The Mole (U.S. Season 1)

Infobox tvseason
season_name = The Mole (2001)


caption =
show_name = "The Mole"
dvd_release_date = March 8, 2005
dvd_format =
country = USA
network = ABC
first_aired = January 9, 2001
last_aired = February 28, 2001
num_episodes = 9
prev_season =
prev_series =
next_season =
next_series =

The First season of "The Mole" aired on ABC in 2001. It was produced by Stone Stanley Entertainment and was released to DVD by Eagle Rock Entertainment on March 8, 2005. The season was hosted by news reporter Anderson Cooper and featured American contestants; it was filmed mainly in France, Monaco and Spain.

how details

Air dates
*January 9, 2001 - February 28, 2001

Locations
*California Mojave Desert, United States
*France (Paris, Cannes)
*Monaco (Monte Carlo)
*Spain (Seville, Jerez)

Rules summary
*Ten players - all strangers. Nine contestants, and one "Mole" (whose identity is kept secret from all the other players and the viewing audience).
*The players participate in various tests (games, physical challenges, puzzles, etc.) to try to earn money to a cash pot, up to a maximum of $1,000,000. The mole's duty is to sabotage the games, and prevent money from being added to the pot, while avoiding, or deflecting suspicion.
*Each episode, the players take a 20-question quiz about the identity of the mole. The player who answers the fewest questions correctly (or in case of a tie, finishes the test the slowest), is "executed" and must leave the game immediately.
*Each episode, one player is executed; the game continues until only three players remain. Two contestants, and the mole. The contestant who scores the highest on the final quiz wins the game, and the entire accumulated cash pot.

Details
Casting for the first season of "The Mole" was held in late August 2000.cite news
url =http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271%7C60778%7C1%7C,00.html
title =ABC's Mole Looking For Contestants
publisher =Zap2it
date = 2000-08-06
accessdate = 2008-01-15] Filming was done over 28 dayscite news
url =http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271%7C64775%7C1%7C,00.html
title =The Mole Announces Players
publisher =Zap2it
date = 2000-12-26
accessdate = 2008-01-15] from September 22-October 19, 2000.cite news
url =http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271%7C64001%7C1%7C,00.html
title =The Mole Completes Production
publisher =Zap2it
date = 2000-11-20
accessdate = 2008-01-15] In late December 2000, ABC announced the contestants. The ten players and 176 crew members traveled to 34 cities in four countries, and stayed at 65 hotels.

Unlike other similar reality shows, contestants on "The Mole" were treated to lavish multi-course meals and fine wines at dinner, while staying most nights at four and five star hotels in exotic locations. Often travel was done in nice cars, or comfortable trains. It contrasted sharply with other reality shows of the time, such as "Survivor", that saw players in wilderness locations eating meager meals.

GSN acquired the rights to the program in early 2004.cite news
url =http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/gsn-cable-network-acquires-rights-previous-the-mole-series-2245.php
title =GSN cable network acquires rights to previous The Mole series
publisher =Reality TV World
date = 2004-02-10
accessdate = 2008-02-05] Season 1 was shown in its entirety at varying timeslots. However, after low ratings and changes at the network, it was pulled. In March 2005, the entire season 1 was released on DVD by Eagle Vision USA. In the summer of 2007, Fox Reality acquired the rights to all four "Mole" seasons, and showed season one the first week of July. It was aired again as a marathon on January 20, 2008. Another marathon of the show was broadcast on June 1, 2008.

Contestants

Skydiving: All ten players arrived at a remote location in the California Mojave Desert. Two helicopters took them to a landing strip where they boarded a plane to skydive from 10,000 feet. If all ten players agreed to skydive tandem, the group pot would earn $75,000. If any one player chose not to jump, no money would be added to the pot. According to clues in episode 8, this test marked the first time the players met, and occurred on September 22, 2000. The players were successful, and earned the full value.

Night out in Paris: The players were flown to Paris, France for their next test. After dinner, the players were allowed to spend the night out in Paris, with a catch - the entire group must stay together, and had to be back to the hotel before midnight (approximately two hours). If the team was not back in time, a $10,000 penalty would be assessed from the pot. The players were successful, and no money was deducted.

ATM: The players are shown ten screens which display personal information about their fellow competitors. Two players with the best memories are then chosen from the group. The two have to solve puzzles using the information from the screens to come up with a 4-digit ATM PIN. The PIN is then used to withdraw ₣500 at an ATM machine somewhere in the town of Draguigan, France. If the team is successful, $50,000 is added to the pot.

