Single mom Dottie Ingels sells cosmetics in a department store while dreaming of becoming a comedian. After she inherits some money, she decides to move to New York with her children Erica and Opal in order to begin a stand-up career in small bars. Dottie soon rises to stardom, but while she travels all over the USA, her daughters stay home lonely.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Julie KavnerDottie Ingels | Dottie Ingels |
 Samantha MathisErica Ingels | Erica Ingels |
 Gaby HoffmannOpal Ingels | Opal Ingels |
 Carrie FisherClaudia Curtis | Claudia Curtis |
 Dan AykroydArnold Moss | Arnold Moss |
 Bob NelsonEd | Ed |
 Marita GeraghtyMia Jablon | Mia Jablon |
 Welker WhiteLynn | Lynn |
 Caroline AaronMartha Ingels | Martha Ingels |
 Kathy NajimyAngela | Angela |
 Danny ZornJordan Strang | Jordan Strang |
 Renée LippinArlene | Arlene |
 Joy BeharRuby | Ruby |
 Estelle HarrisAunt Harriet | Aunt Harriet |
| SSidney ArmusMorris Chesler | Morris Chesler |
 David EisnerOliver | Oliver |
 Annie GoldenMarianne | Marianne |
 Tim Blake NelsonDennis | Dennis |
| HHarvey MillerLester | Lester |
| PPatrick RoseGary Garry | Gary Garry |
 Kate McGregor-StewartJordan's Mom | Jordan's Mom |
 Ellen CleghorneTV Talk Show Host | TV Talk Show Host |
 Valri BromfieldDawna | Dawna |
 Diane SokolowCharlene | Charlene |
 Tom WoodBilly | Billy |
 Louis Di BiancoNorman Ingels | Norman Ingels |
| BBarbara StewartJoanne | Joanne |
 Sylvia KaudersEvelyn | Evelyn |
| FFaye CohenEvelyn's Daughter | Evelyn's Daughter |
| TTheresa TovaRochelle | Rochelle |