Clinton pays a visit to City Hall, during which James helps Paul to obtain a photograph with the President. Nikki and Carter have a flirting contest.

Romantic sparks fly between Mike and Caitlin during Mayor Winston's listening tour. Carter tells Nikkie to be more aggressive toward the men she wants in her life. James and Paul decide that Carter is more successful than they are, so they try to duplicate his success by emulating his physical characteristics.

Mike continues his pursuit of Caitlin, despite her engagement to remarry Trevor. Stuart disrupts Carter's hunger strike against an environmental polluter. Randall, Paul, and James try to do maintenance work in the office.

Mike follows Caitlin to Paris in order to break up her engagement to Trevor. James preps Randall to receive an award that he may not have earned. Stuart asks Nikki to pose for a calendar so that he can donate proceeds to charity.

Mike abstains from sex for a week to prove that his feelings for Caitlin aren't just physical, and Caitlin doubts he can do it. Randall uses Carter's dog Rags to project an animal-friendly image to animal rights activists.

Muckraking reporter Wayne Sheridan wants to connect Randall's administration to organized crime. Several staffers make this easy, including Randall and Nikki. Randall gives a sanitation contract to a mobster, whom Nikki is dating.

When Sheridan goes public about the Winston administration's links to organized crime, Mike decides to take the fall and save everyone else. He submits his resignation, leading everyone to drown their sorrows and say their goodbyes.

Mike Flaherty's replacement Charlie Crawford reports to work. Caitlin's efforts to avert a toll booth workers' strike hit a roadblock when the woman with whom she's negotiating turns out to be an ex-girlfriend of Charlie's.

Randall needs dental work, but his long-time dentist drops dead during the procedure. Charlie interviews personal assistants until Caitlin hires one based on looks. Stuart goads Carter into aggression when Carter's parking space is stolen.

Charlie never graduated school due to a missed Spanish final exam, and Caitlin does more harm than good in trying to help. Randall installs a water cooler. Stuart is jealous of Carter's friendship with Caitlin and uses Rags to get even.

Caitlin makes an appearance on Regis Philbin's live television show. Mayor Winston takes a vacation - well, sort of. Paul and Stuart mediate a dispute between paleontologists and construction workers.

An abrasive blind man finds Caitlin dull, spurns her, and causes her to try to improve her personality. In need of a religion refresher, Randall and Charlie accidentally wreak havoc on Claudia's religious education class and her future.

The staff tries to appease Native Americans by having an appropriate float in the Thanksgiving parade, but things go awry. Paul's visiting mother doesn't know that Claudia has left him and he is afraid to tell her.

Charlie's one-night stand with Caitlin's yoga class buddy Samantha doesn't go the way he planned. Paul, Stuart, and Carter compete to join Randall on a trip to New Orleans.

Charlie plays racquetball with Mayor Winston, beats him in a match, and crushes his ego. Paul campaigns to get a raise. Stuart hires an actor to date Carter.

Randall, Carter, and Charlie spend time working in a fast-food restaurant. Stuart tries to impress Angie by feigning expertise on motorcycling. Paul teaches Caitlin the rigors of celibacy.

Confiscated toys may become part of a photo op for Randall, who undermines Charlie's staff meetings. Carter persuades Caitlin to volunteer with him in a retirement home. Paul seeks jokes to enliven the City Hall holiday greeting card.

Paul moves into a college dorm. Charlie sets up Caitlin on a blind date with a bumbling optimist. Randall parks in a handicapped spot and makes amends by having a ramp installed in City Hall.

Much to Charlie's disdain, Mayor Winston's new girlfriend Judith usurps Charlie's authority by involving herself in policy issues at City Hall. Carter and Stuart brawl during a hockey game.

Paul, Carter, and Stuart goad Charlie into playing poker with them, not knowing that he is a reformed gambler. Caitlin helps Randall search for a new housekeeper, then vetoes every applicant.

Charlie calls a college buddy to defend Randall in a lawsuit after he ruins a model's coiffure at a charity fashion show, but the man has eyes for Caitlin. Carter coaches Paul on wooing an attractive new hire before Stuart goes after her.

