43/46
Remake of The Mole Agent (2020)
Scenario
Charles, a retired man, gets a new lease on life when he answers an ad from a private detective and becomes a mole in a secret investigation into a nursing home. Michael Schur was inspired to create “A Man On the Inside” after watching the Chilean documentary “The Mole Agent.” He says, “The Mole Agent” is powerful because it makes people feel something remarkably similar, regardless of age, ethnicity, or gender, and I would describe that feeling in a very reductive way as, “I have to call my mom.” In our show, we tried to do something similar with the tone: Basically, our show contributes to that feeling of making us want to call our moms? Ted Danson, who is about 76, plays Charles, about 76, a retired engineering professor living in San Francisco. He is also the producer of this series, which differs from most by avoiding the overly common foul language dialogue.
He is healthy, but perhaps bored with his daily routine
This, in fact, is very clean and more enjoyable as a result. In the story, his wife had probably died a year ago from Alzheimer’s disease. He has a habit of reading periodicals and newspapers and often cuts out an interesting one to send to his married daughter in Sacramento. One day, through a cut-out hole, he sees a small, short ad.
Charles will be the key
Looking for someone between the ages of 75 and 85 for a specific job. This leads him to a private detective hired by a man whose mother is in a luxury nursing home in San Francisco, some significant jewelry has been stolen, and the son wants the thief caught. So he is hired to check out the place and observe and report as the person who will reveal what is happening. Ted Danson is simply perfect in this role which he plays with great humor.
My wife and I enjoyed streaming it
It quickly becomes less about who the thief was and more about relationships. The cast of characters is played by a fine group of actors, many of them old favorites that we have come to know over the past 50 years or so. After watching the first three episodes in one evening, we watched the last five episodes in one sitting, after our usual Saturday night steak and wine dinner. The ending sets up for a sequel, I hope they do.
