One of those odd hybrids that television attempts, 55 North Maple combined elements of situation comedy, talk show, and how-to-do-it program. The fictional premise was that Max Ferguson portrayed a magazine writer who lived in a comfortable house with his sister, played by Joan Drewery, and her husband, never seen in the program. As they went about their business at 55 North Maple, they welcomed guests who could help them with whatever little problem or project occupied them.

The program, which received favourable response for its ingenuity as well as its entertainment and production values, relied most heavily on the informal and attractive qualities of Ferguson and Drewery.