Caitlin hires an image consultant to determine why Mayor Winston's approval rating with women has plummeted. Stuart's overbearing ex-wife comes back into his life, courtesy of Carter's bungled attempt at matchmaking.

Charlie gets trapped in a stalled train before his date with a woman he's desperate to impress. Carter's weird neighbor Kurt hits on him, and Paul helps by getting Carter reservations at a posh restaurant.

Randall's visiting daughter Meg decides to become a free spirit by dropping out of law school and moving south with her loser boyfriend. Charlie blows off a date with Julia to attend a sporting event with Stuart, Carter, and Paul.

Caitlin and Charlie vie for an important account. Randall bonds with Paul during a father / son golf tournament. Carter helps Stuart write the script for a pornographic movie during working hours.

Charlie fulfills a dream of playing minor league baseball, but Caitlin bribes the pitcher into going easy on him so he'll return to work. Randall receives a death threat and beefs up security, which Paul exploits to get revenge on Stuart.

When his wife's book turns out a great laugh, but at the expense of his male pride, mayor Winston gets so depressed he is unfit to appear in public and must be replaced by his top aids. Superrich most eligible bachelor Tim Connelly is very pleased he thus spends an evening with Caitlin, who is attracted to him, except his embarrassingly boyish obsession with a SciFi series, which even means their next date is a fan convention. Charlie has a ball getting mayoral attention. Stuart enjoys taunting his colleagues by helping stingy Paul steal Carter's nicotine chewing gum, so they'll both be tortured by its addictive properties.

Carter helps his sister get a job at City Hall, but lets Stuart and Paul think she is his lover. Randall thinks he looks like Charlton Heston. Charlie and Tim compete for Caitlin's affections.

When Tim doesn't just propose another evening with Caitlin but a trip to St.Barts, she has her first real row with Charlie. After the press finds out the mayors limousine was carjacked with him, Paul and Charlie in it, PR demands they spend a night with an officer on patrol in a police car, while Stuart and Carter ride a police horse together; Charlie gets shot -accidentally as a video camera proves, but by...- which brings Caitlin running back to him, only to find out it's just a superficial wound...

Caitlin finds that Charlie lied, and pulls a prank on him. Charlie dates a mentally unstable woman so that he seems unavailable. Randall offers a job to a high school classmate, now a hobo, to make amends for ruining the man's life.

Mike Flaherty unexpectedly visits from Washington, meets his replacement Charlie, and ruins Charlie's attempts at wooing Caitlin. Meanwhile, Randall begins dating Judge Claire Simmons, who is separated from her husband, but not divorced.

Randall tries to impress Claire by having a tree cut down, only to find out that the tree is an historic landmark. And Charlie tells it to a stranger, who turns out to be the campaign manager for Randall's opponent Julian Wheeler.

Mike's engagement falls through, so he immerses himself in his old job at City Hall, aggravating Charlie. Randall prepares for a charity fund raiser.

When Randall's approval rating drops because of his relationship with Claire, Charlie advises him to be discreet; so Randall and Claire freeload on Charlie. Paul hires a publicist.

Charlie and Caitlin obtain damaging photos of Julian Wheeler in retaliation for him slamming Randall in campaign ads. Carter's coworkers help impress an adoption agency official and friend Michelle strikes up a friendship with Stuart.

Randall's campaign consultant Robin has psychic gifts, which predict impending disaster for Charlie. Stuart dates the surrogate mother of Carter's child and realizes that he himself may be the father.

Charlie sleeps with Julian Wheeler's campaign manager Jennifer Duncan. Caitlin and Paul both befriend Robin Jones, but Randall thinks Robin is only using Paul for sex. Randall's approval rating is up with young voters.

Charlie and Caitlin have lunch with Jennifer, who makes a startling confession. A cooling between Randall and Judge Claire Simmons puts Paul's divorce settlement from Claudia in jeopardy.

Caitlin's mother (played by Michelle Phillips) has been pressuring Caitlin to get married so she passes off Charlie as her boyfriend at her cousin's wedding. Paul is invited to a fashion show by a childhood friend (played by Rhea Durham).

The mayor's opposing candidate makes fitness a campaign issue but the opposition's wife (played by Elizabeth Mitchell) runs in his place after he has a heart attack. Charlie and Caitlin help each other out of bad dates.

