It's always nice to experience a television show that surprises you, and far exceeds your expectations, even when your expectations are already pretty high.
That is exactly what happened with Michael Schur's new Netflix dramedy "A Man on the Inside" starring the legendary Ted Danson, I thought it would be good, but not this good.
Schur, who started as a writer on "Saturday Night Live" and would go on to become a producer and writer for "The Office" (he also appeared on several episodes as Dwight's cousin Mose) for which he would win a couple of Emmys.
He then co-created the terrific shows "Parks and Recreation" and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," and in 2016, on his own, he created "The Good Place" which also featured Danson and is one of the best network shows of the past 10 years.
So yeah, I was looking forward to this show.
Based on the Oscar-nominated documentary "The Mole Agent," "A Man on the Inside" is about retired widower Charlie (Danson) who is living a sad, lonely, and monotonous life in San Francisco. After his concerned daughter (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) urges him to find a hobby or fill his time with more rewarding activities, he answers a help wanted ad in a newspaper that leads him to begin working for Julie, a private investigator (Lilah Richcreek Estrada).
Julie tasks Charlie with going undercover at a fancy retirement home to solve the mystery of a stolen necklace, but once Charlie is comfortably ensconced at the facility, he begins to have fun, find friendships with the denizens, and learn that life can still be pretty great. As a result, his focus on finding the culprit is all but lost, and his cover is in danger of being blown.
The setup of the show is smart and inviting, and a terrific way to establish the tone and message that Schur and his brilliant writers want to convey. While the show does use the cliches and techniques of a whodunnit (and the mystery is indeed fun to ponder), the real focus of "A Man on the Inside" is the examination of living a full life as you near the end of it.
Danson has never been better as a grieving elder (yes, Sam Malone is now an elder) who, thanks to the people he meets at this care facility, finds reason to carry on after watching the love of his life lose her battle with dementia and old age.
It sounds very serious, and at times it is, but it is ultimately a wonderful look at friendship, parenting, romance, elder care ,and finding joy during your twilight years, without ever being heavy-handed.
On the simplest of levels, it is just really, really funny, and performed with energy, verve, and vibrant comedic skill by a remarkable and hilarious cast who are allowed to shine in every episode.
In addition to the aforementioned and excellent Ellis and Estrada, there are the brilliant Stephanie Beatriz, Clyde Kusatsu, Susan Ruttan, Veronica Cartwright, Kerry O'Malley, Margaret Avery, Marc Evan Jackson, Sally Struthers & John Getz doing some of the best work of their careers, and I simply don't have enough superlatives to talk about the always funny Lori Tan Chinn as the president of the senior board.
I want to give a special shoutout to Stephen McKinley Henderson, a reliably terrific actor who has had a pretty incredible couple of years with memorable appearances in the movies "Dune," "Causeway," "Beau is Afraid," and "Civil War," and another Netflix show "The Madness" where he outshined Colman Domingo. In "A Man on the Inside" he plays the backgammon playing baseball fanatic Calbert, who becomes Charlie's best friend in the home.
The many scenes between Danson and Henderson are delightful, sweet and funny. They are beautifully written, and performed by two absolute pros whose chemistry and skill are a wonder to behold as they turn those moments into the emotional core of the entire series.
You have a terrific cast, smart writing and direction, and several television pedigrees of remarkable distinction, but what really makes this show special is the genuine emotion on display and the respectful manner in which the sensitive subjects are handled in between the broad laughs.
I laughed a lot watching this show, and I was also intrigued by the fun mystery, but the thing I really didn't expect, was just how many times I would cry during this thing. I was deeply moved by so many of the situations and story lines that I had to grab some Kleenex after episode three just to have them handy.
Bravo to everyone involved with "A Man on the Inside," particularly Danson and Schur, who should probably make some room on their mantels in the coming months for the inevitable awards that they will deservedly win... and I'm thrilled that a second season has been announced. "A Man on the Inside" is just great television.
Check out the trailer and then enjoy this outstanding series on Netflix:
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