'A Man on the Inside' goes to college, and Ted Danson aces the test

'A Man on the Inside' goes to college, and Ted Danson aces the test

David Bianculli

November 20, 2025 / 8:46 am

Creator Michael Schur 's inspiration for his Netflix series A Man on the Inside was a really unusual one. It's based on a documentary from Chile, called The Mole Agent , which told the story of an octogenarian hired by a private eye firm to solve a case of theft in an elder care facility — by going undercover as a new resident. Schur cast Ted Danson , the pivotal player in his wildly surprising The Good Place sitcom, in the central role, and surrounded him with endearing and talented co-stars and supporting players.

The first season of A Man on the Inside was very funny, and its central mystery was a good one — but most of all, the series was about family, a