A Man on the Inside: Everything to Know About the Ted Danson and Mike Schur Comedy Series - Netflix Tudum

  • News

    Everything to Know About A Man on the Inside

     Go undercover with Ted Danson in the new Mike Schur comedy.

    By Jean Bentley and Christopher Hudspeth
    Jan. 8, 2025

Ted Danson is breaking out of a rut and finding a renewed sense of purpose in A Man on the Inside, which hails from The Good Place creator Mike Schur.

Based on the Oscar-nominated documentary The Mole Agent, the eight-episode series follows a retired man, Charles (Danson), who gets a new lease on life when he answers an ad placed by a private detective and becomes a mole in a secret investigation of the Pacific View retirement residence in San Francisco. 

Schur watched the original film — which takes place in Chile and follows an 83-year-old widower named Sergio — after several people recommended it to him, and quickly connected with the story.

I knew almost nothing about [The Mole Agent], and I just fell for it so hard,” Schur told Netflix. “The hero, Sergio, is so wonderfully wrought, so real, just a lovely human being. It’s a beautiful meditation on aging, a subject we are uniquely terrible in this country at confronting, dealing with, or discussing. It showed the reality of aging for people along a very broad spectrum — some folks who were doing great and some folks who were not — and that really grabbed me.” 

Even though Schur was moved by the doc, his first instinct wasn’t to adapt the movie as a series. “It didn’t occur to me right away to fictionalize it or adapt it. Then, Morgan Sackett, who’s my producing partner, suggested we remake [it] and have Ted Danson play the main character,” he recalled. Schur and Danson last worked together on the Emmy-nominated series The Good Place, which wrapped in 2020. “As soon as he said that, it became so clear that there was a way to take that story, swapping in Ted’s unique charisma for Sergio’s unique charisma. As soon as we had that idea, things happened very quickly. I started working on my idea for the adaptation, we pitched it to Ted, and he was in.”

Joining Danson is a pedigreed list of stars, including several Schur veterans from Brooklyn Nine-Nine. And, executive producers of the new series include Schur for Fremulon; Morgan Sackett; David Miner for 3 Arts Entertainment; the original film’s director, Maite Alberdi; Marcela Santibáñez for Micromundo Producciones; and, for Motto Pictures, Julie Goldman and Christopher Clements. 

Check below for more info on the show and photos of Danson doing detective work as Charles.

What is A Man on the Inside about?

A widower, eager to shake up his routine, answers an ad from a private detective to solve a mysterious theft. Posing as a new resident, he goes deep undercover at a senior living community, building heartwarming new friendships and a stronger bond with his daughter along the way.

In keeping with the spirit of The Mole Agent, Schur views A Man on the Inside as an opportunity to examine the frequently ignored topic of aging from a comedic yet heartfelt angle. “This is a multigenerational show, and it is equally important to investigate the inner lives of the people who are my age — because it’s a weird thing, when your parents start to need your help. You’re not used to that,” he said. “The whole basis for the relationship was that you need their help. It struck me as such a good idea to adapt this because we just don’t talk about this stuff. It feels painful, and it’s especially hard to talk about it directly with your parents.”

Executive producers of the new series include Schur for Fremulon; Morgan Sackett; David Miner for 3 Arts Entertainment; the original film’s director, Maite Alberdi; Marcela Santibáñez for Micromundo Producciones; and, for Motto Pictures, Julie Goldman and Christopher Clements. 

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Who’s in the cast of A Man on the Inside?

Ted Danson as Charles in Season 1 of ‘A Man on the Inside’
Colleen E. Hayes/Netflix

 Ted Danson

as Charles
About the Character

Former professor Charles goes undercover in a retirement community to solve the mystery of a resident’s missing family heirloom.  

Previously In

Cheers, The Good Place

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The Good Place
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Follow Ted Danson

Mary Elizabeth Ellis as Emily inSeason 1 of ‘A Man on the Inside’
Colleen E. Hayes/Netflix

Mary Elizabeth Ellis

as Emily
About the Character

Emily is a married mother of three boys who has to adjust when her father, Charles, makes a surprising late-life career move and becomes an undercover detective.

Previously In

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, New Girl, Masterminds

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Santa Clarita Diet
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Follow Mary Elizabeth Ellis

Stephanie Beatriz as Didi in Season 1 of ‘A Man on the Inside’
Colleen E. Hayes/Netflix

Stephanie Beatriz

as Didi
About the Character

Didi is the all-seeing, all-knowing managing director of the Pacific View retirement residence in San Francisco.

