In 1984, Shelley was slated to play public defender Christine Sullivan on the hit sitcom Night Court during its second season. Miss Sullivan was going to be romantically involved with Judge Harry Stone; and Shelley was delighted with her role. But when the series started shooting, producer Reinhold Weege decided she wasn't right for the part; and so the actress and the producer mutually and amicably agreed to call the whole thing off. Markie Post later took over the role of Miss Sullivan.