On Election Day, the staff is nervous over the close race. Mayor Winston proposes to Claire (played by Farrah Fawcett) while Charlie continues his relationship with Jennifer (played by Denise Richards).

Randall delegates Charlie to decide which staff member will move into a beautiful new office. Caitlin tries to find out what the City Hall Santa Claus looks like before she dates him.

Randall's new girlfriend Christine is the receiver of his late mother's artificial heart. Caitlin dates an older man named Tom while Charlie dates Tom's daughter, and the four of them wind up in family counseling.

Carter's dog dies. The mayor looks into charitable foundations to make a donation. Meanwhile, Caitlin surprises Charlie on his birthday with a visit by his estranged con man father (played by Martin Sheen).

Randall asks Charlie to keep tabs on his niece Stephanie, who makes passes at him. Paul's latest gaff is of the romantic variety and takes place on a "Blind Date" TV show. Carter buys an expensive coat and Randall purchases a new Corvette.

Randall's insomnia is linked to Paul receiving a lucrative job offer from a senator. Carter joins the Big Brother program, but his visiting Little Brother Spencer winds up spending time with Caitlin and a very uncomfortable Charlie.

Charlie is exhausted from keeping up with his much-younger girlfriend Tracy. Gay art dealer Martin Davis invites Randall, Carter, and Stuart to a fund raiser, where Martin and Carter might hit it off.

Paul feels depressed when his divorce is finalized, so Carter feigns heterosexuality to help him play the dating game. Charlie and Caitlin have a flashback to their first meeting - in 1988 during a political event for Michael Dukakis.

A therapist helps Caitlin sort out her feelings for both Tom Crandall and Charlie. Carter tries to help Paul to prepare for an appearance on Larry Elder's call-in radio program.

Stuart extends his vacation, so a temporary replacement is hired and performs better than Stuart does. After much thought, Caitlin breaks off her relationship with Tom Crandall.

At a mayors' conference, Caitlin feels awkward because Charlie once had an affair with the organizer, so Caitlin tries to make Charlie jealous. Randall renews his long-standing professional rivalry with Mayor Stone Taylor of Los Angeles.

Randall tries to please visiting Governor Riley. Charlie and Caitlin struggle to keep their affair secret and Stuart senses there's something strange in the office. Carter is getting a foster child.

Randall's campaign consultant Robin has psychic gifts, which predict impending disaster for Charlie. Stuart dates the surrogate mother of Carter's child and realizes that he himself may be the father.

Carter goes jogging to plug Randall's fitness program but gets mistaken for a mugger and publicizes the arrest to soothe his outrage. Paul accidentally insults a Mexican councilman. Stacey and Nikki coach James on wooing the supply girl.

Mike hires New York's oldest living voter, a 107-year-old woman, for a job. Caitlin's romance with Trevor upsets him. Paul muscles in on James' Hey Guy. Carter accuses a landlord of discriminating against gays.

When an old friend of Mike's who's in the navy comes to town, he's happy to see him. Until he learns that he hooked up with Carter.

Stuart befriends Carter's ex-boyfriend Bennett, so Carter takes revenge by befriending Deidre. Subbing for absent Stacey, temp Gayle thinks Mike is coming on to her. James starts writing a City Hall newsletter.

Mike accidentally convinces a magazine reporter that he and Randall are lovers. Paul fights the new restroom attendant. Carter is named Activist of the Year. Stuart brings a suggestive paperweight into the office.

When Randall's approval rating drops because of his relationship with Claire, Charlie advises him to be discreet; so Randall and Claire freeload on Charlie. Paul hires a publicist.

Mike tries to talk Mayor Winston out of joining a private club that prohibits women, but his efforts lead to both of them and several other staffers being trapped in the club steam room by a muckraking reporter. Meanwhile, Stuart tries to join the women's book club at the office and Paul tries to help when James is swindled by a local card shark.

Valentine's Day brings romantic chaos: Carter's ex-boyfriend Spence comes to visit and has a surprise. James hits on Nikki. Paul and Claudia's liaison is a comedy of errors.

Stuart wants to become Carter's new roommate so that both of them can have lower rent; animal lover James objects when Paul brings his cat to kill the rat that's on the loose in Mike's office.