A 72-year-aged San Diego man, Danny Smiechowski, found himself transported to Hollywood in a limousine earlier this month, a stark contrast to the years he spent facing neighborhood scorn for exercising in his yellow briefs. The unexpected turn of events culminated in the finale of the HBO/A24 docuseries, Neighbors, which chronicled Smiechowski’s life and his subsequent move to a Florida nudist community, and his return home.
For much of his life, Smiechowski was ostracized by neighbors who took issue with his minimalist workout attire. He described the experience as “emotional abuse,” but now finds himself a local celebrity thanks to the show. “The neighbors were looking out their window, going, ‘Oh my God, that guy,’” Smiechowski recounted in West Hollywood, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. “You can’t really believe it could be true, but it’s true.”
Neighbors, billed as a late-night documentary series, follows intense disputes within communities across the country. The show’s creators, Harrison Fishman and Dylan Redford, spent a month filming Smiechowski, capturing his initial unhappiness in California, his foray into the Eden nudist community in Pasco County, Florida, and his eventual decision to return to San Diego. The finale episode, supersized in comparison to the previous installments, focused exclusively on Smiechowski’s journey.
Smiechowski’s experience in Florida offered a temporary escape from the judgment he faced at home. He found a welcoming environment and even a fleeting romantic connection. Still, he ultimately realized that “home is home, for better or worse,” a sentiment that resonated with the series’ exploration of the often-uncomfortable realities of coexistence.
The attention garnered from the show has shifted the dynamic with his former detractors. “The best revenge is success, so that’s the nail in the coffin with [my neighbors] — and now they ignore me,” Smiechowski told the show’s creators. He even recounted a recent call from a former adversary who now sought an invitation to Los Angeles.
The journey to the screen began with a Craigslist ad posted by casting director Harleigh Shaw. After an initial conversation, Smiechowski grew frustrated with the lack of communication and blocked the numbers of those involved with the production. Producer Rachel Walden eventually re-established contact, leading to the extensive filming process.
Fishman and Redford were intrigued by the possibility of exploring nudist communities, noting that these communities often functioned with a higher degree of tolerance and understanding than many traditional neighborhoods. “Everyone there really wanted these communities to function,” Redford explained to The Hollywood Reporter. “They didn’t want the infighting or whatever conflict existed within there to get to a point where they would lose this place that they love so much.”
Smiechowski himself embraced the documentary process with unwavering commitment. “I would repeat something literally 20 times until I got it right, and then I would go, ‘Well, let’s do it again’ — as I had that Iron Man in me,” he said. He also asserted his unique mental fortitude, claiming he is one of the few people in the world who cannot be hypnotized.
Since filming concluded, Smiechowski has been taking drama classes, anticipating potential backlash. “People are going to call me a freak, but they don’t understand,” he acknowledged, quoting his drama teacher’s warning of impending abuse. “I said, ‘George, don’t even worry about it, man. Water off the duck’s back. Just forget about it.’”
HBO has renewed Neighbors for a second season, though the focus of the next installment remains unclear. Fishman and Redford expressed excitement about exploring new subjects and expanding their “portrait of America.” Even as Smiechowski’s continued involvement is not confirmed, the show’s creators see ample opportunity for future exploration.
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