A Man on the Inside

I am 67 years old and it was so wonderful to see so many of our generation of actors and their great comedic styles. These actors only get better with age and are wonderfully cast in this sweet Comedy Series! The script gets a little lost trying to solve the mystery and gets more in depth with the character's storylines. That's ok because you have a pretty good idea who is the culprit about half way through. You don't mind that it isn't really a mystery because you are just having a fun time watching these golden oldies work and show their stuff. It's really no mystery. Just a tribute to how brave you have to be an older citizen and still active and feel seen in our youth oriented society. What a sweet tribute to those who support and help us navigate the minefields of getting old this series was. Thank you for giving me a great Saturday of binge watching this series!

I just finished A Man on the Inside and have to say I really enjoyed it. It was much funnier than I expected. The show is about a retired college professor (Ted Danson) who recently lost his wife and is looking for something new in his life. He responds to an add in the paper from a private investigator (Lilah Richcreek Estrada) who's looking for someone to go undercover at a San Francisco retirement home to find someone who stole a valuable necklace from one of the residents. It's gotten nothing but great reviews from both critics and the audience, it currently has a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. If you're looking for a fun show to have some laughs and can binge in just a few hours then give this a try. You wont be disappointed.

Son and I watched over holidays and we both enjoyed it immensely. Ted is a true gem, the guest stars were all people we knew from past shows and we got to see them again, reminding us how good they are. We binge watched this because the episodes were short which is perfect to keep our interest. There is a great chance for this to continue with so much more fun and games among an aging population. So much information just in the storyline about nursing homes, aging/elderly, grief and loss, friendships and honesty. It has a small tinge of murders in the building but unique in its own way with the mix of young and old in thoughts and technology. This show is a winner for me.

As I update this in NOV 2025 we just finished watching season 2, again just great entertainment with accomplished actors and interesting characters.

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. 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 is healthy but perhaps bored with his daily routine. 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 as a private investigator.

Season 1: 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.

Season 2: This job takes him to a private college, as a retired engineer he takes a job as a visiting professor. The story is totally different, it involves solving a mystery about a mega rich donor who has unsavory plans for the school. Some of the characters from the nursing home reappear but there are many new characters also. Including his real-life wife and the two develop a relationship.

My wife and I enjoyed both seasons, streaming. We generally watched two episodes a night.

One of the more enjoyable mini-series that we have watched. We hope there will be another season with a novel storyline next year.

Ted Danson plays Charles, one of the nicest grandpas you'll ever meet. He is recruited by a private investigator, named Julie, to help her find the culprit who stole a valuable necklace. That might be the hook of the show, but in truth the show lives and dies by the charm of the characters.

The show is less about mystery or comedy, and more about the characters and setting. It has a very cozy optimism about it. Don't misunderstand, there are some very sad parts to the show. But it is shared in a way that encourages audiences to enjoy the time they have, as opposed to dreading the end. Get inside and watch it.