Shelley in a promo pic
for Jack and Mike, 1986
Shelley starred in her third TV series Jack and Mike in 1986. The series was initially called Jackie O'Shea as it was going to be a star vehicle for Shelley. Series producer David Gerber believed in her talent and star power so much that he wanted to give her her own TV series. Shelley was going to play the title role, a woman journalist who had a supportive husband waiting at home - kind of like a reverse gender role thing which was a fresh idea in the 1980s.
Shelley in a promo pic
for Jack and Mike, 1986
Tom Mason, who played Shelley's boyfriend in the 1985 TV movie Kicks and with whom Shelley had great on-screen chemistry, was offered the role of Mike Brennan, Jackie's husband. Initially, he turned down the role as it was merely window dressing for the title character - a sort of stay-at-home cheerleader for Jackie. After a lot of talks with David Gerber, the husband was developed into a more well-rounded character, then it was retitled Our Kind of Town. When it aired, it was again retitled Jack and Mike, with both Shelley and Tom given equal billing.
Shelley in a promo pic
for Jack and Mike, 1986
