Women's Health November 3, 2025 0 Comments

Unlock the Shocking True Story Behind Ted Danson’s ‘A Man on the Inside’—And Where to Stream the Documentary That Everyone’s Talking About!

Ever wondered what happens when a spry septuagenarian swaps his morning crossword for a spy mission inside a retirement home? Millions of Americans can’t get enough of Netflix’s breakout sitcom, A Man on the Inside, starring the ever-charismatic Ted Danson. The show’s clever twist on undercover detective work set in a setting few dare to explore has viewers laughing and guessing in equal measure. With season two on the horizon, it’s only natural to wonder: where did this quirky, yet touching storyline spring from? Before you dive back into the escapades of Charles and his cohorts, let’s pull back the curtain on the real-life tale that fired up the imagination of the creators and cast alike. Trust me, it’s more than just a funny premise—it’s a story that hits close to home in more ways than one… LEARN MORE.

Millions of Americans are obsessed with Netflix’s new sitcom A Man on the Inside starring Ted Danson. The plot follows a man who goes inside a retirement home to crack a mysterious case. The funny and entertaining show is about to air its second season—but before it comes out later this month, you might want to learn more about where the idea for the show came from. Below, we share everything you need to know about the true story that inspired the A Man on the Inside plot, including what some of the cast has to say about it.

The true story that inspired ‘A Man on the Inside’

Ever since A Man on the Inside released in November 2024, the cast and crew have been open and honest about the fact that it was inspired by the 2020 documentary The Mole Agent, about an 83-year-old man named Sergio Chamy who goes undercover in search of proof that a Chilean nursing home is engaging in elder abuse. In the end, it’s never revealed if Chamy was successful or not.

The Mole Agent is filmed in Spanish (you can watch it with subtitles) and it was well-received by critics, snagging an Oscar nomination and premiering at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.

“The documentary is so good and special and hits on such important themes,” Man on the Inside star Mary Elizabeth Ellis told Woman’s World last year. “Michael Schur [the show’s creator] and Morgan Sackett [one of the show’s directors and executive producers] took that and turned it into this incredible, beautiful television show.”

Sergio Chamy in 'The Mole Agent' — Sergio Chamy in ‘The Mole Agent’Courtesy of the Everett Collection

In a 2024 interview with Variety Danson said he watched the documentary prior to filming A Man on the Inside and “fell in love with it, and the lead of the documentary, Sergio.”

“He has such a sweet innocence about him. And he’s funny. Just the setup of an 80-year-old person trying to be a spy is inherently funny. And then instead of just following the evidence or the clues of why he was there, he starts to make everybody feel better about who they are, and in doing so, I think his life expands,” the Cheers actor continued. “It was a meaningful conversation about things that I’m at the right age to be talking about.”

What we know about season 2 of ‘A Man on the Inside’

“Before the [first] season was even over, we had started saying [a second season] could be this, could be this, and trying to figure out how it would be different and how it would be the same,” Schur explained to The Hollywood Reporter in November of 2024. “He [Danson’s character Charles] can’t go undercover at Pacific View [the retirement home] anymore. Obviously, that ship has sailed. But what you have at the end of the season is a 76-year-old man with a new lease on life and a new sense of purpose and a new kind of fledgling career as an undercover detective. You have a lot of building blocks for future seasons.”

Ted Danson in 'A Man on The Inside' — Ted Danson in ‘A Man on The Inside’Colleen E. Hayes/Netflix/Courtesy of the Everett Collection

“I told Netflix, I’ll do this forever if you want to keep paying me to write seasons of a show where Ted Danson is an undercover detective,” he continued. “I will sign up for this through 2050 if you let me.”

For now, season 2 is the only future season that’s been announced, and it’s expected to take place on a college campus, not a retirement home.

Where to watch

The Mole Agent is currently available to stream for free on PlutoTV, and it’s also available on AppleTV, YouTube, Netflix and Amazon Prime. And if you want to watch A Man on the Inside, you can do so on Netflix.