Discovery Channel to Air the 'Inside Story' on 'Argo'

A day before Sunday's Oscars, where Argo is nominated for seven awards, Discovery Channel is giving viewers an inside look at what really happened during the operation that inspired the film.

our editor recommends

Box Office Milestone: Ben Affleck's 'Argo' Hitting $200 Million Worldwide

BAFTAs 2013: 'Les Misérables' and 'Argo' Take This Year's Big Awards

PHOTOS: How the CIA Fooled Hollywood With Fake 'Argo' Movie

Narrated by Bryan Cranston, who co-stars as CIA manager Jack O’Donnell in the movie, the one-hour special Argo: Inside Story reveals details of the scheme to disguise six American hostages as a Canadian film crew to be rescued from Iran in 1978.

The special -- which has been updated from its original 2002 broadcast -- includes interviews with key people involved in the real-life events, including CIA agent Tony Mendez. In the Craig Piligian-produced special, he gives his side of the story on how he came up with the plan that included forging official documents in the office of the Canadian Ambassador.

STORY: WGA Awards: 'Zero Dark Thirty,' 'Argo' Take Top Screenplay Honors

“One of the stamp pads had dried out and I had to mix the right ink color,” Mendez says in the program. “So I went over to the Canadian ambassador’s liquor cabinet and got a bottle of Scotch and poured some on [the pad].”

Argo: Inside Story will air at 10 p.m. Saturday and at noon Sunday.