As others have said (https://officialfan.proboards.com/thread/536447/spin-city-after-season-4?page=1), not only did they change the lead actor, lose at least four supporting cast members (Nikki, James, Janelle, and Stacey, who actually left after Season 3), and move production from New York City to Los Angeles, but a political satire sitcom to just a office sitcom. Other than the mayoral election in the first half of Season 6, it had very little politics. All in all, didn't it just felt like a different type of show with different type of writing?