Charles Nieuwendyk will go undercover for a final time in A Man on the Inside.
Netflix announced Wednesday that the Ted Danson-led comedy’s third season will be its final one. Season three is beginning production in San Francisco and will follow Charles (Danson) as he takes on a new case: investigating who is sabotaging the grande dame of San Francisco society’s philanthropic work.
“This series began with a retiree taking a chance at a new life. By answering a help-wanted ad and venturing out into the world, Charles Nieuwendyk made his world bigger and proved that life only slows down if you let it,” series creator and showrunner Michael Schur said in a statement. “We are thrilled to be able to conclude his journey with one final chapter, as embodied by the great Ted Danson, who I am legally required to refer to as a ‘National Treasure.’”
Netflix renewed A Man on the Inside for a third season in February, about two and a half months after season two premiered. The announcement of season three being the final one doesn’t come as too big a surprise, considering that viewing numbers for the series fell off by a good amount from seasons one to two.
Along with Danson, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Lilah Richcreek Estrada, Stephanie Beatriz, Eugene Cordero, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Sally Struthers and Mary Steenburgen will reprise their roles from previous seasons. The show has also added eight actors to the cast in recurring and guest roles.
Bernadette Peters will play Coco Van Beck, the aforementioned queen of San Francisco society who enlists private detective Julie (Estrada) and her operative Charles on the case. (Side note: The Van Beck name is not new to A Man on the Inside; in season one, Jama Williamson guest starred as Beatrice Van Beck, a wealthy woman who volunteers at the retirement home where Charles is undercover.)
Annette O’Toole (Virgin River, Smallville) will play Kitt, Coco’s close friend and also a fixture in San Francisco society. Christopher McDonald (Hacks) plays Leland, a vineyard owner and Coco’s third ex-husband. Diedrich Bader (Better Things, Veep) will play Mark Delaurio, a real estate developer who has clashed with Coco in the past.
Jessica St. Clair (The Studio) will play Chloe, a close friend of Charles’ daughter Emily (Ellis). Nick Offerman will reunite with Parks and Recreation co-creator Schur to play Jack Spencer, an employee of Coco’s who takes a keen interest in Charles’ investigation. Rachel Dratch (SNL, 30 Rock) plays Maud, Coco’s stressed-out assistant. Finally, Widow’s Bay Emmy winner Stephen Root will play Dave, Charles’ estranged brother.
Schur executive produces A Man on the Inside with Morgan Sackett, David Miner of 3 Arts Entertainment, Maite Alberdi and Marcela Santibañez of Micromundo Producciones, and Julie Goldman and Christopher Clements of Motto Pictures. Universal Television produces the show, which is inspired by the documentary The Mole Agent.