Secret Weapon Revealed! Stephen McKinley Henderson Dominates in ‘A Man on the Inside’

Welcome to Movie Chat, the newsletter for all those who enjoy being in a place where everyone knows your name—even if it’s not Cheers.

In the recent Netflix series “A Man on the Inside,” Ted Danson demonstrates that he can establish friendships in any setting, even a retirement home. His friendship with co-star Stephen McKinley Henderson, as described by series creator Mike Schur to senior writer Yvonne Villarreal in this week’s Guest Spot, is the heart of the show—a platonic “love story.”

Also in Movie Chat No. 158, our editor revisits the admired “Say Nothing,” in addition to further streaming suggestions for your weekend.

In Case You Missed It

Stories you might have overlooked

Garcelle Beauvais is candid, both on and off ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’: The actress and cast member of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” talks about the latest season, the presidential election, and how she’d exit the show if her sons requested her to.

‘The Later Daters’ portrays that dating after 55 ‘is sexier than people believe’: A Netflix docuseries produced by Michelle Obama follows six singles over age 55 as they go on a series of blind dates in the hope of finding love again.

Following a contentious omission, ‘Piano Lesson’ brings Danielle Deadwyler back to Oscar contention: After being overlooked for “Till” two years ago, which created a controversy, the actress is back with “Piano Lesson,” launching on Netflix on Friday. Awards observers foresee a possible payback.

What to watch this holiday season: ‘Dear Santa,’ musical variety shows, and a delightful little owl: Anticipate a variety of specials from artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Nate Bargatze, Jimmy Fallon, and Motown legends, with Santa as a constant theme this holiday season.

Turn On

Suggestions from the film and TV experts at The Times

“Interior Chinatown” (Hulu)

The show’s opening title, “Int. Chinatown,” is reminiscent of a shooting script. This eccentric, mega-fictional, reality-blending miniseries, adapted by Charles Yu from his 2020 National Book Award-winning novel, features Jimmy O. Yang as Willis Wu, a waiter in a Chinatown restaurant in the fictional city of Port Harbour. This city also serves as the backdrop for a police drama titled “Black & White,” whose main detective characters will make their way into Willis’s life. Willis, who sees himself as “a background character in someone else’s story,” feels invisible and trapped. The series shifts between realities in ways that are not always simple to follow or understand, except on a metaphorical or poetic level—it deals with image and self-image as they relate to Chinese Americans, and how media can distort, limit, and control our narratives. Ronny Chieng stands out as Willis’ grumpy but grounded best friend. — Robert Lloyd

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READ MORE: Jimmy O. Yang is finally No. 1 on the call sheet with ‘Interior Chinatown’

“Our Oceans” (Netflix)

David Attenborough is undoubtedly the king of nature documentaries, but there’s a new voice emerging: former President Obama. “Our Oceans” is the latest nature documentary series to land on Netflix. The five episodes focus on each of the world’s largest bodies of water, beginning with the Pacific Ocean—you’ll also catch a glimpse of Los Angeles. The series is executive produced by James Honeyborne, formerly of the BBC Natural History Unit, and Obama, who narrates each episode. The narration by Obama is light, familiar, and informative, varying with the mood of the stunning visuals that take us from the surface to a world of marine life, underwater volcanoes, and vegetation. While the focus is largely on underwater happenings, it also discusses how humans impact Earth’s oceans. If you’re seeking a relaxing and educational series to watch with your family over the holidays, put this one on your playlist. —Maira Garcia

Catch Up

All you need to know about the film or TV series that’s the talk of the town

The three pivotal episodes of “Say Nothing” (FX, Hulu) appear mid-season, after we’ve been captivated by the lively Dolours Price (Lola Petticrew) and her reticent younger sister, Marian (Hazel Doupe), and rallied to their cause of “a free and united Ireland.” The series never reduces its protagonists’ struggle, or the consequences, to mere political abstraction. Instead, through the prism of the Prices and radical counterparts like Brendan Hughes (Anthony Boyle), the subject is richly — and often terrifyingly — drawn. By the conclusion of “Say Nothing,” participation in the conflict involves everyone from Rory Kinnear’s ruthless British commander in Belfast, Frank Kitson, to Josh Finan’s stony, slimy Gerry Adams, leaving only bullet-riddled buildings, unmarked graves, and somber memories. No one can be said to have won the war, in this construction: They either outlived it, or they did not. —Matt Brennan

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READ MORE: ‘Say Nothing’ explores ‘human wreckage’ caused by young radicals during the Troubles

Guest Spot

A weekly conversation with actors, writers, directors and more about their current projects and what they’re watching

Mike Schur, a prolific TV creator and producer, is teaming up once again with actor Ted Danson for another thought-provoking comedy that will leave you pondering. “A Man on the Inside,” an eight-episode series available for streaming on Netflix, explores loneliness and the quest for meaning later in life. Based on the 2020 Oscar-nominated documentary “The Mole Agent,” the series features Danson as a retired professor and widower who gets a new lease on life when he’s recruited by a private investigator to go undercover at a San Francisco retirement home to locate a stolen heirloom. Here are some excerpts from my recent chat about the series with Schur. —Yvonne Villarreal

READ MORE: Ted Danson and Mike Schur celebrate ‘living a larger life’ with age in ‘A Man on the Inside’

What were the documentary’s guiding principles that you considered? Or did you think about espionage series and films like “Get Smart” as you pondered how to balance the tone of the show and balance the highly comedic bits with these incredibly moving, heartfelt moments?

The reference to “Get Smart” was that we don’t want this to be “Get Smart.” The comedy there lies in its broadness and enormity. I thought of one joke from the documentary, in particular, and used that as a constant. It was the joke where the private investigator is saying, “You’re not getting enough information for me. You have a target, and you have to follow her. Do you understand me? You have to follow her.” And it cuts to Sergio, one foot behind her, just walking with a completely serious face — like “he told me to follow her, so I’m following her.” And she’s using a walker, and they’re moving at a third of a mile an hour. That made me laugh so hard. And what made me laugh about it was innocence and sincerity. It was 100% sincere. He was taking something too literally, but he wasn’t making a joke.

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In the midst of the task at hand, Charles, the character Ted plays, is developing these sweet and meaningful friendships. There’s a moment where, during a field trip away from the retirement home, he’s sitting in the redwoods with Calbert (Stephen McKinley Henderson), talking about their late wives — it was nice to see two older men sharing that kind of tender moment.

The thing that will make their relationship matter is— the day starts off with, like, “let’s have an adventure,” but really what it is is a series of conversations about their lives. And I really wanted to go to the redwood forest because having shot there for “The Good Place,” and having been there many times, it is the most silent and contemplative place I’ve ever been on Earth.

What did working on the series get you thinking about? Help you work through?

Part of the big idea behind the season was, “This cannot just be a show about a 75-year-old man who takes this new job. It has to also be about that man’s daughter.” I am in her position. And like a lot of people roughly my age, plus or minus 10 years, you’re in this sandwich between your kids and their many needs and desires and problems and frustrations, and your parents, who suddenly, out of nowhere, need you. They rely on you for advice and guidance and money and happiness and everything else.

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