Michael J. Fox and the rest of the "Spin City" staff didn't really expect that Heather Locklear would join their cast this season.
They had dreamed up a new character for the ABC sitcom -- a woman who would manage the mayor's (Barry Bostwick) senatorial campaign and provide a counterpoint to Fox's character, deputy mayor Mike Flaherty. And they needed an actress to play the part."We said, 'Who will we cast?' . . . In a perfect world, you get Heather Locklear," Fox said. "So somebody said, 'Well, let's make that call, and then we'll move on and figure out who's really going to do it.'
"And the next day, we got this call saying Heather is very flattered and loves the show and is considering it."
Fox was flabbergasted, but Locklear was also surprised -- by the fact that the offer was made and that just about everyone involved -- including her own manager -- didn't think she'd take the job.
"I just couldn't believe it was me," Locklear said. "I said, 'Me? Me?!?' "
"So they said, 'Yeah, but it's in New York, so it's probably not going to happen. . . . You'd have to move to New York.' "
But the California-born-and-raised actress, who's always worked on shows shooting in Southern California -- "Dynasty," "T.J. Hooker," "Melrose Place" -- didn't see that as a problem.
"I'm packed. I'm ready. Baby's packed. Husband's packed. And off we go," Locklear said.
Beginning with tonight's season premiere of "Spin City" (7 p.m., Ch. 4), Locklear plays Caitlin Moore -- a savvy political operative who tricks Mike into hiring her. And the two will often be at odds, creating comedy along the way. Or so they hope.
Locklear said it was an "easy decision" to join "Spin City." But she does understand that, given her "Melrose" image, some people are surprised that she did.
"I think it's a clever, smart show," she said. "There's a lot of sitcoms that are clever and smart and a lot that aren't, and maybe some people figure me to be in the other ones."
She's signed for just this season, but Locklear could end up sticking around longer than that.
"I have total confidence this actress and this person will flourish in this format and in this genre," Fox said. "I think that she's been biding her time doing all this other stuff, and she's really going to find a home."