Penalty: The remaining players wait during ATM test, and are told not to discuss the information from the screens. Although the players succeeded at the ATM test, Wendi became angry at Charlie and asked how many times his heart has been broken, which he responded to. The players were fined $10,000.

Episode 2

Sniper: One player out of the group is selected to "take it easy" (the players select Kate, due to her accomplishments from the previous episode), and the rest are "looking for an adventure." Kate is taken to a church in a small village. They players are equipped with laser tag vests (but no weapons). While avoiding laser shooting snipers, the players must rescue Kate and bring her to the cinema and ring a bell. If successful, $30,000 is added to the pot. Unbeknownst to the players, Kate is offered an exemption if she shoots all her fellow players, and rings the bell by herself. The test was failed, and Kate didn't earn the exemption.

Trap University: The players are taken to the University of Seville. They broke up into two groups. The first group was directed to solve eight brain teaser puzzles. For each correct answer, $15,000 would be added to the pot. Afterwards, the team was taken on a long, rather winding tour of the university campus. They arrived at a classroom where they saw the second team, live on video, solving the same puzzles. For each puzzle they solved, $15,000 would be deducted. The second team was not aware that they were costing money. One "runner" from the first group would then have to find his/her way back to the room, and convince the other team to stop working. The initial team successfully solved five of the brain-teasers, and the second team solved one.

Telephone call: Before the quiz, each player was allowed a five-minute phone call to a family member.

Fake Production Notebook test: During routine one-on-one interviews, the production crew purposely left behind a fake production notebook. A hidden camera watched the players after the crew had left the room to see if they would read it. No penalties were at stake. Charlie, Henry, Jennifer, Jim, Kate, and Steven didn't read it. However, Kathryn took the bait, raising suspicion.

Episode 5

Sheep herding: Two players are chosen as the "counting" group. Their test is to herd sheep into a pen, and count them. Three dogs are provided to help, but only one is trained to herd sheep. If they successfully herd the sheep, $20,000 is added to the pot. If they count the number of sheep correctly, an additional $10,000 is added. The players succeeded at the main mission, but failed to earn the bonus.

Art: The other two players are chosen as the "arty" group. Their test is to create a piece of artwork which will be displayed in a real art gallery amongst many fine conceptual art pieces. They have countless items in a workshop at their disposal. After completing the piece, a professional art critic is brought in to see if she could spot their work and distinguish it from the authentic pieces. If they fool her and she choses the wrong piece, $20,000 will be added to the pot. If the other two players (who played the sheep herding game) could pick out their piece, an additional $20,000 would be added. The players failed at this mission.

Trust: The four players are asked to list the player whom they most and least wish would get executed. Steve is selected by the group as least wanted to be executed. Steve must convince the other three players to be blindfolded and participate in a challenging task. Depending on their decisions, the following outcomes would result.::1. If all three players complete their challenge, $60,000 is added to the pot, and Steve receives an exemption.::2. If two players complete their challenge, $60,000 is added to the pot.::3. If only one player completes their challenge, no money is added to the pot, and that one player receives an exemption.::4. If no players complete their challenge, no money is added to the pot, and Steve receives an exemption.The three tasks are as follows: one player has to stand blindfolded against a wall as a knife thrower throws a hatchet at them. One player, blindfolded, has to run across hot coals. The third player has to walk a plank blindfolded off a bridge and over a ravine.

Steve was able to convince all three players to complete their task, however, none were as risky as suspected. The knife thrower did not throw the hatchet at Kathryn, he walked up and simply banged it into the wall. In addition, the coals Jim ran over ended up not being lit. Charlie's task was the only one with some danger, however, he was strapped to harnesses, and could not have fallen.

Episode 8

Three Questions: The three remaining players are asked personal and revealing questions about each other. One by one, each player is hidden in a village. The two other players are asked the same questions, and must try to match the answers given by the hidden player. After each response, the two players go either left or right in a fork in the road. If they answer all three questions correctly, they will successfully guide themselves through the village and find the hidden player. If they make just one wrong answer, they will go down the wrong fork in the road and will not find the hidden player. Each round is worth $10,000, for a maximum of $30,000. Two of three tests were passed.

Three Rooms: The final test sees the players check into a hotel in Ronda, Spain. All three players are locked in separate rooms, each with a different environment, different clues and different objects and resources. All three must use what they have in their rooms to figure out how to contact the others, and escape to the lobby within 90 minutes. If all three meet Anderson within the alloted time, $75,000 is added to the pot. According to clues during the game, this test occurred on the final full day of filming, October 19, 2000. The players failed at this test.

