Doing Time on Maple Drive

Doing Time on Maple Drive centers on the Carter family. Phil (Sikking), the patriarch, is a successful local restaurateur, married for many years to Lisa (Besch). They have three grown children, Karen (Brook), Tim (Carrey) and Matt (McNamara). Karen is married to Tom (Byron), Tim works in his father's restaurant and Matt is a college student. Matt returns from college and introduces the family to his fiancée, Allison (Loughlin).

Matt is injured after crashing his car; he returns home to recuperate. As he recovers, the family is revealed to be almost completely dysfunctional. Tim is an alcoholic. Matt's car crash was a suicide attempt brought on by the pressure of being gay and closeted from his conservative parents and lying about Allison's breaking their engagement because of it. Lisa is in deep denial about all of the problems family members are facing.

Karen's husband Tom learns that Karen is pregnant and that she is so terrified of bringing a child into a family situation like hers that she's considering having an abortion without telling him. Tom angrily confronts his father-in-law Phil, declaring that, while Phil may be destroying his own family, he won't allow Phil to destroy his. Tom implores Karen not to have the abortion and moves away with her for the baby's sake to get them away from Phil's problems. Matt confronts his parents, including telling his mother that he knows she already knows he is gay after having walked in on him and another boy. Lisa continues to struggle with denial, but Phil begins to take tentative steps toward understanding and building bridges with his family.

• James Sikking as Phil Carter
• Bibi Besch as Lisa Carter
• William McNamara as Matt Carter
• Jayne Brook as Karen Carter
• Lori Loughlin as Allison
• Jim Carrey as Tim Carter
• Janice Lynde as Judy
• Bodhi Elfman as Joe
• David Byron as Tom
• Philip Linton as Andy (This actor died one month before this film was released.)
• Bennett Cale as Kyle
• Richard Israel as Student Actor
• Mark Chaet as Nick
• George Roth as Dr. Norman
• Parker Whitman as Gene
• Danielle Michonne as Cindy
• Toni Sawyer as Millie
• Mike Marikian as Kevin
• Courtenay McWhinney as Clara

Primetime Emmy Awards 1992

Nominated

• Primetime Emmy Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Miniseries or a Special : James Duff (writer)
• Outstanding Made for Television Movie : Paul Lussier (executive producer)
• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special : Bibi Besch

Online Film & Television Association 2013

Won

• OFTA TV Hall of Fame : Television Programs

Doing Time on Maple Drive was released on Region 1 DVD on September 7, 2004.

• Doing Time on Maple Drive at Internet Movie Database