New 'Mole' worthy of the name
Posted: Monday, June 02, 2008 8:00 PM by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper
Filed Under:
TV
On Monday, Andy Dehnart previewed the return of "The Mole" to ABC, and asked the question: Can the return of this cult favorite live up to fans' good memories?
I've just watched the first episode, and my answer to that question is simple: YES. I loved the original "Mole," and I think this new version has found the magic again.
Start with the host: Anderson Cooper, the host of the original series, was classy, smart and poised. He never seemed to put himself on a pedestal above the contestants (no sneering "Ohhhh, you're competing on a REALITY SHOW" attitude), but neither did he ever lower himself. He stayed smart, hip and cool, and so did the show. The new host, former "Extra" correspondent Jon Kelley, is a fine Cooper successor. He comes across as likable, bright, and confident. He'll be a good guide through the show.
"The Mole" must have an especially great casting staff for its contestants as well, because the group of 12 participants is a diverse, nice mix. A doctor. A neuroscientist. A history teacher. A stay-at-home mom. A utility worker. An artist, who reminds me more than a little bit of every comic-book geek I've ever known.
Sure, the show has class, but it has that good ol' reality-show drama as well. Right away on the first episode, a contestant pulled a diva trip, when OB-GYN Nicole refused to go to sleep since she wasn't allowed to sleep indoors. (Does she also refuse to deliver certain babies if they don't want to be born at the right time?) Retired 60-year-old Liz may be the oldest participant, but she belied her looks by grabbing a moneybag from a zipline while soaring over a waterfall -- something many of the younger folks couldn't handle. History teacher Mark laid out his own reasons for wanting the cash, saying he and his wife had always both worked two jobs and he wanted her to be able to stay home with their three kids.
But what always makes "The Mole" stand on its own is the ingenious premise. Someone is The Mole, someone is sabotaging the other players.
Was it one of the scavengers in the beach challenge, who perhaps overlooked the teakettle or tobacco pouch that would have earned them cash, or who wasted time bringing back stupid items, such as an electric fan? Or someone else who may have just lagged behind, whining about being tired, not pushing him or herself to compete quickly? You can try and pick up clues not only from the missions, but from the faces of the players when they watch the green screen at the end of the game, hoping they aren't executed. Does someone look as if he or she has a reason to NOT be scared, as in...the Mole, who would know he or she was safe?
I'm glad I'm not on the show, because I would fail the "Who is the Mole?" quiz pretty quickly. But I know who I'd like to have it be. I think it would be fun to see the Mole turn out to be retiree Liz, or gabby Paul, or friend-to-everyone Craig.
Monday nights just got a lot more interesting.
