Paul and Claudia's wedding day is fraught with problems: Randall suddenly suffers from a speech impediment and best man Mike learns that the church is double-booked with a funeral.

Stuart wants to become Carter's new roommate so that both of them can have lower rent; animal lover James objects when Paul brings his cat to kill the rat that's on the loose in Mike's office.

Mike's clingy girlfriend Kaari is a magician who doesn't take kindly to his rejection; Stuart and Carter open their own bar; James loans money to Randall and then tries to get reimbursed.

The staffers throw prenuptial parties for Paul and Claudia, but Stuart plays a prank on the women by changing the planned entertainment for Claudia's party; an offensive statue turns up on display in City Hall.

The Pope's visit to New York City inspires Randall to mix politics with religion; Paul's pet turtle goes missing; Nikki and Stacy both date Carter's friend Daniel; and Mike and Stuart work to avert an MTA strike.

As a preemptive strike against illegal drug use, Mike mandates that the staff will undergo mandatory drug testing, then accidentally ingests peyote during a visit with Native American constituents.

Mike and Laurie plan their wedding with Randall as best man; Paul gets cold feet about marrying Claudia; Nikki is the first to fantasize about what it would be like being married to Mike.

Paul chooses an engagement ring for Claudia, but Mike pays for it and keeps it until Paul can reimburse him. When Laurie finds the ring in Mike's pocket, she thinks Mike is proposing to her. Meanwhile, Stuart and Stacy go on a date.

Randall has hearing problems; Stuart gets a new office upstairs; Stacey wants to move out of the family household, so her grandmother blames Mike and puts a curse on him.

Mike tries to talk Mayor Winston out of joining a private club that prohibits women, but his efforts lead to both of them and several other staffers being trapped in the club steam room by a muckraking reporter. Meanwhile, Stuart tries to join the women's book club at the office and Paul tries to help when James is swindled by a local card shark.

Randall has a tight deadline for writing a book but can expect no help from close-mouthed Mike, whose recent doctor visit hints that he may have cancer. And several staffers try to obtain new office chairs from a snooty supply technician.

Randall hosts a New Year's party, where Nikki's boyfriend dumps her for the catering girl, Carter helps Stuart grieve over a deceased house pet, everyone suggests resolutions for each other, and several people drink way too much alcohol.

Randall accidentally tells the public that there is no Santa Claus, and sets off a chain of mishaps during the Christmas season.

James is asked to chaperon Randall's visiting free-spirited daughter Meg, who disrupts an animal rights rally. Paul corresponds with a pen pal.

Mike's mom can save Randall from scandal by revealing their tryst. Carter's planned trip to the Bahamas goes awry when co-workers want to join him. Paul hires Stacy to represent him when he faces off against Hank on The People's Court.

Winston is accused of paying a call girl, and Mike sets out to prove it false. But Winston was with Mike's visiting mother at the time. Nikki dates a shy ventriloquist. A panicky security guard shoots Paul by mistake.

Mike dates Lisa, a writer for "All My Children", then sees details of their romance played out on episodes of the show. A newspaper photo's caption names Stuart as Carter's boyfriend, so Stuart uses the ruse to get dates.

Everyone struggles to figure out what to give Mike for his 30th birthday, as he prepares to meet with a high school girlfriend atop the Empire State Building. Meanwhile, the mayor asks Carter to find out whether the mayor's nephew Stephen is gay.

Mike and Randall clash repeatedly with an obnoxious deejay. Paul tries to write an objective critique of Randall's autobiography. The female staffers fantasize about the handsome man who delivers bottled water to the building.

Carter goes jogging to plug Randall's fitness program but gets mistaken for a mugger and publicizes the arrest to soothe his outrage. Paul accidentally insults a Mexican councilman. Stacey and Nikki coach James on wooing the supply girl.

Mike discourages Randall from pursuing a young woman two weeks after his divorce, for fear of a media frenzy. With Janelle's promotion to Randall's personal assistant, Mike needs a new one and Stacey Paterno applies for the job.

Mike's new girlfriend Laurie wants no commitment. Janelle applies for a raise. Stuart and Carter try to find out what James' new hobby is.

Randall is caught on camera while visiting an X-rated video store to research a crusade against porn on public access TV. Paul's visiting mother Abby turns out to be a hottie. Nikki bonds with Mike's new girlfriend Laurie.

Claudia has trust issues, and the press questions Paul's sanity, after his impulsive trip to Florida. Mike handles Randall's divorce and falls for the opposing lawyer. Carter spies on neighbors and is accused of heterophobia.