Previously In

Encanto, Twisted Metal, Hazbin Hotel

 

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Brooklyn Nine-Nine
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Follow Stephanie Beatriz

Lilah Richcreek Estrada as Julie in Season 1 of ‘A Man on the Inside’
Colleen E. Hayes/Netflix

Lilah Richcreek Estrada

as Julie
About the Character

Julie is a San Francisco–based private investigator who hires Charles to be her mole. To maintain the ruse at the retirement home, she pretends to be his daughter.

Previously In

Chicago Med, Dave, The Wonder Years

Follow Lilah Richcreek Estrada

Stephen McKinley Henderson as Calbert in Season 1 of ‘A Man on the Inside’

Stephen McKinley Henderson

as Calbert
About the Character

Calbert is a transplant from Washington, DC, who serves as the stoic eyes and ears of the Pacific View community.

Previously In

Fences, Civil War, Lady Bird

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The Madness
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Bruised
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Giving Voice
Watch

Sally Struthers as Virginia in Season 1 of ‘A Man on the Inside’
Colleen E. Hayes/Netflix

Sally Struthers

as Virginia
About the Character

Vivacious Virginia is the life of the party at Pacific View, and immediately takes a shine to Charles.

Previously In

All in the Family, Archie Bunker’s Place, Gloria

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Gilmore Girls
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Eugene Cordero as Joel in Season 1 of ‘A Man on the Inside’
Colleen E. Hayes/Netflix

Eugene Cordero

as Joel
About the Character

Emily’s husband, Joel, is a supportive and exceedingly competent 10th-grade science teacher.

Previously In

The Good Place, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Loki

Follow Eugene Cordero

Margaret Avery as Florence in Season 1 of ‘A Man on the Inside’
Colleen E. Hayes/Netflix

Margaret Avery

as Florence
About the Character

Virginia’s sweet best friend Florence loves poetry and the Golden State Warriors in equal measure.

Previously In

The Color Purple, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins

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John Getz as Elliott in Season 1 of ‘A Man on the Inside’
Colleen E. Hayes/Netflix

John Getz

as Elliott
About the Character

Elliott is Pacific View’s resident lothario. He immediately feels threatened when Charles moves in and starts receiving all the attention.

Previously In

Blood Simple, The Fly


Susan Ruttan as Gladys in Season 1 of ‘A Man on the Inside’
Colleen E. Hayes/Netflix

Susan Ruttan

as Gladys
About the Character

Gladys is a glamorous former costume designer from New York City, and Charles’s next-door neighbor at Pacific View.

Previously In

Sprung, Mom, Shameless

Follow Susan Ruttan

Lori Tan Chinn as Susan
Colleen E. Hayes/Netflix

Lori Tan Chinn

as Susan
About the Character

Susan is the president of the Pacific View resident council, which she rules with an iron fist.

Previously In

Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, Turning Red, Strange Planet

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Jentry Chau vs the Underworld
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Orange Is the New Black
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Clyde Kusatsu as Grant
Colleen E. Hayes/Netflix

Clyde Kusatsu

as Grant
About the Character

Grant is a Princeton grad who is deeply concerned with you knowing he is a Princeton grad.

Previously In

All-American Girl, Brick ’Em Back Alive


Marc Evan Jackson as Evan Cubbler

Marc Evan Jackson

as Evan Cubbler
About the Character

Evan is the client who hires Julie to investigate the theft of his mother’s necklace.

Previously In

Popular Theory, Finding ’Ohana, The Disruptors

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The Baby-Sitters Club
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The Good Place
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Brooklyn Nine-Nine
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Follow Marc Evan Jackson

Jama Williamson as Beatrice
Colleen E. Hayes/Netflix

Jama Williamson

as Beatrice
About the Character

Beatrice is the Pacific View activities director and she’s never had a bad day in her life.

Previously In

School of Rock, Parks and Recreation, I Am Potential

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The Good Place
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Follow Jama Williamson

 

Is The Mole Agent on Netflix?

Yes! You can stream the documentary that A Man on the Inside is based on right here.

Has A Man on the Inside received any award nominations? 

Yes, Danson’s portrayal of Charles earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Television Male Actor - Musical or Comedy Series, as well as a nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series at the 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

When does A Man on the Inside come out?

A Man on the Inside is now streaming on Netflix.

Let the sleuthing begin. 

Additional reporting by Troy Pozirekides

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