Man of the People is an American sitcom starring James Garner that aired from September 15, 1991 to July 13, 1992. A man of dubious past joins the city council in place of his wife. He is savvy and becomes very popular which endangers the plans of several other politicians in town, especially the devious mayor.
CreatorR.J. Stewart
Pilot
Sep 15, 1991
""When the well-respected and honorable City Councilwoman Marge Patterson dies, her longtime opponent, the wiley Mayor Elizabeth Chardin, is eager to replace Patterson with a stooge. The mayor thinks she's found the perfect candidate -- Jim Doyle, Patterson's ex-husband and small-time grifter. But the mayor finds she's bitten off more than the can chew when Doyle decides to play the game of politics by his own rules and becomes a 'man of the people.'"" (NBC)
Remembrance of Flings Past
Sep 22, 1991
""Doyle thinks he's hit the jackpot when a developer offers Doyle membership in an exclusive golf club that's to be built in his district. There's a catch, however -- in addition to helping push the plans through City Council, Doyle must also help reunite the developer with his old girlfriend, Constance, who dumped him over his womanizing."" (NBC)
A Day in the Life
Sep 29, 1991
""A typical crazy day in the life of hustling Jim Doyle. It's a juggling act for Doyle as he tries cashing in on a 'sure thing' at the race track before post-time, simultaneously engages in some political spirit with the mayor, and talks the town's loser off the ledge of the bell tower."" (NBC)
Here's to You, Mrs. Lawrence
Oct 6, 1991
""Lawrence and the mayor are mortified when Doyle becomes involved with the most prominent pillar of the community -- a wealthy widow who's not only one of the mayor's biggest supporters, but also Lawrence's mom."" (NBC)
Of Kids and Cards and Cads
Oct 13, 1991
""Doyle's efforts to play in a high-society, high-stakes poker game are thwarted when members of the club snub him by raising the stakes inordinately high. However, Doyle lucks into some big money when he becomes treasurer of a youth league charity with fifty-thousand dollars in the kitty. But as the big game nears, Doyle finds, much to his frustration that he's come to like the unfortunate kids. Will Doyle do the right thing?"" (NBC)
Sleeping with the Enemy
Oct 20, 1991
""Mayor Chardin finds she's under fire from the City Council and local press when it's discovered she's been the most blatant offender of waste during the city's water shortage. After Doyle helps the mayor drown her woes in drink, Chardin awakes to find herself in Doyle's bed. Did Doyle do the deed? And will he help the mayor out of a jam when the press catches wind of a possible sex scandal?"" (NBC)
Kid of the People
Oct 27, 1991
""Doyle meets his match in a twelve year-old boy who not only out-hustles the con-man but moves in with him too."" (NBC)
Mr. Doyle Goes to Vegas (1)
Dec 6, 1991
""Doyle scams a free trip to Las Vegas when he gets Rita to pose as Elizabeth Chardin in order to gain entrance to the mayor's convention. But matters get dicey when Doyle runs into Dennis Kolzak, a mob boss who's got an old score to settle."" (NBC)
Mr. Doyle Goes to Vegas (2)
Dec 6, 1991
""Doyle scams a free trip to Las Vegas when he gets Rita to pose as Elizabeth Chardin in order to gain entrance to the mayor's convention. But matters get dicey when Doyle runs into Dennis Kolzak, a mob boss who's got an old score to settle."" (NBC)
The Freeway Issue
Jul 13, 1992
""A desperate Constance resorts to desperate measures to stop the mayor from building a road that would go through a residential neighborhood. Intent on getting her hands on the road proposal and sabotaging it, Constance pulls a ""Doyle"" by breaking into the mayor's office to snoop around. Unfortunately she gets caught and gets thrown in jail, forcing Doyle to bail her out."" (NBC)
Help, I Need Somebody
It's a case of when the cat's away the mice will play, when a fed up Constance gets tired of babysitting Doyle and quits. Doyle's delighted. But the councilman soon realizes just how much he misses Constance when the office falls apart without her and the only person around to help is… Howard Poe. (NBC)
Lemon Aid
The city has been stung by a master con-man by the name of Tom McClain. He sold them a fleet of non-existent school business. The mayor and the council want to avoid public embarrassment. They have to get their money back. There's only one man who could possibly out-con McClain – Councilman Jim Doyle. After milking the mayor and the council a bit, Doyle agrees to nail McClain. He proceeds to set a trap for him by enlisting colorful characters from his accomplices. In the end he nails McClain and scores a nice profit for the city educational fund. (NBC)
