In this made-for-TV drama, a New England family's secrets all come tumbling out at once as they spend a weekend together to celebrate the engagement of their youngest son. Lisa Carter (
Bibi Besch) and her military husband, Phil (James B. Sikking), couldn't be happier when their youngest son, Matt (
William McNamara), brings his rich bride-to-be, Allison (
Lori Loughlin), home from Yale. Col. Carter views Matt as the perfect son, especially given the way his other children have turned out. Tim (
Jim Carrey) has sunk into alcoholism after dropping out of college, while Karen (Jayne Brook) must support her husband, Tom (David Byron), a struggling art photographer who wants to start a family despite his father-in-law's financial misgivings. As Allison gets acquainted with the Carter clan and its dysfunctions, her fiancé's artfully constructed facade of perfection begins to crumble, ultimately threatening his family's reputation, his impending nuptials, and his very life. Doing Time on Maple Drive debuted March 16, 1992, as a "Fox Night at the Movies" feature on the Fox network; it was later nominated for several Emmy awards. Directed by thirtysomething star
Ken Olin, the film features a number of additional television staples among its cast, from Loughlin, star of
Full House, to Carrey, then best known as Fire Marshal Bill on
In Living Color. Two additional TV personalities from the cast --
Hill Street Blues actor Sikking and
Northern Exposure actress Besch -- both share the distinction of being
Star Trek vets, Besch in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Sikking in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide