ABC | Release Date: September 17, 1996
CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
72
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews
Positive:
16
Mixed:
9
Negative:
0
60
Philadelphia InquirerJonathan StormMar 17, 2013
Season 1 Review: 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]
60
Christian Science MonitorYvonne Zipp and Kim CampbellMar 17, 2013
Season 1 Review: But the concept of a smart political whip cleaning up after his bumbling boss is hardly original (anyone remember "Benson"?), and the otherwise smartly written series is racy and relies on crudity to fill slow moments - a trend all too prevalent this season. [17 Sept 1996, p.10]
60
Baltimore SunDavid ZurawikMar 17, 2013
Season 1 Review: Spin City is television as culture, and I am not sure whether a show like this merely plugs into the cynicism already in place in our country or creates more and more of it by making it seem like the hip, in-the-know way to be.[17 Sept 1996, p.]
60
VarietyJeremy GerardMar 17, 2013
Season 1 Review: While some of the humor scores, too much is of the red-herring variety one-liners that don't really have anything to do with anything. And anyone even mildly versed in Gotham politics will find Spin City low on the believability scale, which is probably a good thing, as you'd need a Robert Altman to find much humor in the real thing. [16 Sept 1996]
50
Cleveland Plain DealerTom FeranMar 17, 2013
Season 1 Review: 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]
50
Boston GlobeRenee GrahamMar 17, 2013
Season 1 Review: So, with all that talent in its back pocket, why isn't Spin City better? The much-hyped ABC comedy isn't a bad show, but it relies too heavily on Fox's charms and trademark double takes, lopsided grin and head scratches. And as considerable and familiar as they are, the quirks wear thin after a while. [17 Sept 1996, p.E6]
40
NewsdayMarvin KitmanJul 12, 2013
Season 1 Review: "Spin City" doesn't have a good joke, other than Michael J. Fox. He has to carry the show himself. He has to be what makes you laugh. In the first three episodes he is not funny, he is cute. [7 Oct 1996]
40
Houston ChronicleAnn HodgesMar 17, 2013
Season 1 Review: 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]
40
The Hollywood ReporterMiles BellerMar 17, 2013
Season 1 Review: Spin City doesn't yet spin into a totally satisfying comic groove, instead going for the obvious and the expected when it comes to the ways and means of politics. [17 Sept 1996]