Spin City

As you watch the smart, sophisticated, sharply written and slickly directed Spin City strut its stuff, memories of Murphy Brown's early days may come to mind. Dominating a volatile, high-profile workplace and supported by a crackerjack cast, Fox demonstrates superb and crafty comic timing in a tailor-made role. [17 Sept 1996, p.1D]

But most importantly, Spin City should be a hit because of Fox, who's never been more likable than he is here. [17 Sept 1996, p.6D]

It's one of those premiere episodes that look and feel as if the best is yet to come. [17 Sept 1996, p.E1]

Spin City is firing on all cylinders. It's a slick little contraption custom-built by professionals, and if it's not exactly full of surprises, at least it's roaringly competent. [17 Sept 1996, p.B01]

Just about everybody in this cast is superb. Maybe the production team, headed by Gary David Goldberg, who did Fox's "Family Ties" and the cuddly "Brooklyn Bridge", will fix all the first episode's flaws. Too many halfhearted gay and orgasm jokes bring to mind too many of last year's tired Friends imitators.[17 Sept 1996, p.D01]

The bigger question will be whether viewers accept the new character - and whether the writing, so far uneven, can match Fox's exertions. [17 Sept 1996, p.9E]

In this disappointing opener, though, the pace is more frantic than fun, and the plot about the token gay is neither clever nor funny...The one cinch about Spin City is that Fox wants a hit just as much as ABC wants one. They'll just have to try harder; you can bet they will. [17 Sept 1996, p.1]