A Man on the Inside

A Man on the Inside is an American comedy television series created by Michael Schur and starring Ted Danson as a retiree-turned-amateur private investigator. It is based on the 2020 documentary film The Mole Agent by Maite Alberdi.^[1]

A Man on the Inside
Genre	Comedy
Created by	Michael Schur
Based on	The Mole Agent by Maite Alberdi
Starring	Ted Danson Mary Elizabeth Ellis Lilah Richcreek Estrada Stephanie Beatriz
Music by	David Schwartz
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	8
Production
Executive producers	Michael Schur Morgan Sackett David Miner Maite Alberdi Christopher Clements Julie Goldman Marcela Santibañez
Producers	Nate Young Ted Danson Sylvia Batey Alcalá Frank Sackett
Cinematography	David J. Miller
Editors	Sue Federman Jason Gill
Running time	27–34 minutes
Production companies	Fremulon 3 Arts Entertainment Dunshire Productions Motto Pictures Micromundo Universal Television
Original release
Network	Netflix
Release	November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21) – present

The series premiered on November 21, 2024, to critical acclaim.^[2][3][4] It was renewed for a second season in December of that year, set for release in 2025.^[5]

Cast

Main

• Ted Danson as Charles Nieuwendyk,^[6] a widower and retired college engineering professor who takes a job as an investigative assistant for a private detective to go undercover at Pacific View Retirement Community in San Francisco, to find a missing ruby necklace
• Mary Elizabeth Ellis as Emily,^[6] Charles' daughter who lives in Sacramento with her husband Joel Piñero and their three teenage sons
• Lilah Richcreek Estrada as Julie,^[6] a private investigator of Kovalenko Investigations who hires Charles
• Stephanie Beatriz as Didi,^[6] the managing director of Pacific View Retirement Community

Recurring

• Eugene Cordero as Joel Piñero,^[6] Emily's husband
• Sally Struthers as Virginia Foldau^[6]
• Marc Evan Jackson as Evan Cubbler,^[6] Julie's client
• Kerry O'Malley^[7] as Megan Chagughlaight-Accourse, Julie's assistant at Kovalenko Investigations
• Margaret Avery as Florence Joanne Whistbrook,^[6] Virginia's best friend at the Pacific View Retirement Community
• John Getz as Elliott Haverhill^[6]
• Susan Ruttan as Gladys Montrose,^[6] Charles' neighbor at the Pacific View Retirement Community who was a costume designer
• Veronica Cartwright as Beverly Bankl
• Miles Fowler as Jaylen LaMont, a staff member of Pacific View Retirement Community
• Clyde Kusatsu as Grant Yokohama^[6]
• Stephen McKinley Henderson as Calbert Graham,^[6] a lonely resident at the Pacific View Retirement Community whom Charles befriends
• Lori Tan Chinn as Susan Yang,^[6] the Pacific View Retirement Community resident council president
• Jama Williamson as Beatrice Vanbeck,^[6] the activities director of Pacific View Retirement Community
• Nelson Franklin as Rick Whuzmarc, the corporate administrator of Pacific View Retirement Community

In addition, Deuce Basco, Lincoln Lambert, and Wyatt Yang co-star as Jace, Nico, and Wyatt Nieuwendyk-Piñero, Emily's sons.^[7]

