Sharon McElroy is a Leland University student who works as a waitress at one of Leland's cafes. Alex P. Keaton and Ellen Reed were regulars at her cafe. After Alex and Ellen break up, Alex asks Sharon out. The two have little in common, so Alex tries to be more like her by listening to heavy metal and getting coolness lessons from Mallory and Jennifer, who teach him to dress like he's on Miami Vice and use more slang. During Alex and Sharon's date at Guido's, Alex tells her to let her hair down, gives her a pair of glasses, and sprays her with Ellen's perfume. Sharon accuses him of trying to turn her into a copy of Ellen and breaks up with him.