a closeup of Shelley from a promo ad
for Cutter to Houston, 1983
In 1983, Shelley starred in her second TV series Cutter to Houston alongside Alec Baldwin and Jim Metzler. It was about three young doctors who were recruited to run a small hospital in the fictional rural town of Cutter, Texas. Shelley played ambitious surgeon Dr. Beth Gilbert, while Alec played internist/ladies man Dr. Hal Wexler and Jim played the idealistic GP Dr. Andy Fenton. All three had their reasons for being there, a stepping stone for Beth, probation for Hal and a thank you from hometown boy Andy, who was sent through medical school by Cutter.
another closeup of Shelley from a promo ad
for Cutter to Houston, 1983
Cutter to Houston was one of the most promising TV series that was on for that season. Shelley had honed her acting skills on stage and had been picky about the TV and movie roles she had been accepting and it seemed to have paid off. As one writer put it, "The surprise is that everybody (in the show) is very good, especially Hack, who may stage the acting profession's comeback of the year in this show."
Shelley in a promo ad for Cutter to Houston, 1983