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date
1	"Tinker Tailor Older Spy"	Michael Schur	Michael Schur	November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
Charles Nieuwendyk, a widowed and retired engineering professor is lonely and in a monotonous routine following his wife's passing. His daughter, Emily, concerned about his isolation, encourages him to find a new pursuit to revitalise his life. Charles stumbles upon a newspaper advertisement seeking an elderly individual for an undercover role in a private investigation. Intrigued, he responds and meets Julie Kovalenko, a private investigator aiming to solve a theft at the Pacific View Retirement Community. Julie hires Charles to infiltrate the community as a resident and act as her "man on the inside." Despite initial reservations, particularly due to memories of his late wife's battle with Alzheimer's, Charles accepts the assignment. He moves into Pacific View, where he encounters a diverse group of residents and staff, including the affable yet enigmatic Virginia Foldau and the diligent managing director, Didi. As Charles embarks on his covert mission, he begins to navigate the complexities of his new environment, setting the stage for personal growth and unexpected connections. The title is a reference to Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
2	"The Man Who Knew Too Much About Bridges"	Morgan Sackett	Sylvia Batey Alcalá	November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
Charles continues his undercover mission at Pacific View Retirement Community. He attends a lively happy hour, charming fellow residents like Virginia and Florence, and steps in as bartender, enhancing his popularity. However, his investigation faces challenges: a misstep with the wrong Helen leads to an awkward encounter, and a mysterious note warning him to “back off” raises concerns about his cover. Charles suspects Elliott, a cigar-smoking resident, and confronts him, only to discover Elliott’s jealousy over Virginia prompted the note. This revelation shifts Charles’s focus to the staff’s unrestricted access to residents’ rooms, suggesting a potential avenue for the thefts. The episode concludes with the theft of Elliott’s antique watch, adding complexity to Charles’s investigation and deepening the mystery within the community. The title is a reference to The Man Who Knew Too Much.
3	"The Emily Always Rings Twice"	Rebecca Asher	Hayley Frazier & Emalee Burditt	November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
Charles's covert assignment at Pacific View Retirement Community faces complications with the unexpected arrival of his daughter, Emily. Concerned about her father's well-being, Emily's visit forces Charles to juggle his undercover investigation with maintaining his familial relationships. Simultaneously, another resident reports a missing item, intensifying suspicions within the community. Elliott, a fellow resident already wary of Charles, directs his frustrations towards him, and punches him in the nose. Charles must navigate these challenges, striving to uphold his cover while addressing Emily's concerns and managing Elliott's distrust. The title is a reference to The Postman Always Rings Twice.
4	"The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Painting Class"	Rebecca Asher	Bridget Stinson	November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
Charles participates in various group activities at Pacific View, such as painting classes and book clubs, to observe residents and identify potential suspects. His growing camaraderie with fellow residents raises concerns for Julie, who worries that his personal connections might compromise the investigation. Despite her reservations, Charles believes that building trust is essential to uncovering the truth. The title is a reference to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
5	"Presents and Clear Danger"	Anu Valia	Janet Leahy & Alex Farber	November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
Julie introduces an expensive gift as bait to lure the thief, while Charles focuses on connecting with Gladys, a resident showing signs of memory loss. Virginia encourages Florence to indulge in a long-desired purchase, adding to the community's dynamics. Charles's interactions with Gladys provide unexpected insights, leading him to reconsider his investigative approach. The title is a reference to Clear and Present Danger.
6	"Our Man in Sacramento"	Anu Valia	Karen Chee	November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
The sudden passing of Florence sends shockwaves through Pacific View, prompting Charles to reflect on mortality and his late wife. He embarks on an emotional journey with his daughter, Emily, strengthening their bond. Meanwhile, Didi contemplates an intriguing corporate offer, weighing her commitment to the community against new opportunities and much better pay. The title is a reference to Our Man in Havana.
7	"From Russian Hill with Love"	Morgan Sackett	Lisa Muse Bryant	November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
Charles and Calbert explore many of San Francisco's historic sites, discussing their pasts and futures, which deepens their friendship. Didi and Julie clash after Didi starts to figure out that Charles and Julie were not being truthful to her. On the ride back to Pacific View with Calbert, Charles figures out who stole the necklace. The title is a reference to From Russia with Love.
8	"The Spy Who Came in from the Cold"	Michael Schur	Dan Schofield	November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
Charles and Didi approach Gladys in the Memory Care unit. Gladys has been taking the missing items, thinking they must be her own. When the residents hear why Charles was there, they are hurt and angry, especially Calbert. Emily assists Charles in confronting unresolved issues from his past, facilitating personal growth. Didi resigns her position after feeling guilty that she didn't recognize what Julie and Charles were doing there. However, Julie and Charles meet her at the coffee shop, and convince her to reconsider and stay. Charles goes back to Pacific View to help celebrate Virginia and Elliott's marriage, and all appears to be forgiven. Julie is given a mystery assignment from a mystery client, and calls Charles to tell him she needs his help again. Charles accepts whatever her next assignment will be. The title is a reference to The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.

Production

Mike Schur and his producing partner Morgan Sackett had been adapting the 1989 film Field of Dreams for Peacock. The series did not move forward, so Sackett sent Schur an email asking if he had seen The Mole Agent, to adapt that into a television series.^[8] Sackett suggested, via an email he sent to Schur, that Danson play the lead.^[9]

In March 2023, it was announced that Danson was to star in the series.^[1] The rest of the cast was announced in February 2024; at the time, the series was titled A Classic Spy.^[6] While filming on location in San Francisco and in the redwoods along the Russian River, the cast and crew were staying at the Fairmont hotel at the same time as U.S. President Joe Biden.^[10] Only the exterior shots were filmed on location in San Francisco, with the sole exception of an interior shot of the Piazza Pellegrini restaurant.^[10] In August, Netflix released first look images from the series.^[7]

It was announced on December 16, 2024, that the series had been renewed for a second season for a 2025 release.^[5]

Release

The first season of A Man on the Inside was released on Netflix on November 21, 2024.^[2] The second season is set to be released on Netflix sometime in 2025.^[5]

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 95% approval rating with an average rating of 8/10, based on 41 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Tailor-made to suit Ted Danson's estimable strengths, this warm and witty sitcom discovers a lot of life left in those who've been put out to pasture."^[3] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 75 out of 100 based on 23 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.^[4]

Ben Travers of IndieWire gave the series an A- and said, "It's a tremendous performance made to look effortless, much like A Man on the Inside is a sage, ambitious new series made to be painlessly, pleasantly enjoyed."^[11] Reviewing the series for Chicago Sun-Times, Richard Roeper gave a rating of 3.5/4 and wrote, "A Man on the Inside moves at a breezy clip, but still finds room to flesh out a number of subplots and supporting players."^[12]

For its first season, it was recognized as one of the top 10 television programs of 2024 by American Film Institute.^[13] Ted Danson was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series for the first season.^[14]