Doing Time on Maple Drive

Synopsis

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.

Cast

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

Awards and nominations

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

Reception

Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an audience score of 67%.

DVD release

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