A 1992 American Romantic Comedy directed by Barnet Kellman that follows a small-town woman (Dolly Parton) going to Chicago and ending up being a popular radio-show host.
The movie also stars James Woods, Griffin Dunne, Michael Madsen, Philip Bosco, Jerry Orbach, Deidre O Connell, John Sayles, Teri Hatcher, Spalding Gray, Amy Morton, Charles Flesicher, and Jay Thomas.
It was released on April 3, 1992.
Tropes for the film:
- The Cobbler's Children Have No Shoes: Shirlee is accepted by the world as a relationship expert when her own personal life is in shambles. Subverted, since she fell into the role and never claimed to be qualified.
- Did You Actually Believe...?: Shirlee, a newcomer to Chicago, accidentally becomes a radio talk show therapist. Her fame grows but Shirlee has a problem of trusting people to be frank on their problems. It's summed up when she's confronted by a woman irate Shirlee told her husband she was better off dumping his alcoholic wife. She points out she wasn't that bad a drinker and he took the kids and left. Her words make Shirlee wonder how much "help" her advice has been without knowing all the details.Shirlee: He told me you didn't have kids!Woman: You think everyone who calls you is telling you nothing but the truth?Shirlee: Well...I thought..Sure! Why would they lie?Woman: they're not talking to a friend on the phone, they're on the radio! Of course they're not going to tell you the truth!
- Hash House Lingo: Shirlee moves from the rural Midwest to Chicago to start a new life. At a downtown Chicago diner she orders a full breakfast plate of eggs, bacon, and the like. The waitress then turns to the kitchen and yells "One big spender!".
- Mistaken for Special Guest: The trope that kickstarts the plot — Shirlee is mistaken for a professional relationship expert and put on the radio.
- Oblivious to His Own Description: Shirlee sees her boss at the dance studio brooding in his office and insists on skipping her lesson so he can talk about his problem, saying that talking to people means more to her than the job. He talks about how has an employee who's a Nice Girl, but who keeps neglecting her job so she can give customers relationship advice and doesn't take a hint, no matter how often he tries to tell her that he can't afford for her to do that. Shirlee says that, as sad as it may be, he probably needs to fire a woman like that. He agrees and fires her.
- Simple-Minded Wisdom: Shirlee has a blunt, cut-to-the-chase style of advising — short on sophistry and long on practicality. When she's put on the radio as a professional relational therapist, this comes across as a uniquely penetrating analysis of the human subject.
- Sir Not-Appearing-in-This-Trailer: James Woods was notably absent from the trailer for the movie despite being the main male character and second only to Dolly Parton in the credits.
- Tagline: "She walked in the wrong door at the right time and turned Chicago's hottest radio station upside down!".