Final quiz: Steven, Jim, and Kathryn took the final quiz. The finalist who scores the highest on the 25-question final quiz will win the game and the grand prize of $510,000 out of a possible $1,050,000.

Episode 9

The details of the final quiz were revealed. After taking the final quiz, the three finalists were given the results that same night. The three players sat one at a time to watch the screen to see if they were executed. Jim was sent home as the final victim, while Steve was informed he was the winner. The results, however, were to be kept a secret. Four months later, the executed players were reunited to see the results of the final quiz. Highlights of the season, including sabotage, and "moleish" behavior was documented, as well as secret hidden clues. Kathryn is revealed to be the mole, with Steven the winner of $510,000, and Jim the runner-up, the final player executed.

Mole Sabotage

Hostage Rescue: Kathryn was part of the land-based team, and recognized that all the teams were making numerous errors. She figured out early that they were at the wrong fort, but convinced the players to look again and stalled them. She wasted enough time that Jennifer's disappearance factored into the players losing the challenge.

Cartier: The team had to decide which watch was authentic, and which was fake. Kathryn tried repeatedly to stall, and insisted on asking for additional assistance. Even though she slipped up and said "let's pull the trigger" (the other players did not yet know a gun would be part of the game), no one seriously suspected her.

Production Vans test: Charlie was caught looking through the crew's production vans, increasing suspicion on him and lessening suspicion on Kathryn.

Dice game: Kathryn discussed with Wendi the day before that if asked, she would not shave her head for money. The dice game was staged such that Kathryn's task was to do just that: shave her head. Since she was planning for her wedding in a couple months, she refused to do the task, had a good excuse, and avoided suspicion.

Laser tag: Considering the difficulty of the game, and having reasonable suspicion that the game was unwinnable anyway, Kathryn kept a low profile. She did little to help, and simply allowed the other players to mess the game up. The game failed miserably, and she avoided all suspicion.

Three routes: Kathryn purposely chose to be part of the "resourceful" team. She knew the van would eventually break down, so she attempted to waste time having Steve try to fix it. She also purposely missed a turnoff, and blamed Steve for poor navigation.

Fake Production Notebook test: Kathryn was the only person to read the fake production notebook, raising suspicion about her.

Fortress test: Kathryn took the interior, and admitted to all other players that her position was "weak." Her complaints were largely ignored. She was able to inform the agressors of the weak security inside, and made a feeble attempt to defend it. The other players broke down afterwards, and blame was diverted elsewhere.

Art: Kathryn noticed that the professional pieces of art were very simple. Her strategy was to throw as much junk as possible into their piece, such that it would stand out as complex from the others. The art critic even stated that the jewels were a give-away.

Trust: The producers did not give Kathryn any information about the test, so that she would exhibit genuine fear. After she fainted, she felt she had to go through with the task, otherwise it would stand out as obvious sabotage.

Hotel rooms: After being given all of the information ahead of time about the rather difficult and complex test, Kathryn attempted to guide Steve and Jim though the test, and be seen as the hero who won the test for the group. She thought that winning the game would cause one last bit of confusion for the other players. Both Steve and Jim, however, were unable to pick up on her (rather obvious) clues, and the test failed.

During the final episode, it was revealed that Kathryn struggled to keep her cover as the mole at certain times during the four weeks of filming. She started crying after Manuel and Charlie were executed, feeling sorry for them. In the later parts of the show, she broke down during the three questions test (after a stinging question about whether she would cheat on her soon-to-be husband), and also broke down in her room during the hotel room test about her role in the game.

Hidden Clues

Episode 1:

*"Opening Shots": During the opening scene when the players arrived, Kathryn was the fourth to arrive, and the word Mole has four letters in it.

*"Night out in Paris": When some of the players were asked to repack the other players' belongings into the official mole bags, Anderson held up Kathryn's bag as an example.

Episode 2:

*"Cartier": Kathryn gave herself away when she said "...pull the trigger." Anderson never told the team (Henry, Kate, and Kathryn) about a gun until later.

Episode 5:

*"Monologue": During Anderson's monologue at the beginning of the episode, he said "Henry paid the Price. He was the Mole's 4th Victim." The two clues were the number four (again refering to the number of letters in the word Mole), and Kathryn's last name is Price.

References