Her first TV appearance was a small role on HBO's "Dream On", after which Dunning popped up from time to time on such series as "Who's the Boss?", "Tales from the Crypt", "Burke's Law", "Knots Landing" and "Married...With Children". In 1993, Dunning was chosen to replace Pamela Anderson as the 'Tool Time Girl' on ABC's hit sitcom "Home Improvement". Her job was to look good in a T-shirt and tool belt while introducing show-within-a-show and playing wisecracking straight man to stars Tim Allen and Richard Karn.

Dunning was a hit, playing her role less as a bombshell than a girl-next-door who happens to wear cut-offs and tank tops. She posed for a best-selling calendar and has been much in demand for such TV "events" as "Circus of the Stars Goes to Disneyland" (CBS, 1994), "Disney's Spring Break Blast" (syndicated, 1995), "Superstar American Gladiators" (ABC, 1995) and "Off Camera with Dean Cain" (ABC, 1995). Dunning also returned to the big screen in the low-budget comedy "The Misery Brothers" (1995). She and beachwear entrepreneur/Olympic volleyball player Steve Timmons announced their engagement in 1996.