18/23
Michael Schur was inspired to create "A Man On the Inside" after watching Chilean documentary "The Mole Agent"
Scenario
Charles, a retired man, gets a new lease on life when he answers an ad from a private investigator and becomes a mole in a secret investigation in a nursing home.. He says: "The Mole Agent" documentary is powerful because it makes people feel something remarkably similar across any age, ethnicity or gender, and I'd describe that feeling in a very reductive way as, "I've got to call my mom." In our show, we tried to do a similar thing with the tone: Basically, does our show contribute to that feeling of making us want to call our moms?.
Remake of El agente topo (2020)
Ted Danson, about 76, stars as Charles, about 76, a retired Professor of Engineering and living in San Francisco. He also is Producer of this series which sets itself apart from most by avoiding the all-too-common filthy language dialog.
He is healthy but perhaps bored with his daily routine
This in fact is very clean and more pleasant as a result.In the story his wife had died perhaps a year ago from the effects of Alzheimer's. He has a habit of reading periodicals and newspapers and often cuts an interesting one out to send to his married daughter in Sacramento.
One day, through a cut-out hole he glimpses a small, short ad
Looking for someone in the 75 to 85 years age range for a specific job.This takes him to a private investigator hired by a man whose mother is in a type of upscale old folks home in San Francisco, some meaningful jewelry was stolen and the son wants the thief to be caught. Charles will be the key.So he is hired to check into the place and observe and report as the person to expose what is going on.Ted Danson is just perfect in this role which he plays with lots of humor.
Quickly it becomes less about who the thief was and more about the relationships
The cast of characters are played by a group of fine actors, many of them old favorites we have come to know from the past 50 years or so.My wife and I enjoyed it, streaming. After watching the first three episodes on one evening we watched the last five episodes at one sitting after our usual Saturday evening steak and wine dinner.The ending sets itself up for a sequel, I hope they make it.One of the more enjoyable that we haver watched.