Unfortunately, I must admit I was not as entertaining on tours as Tom Green was in the movie Road Trip.
Earlier that summer, I had begun giving flight lessons and was busy applying to any airline with a website (a still somewhat new concept in 2006), hoping to move into the regional airline world and start my flying career. During the slow winter months, especially during the winter break at college, I was spending more time back home at my parents' house, an hour or two north of the city, while simultaneously trying to spend as much time at my "home" with my girlfriend (now my wife) and gaining flight hours by flight instructing.
On one of my trips home, with my girlfriend in tow, my parents told me they planned to watch a reality show that had been on ABC years earlier. As a family, we had all fallen in love with the first season or two of Survivor. My (now) wife and I had really gotten into The Amazing Race around then, so when we heard it described as "Survivor and The Amazing Race met the board game Clue," we decided to give it a try.
We popped in the DVD, and within minutes, I was hooked, and I could tell my wife was also.
To be honest and upfront, I have never gone back and watched this show (or any reality show), so I don't know how it holds up in 2026. Honestly, it's hard to go back and watch any game show or reality program, especially once you've seen the outcome. But in my mind and memory, The Mole is one of the greatest reality game shows ever created.
On January 9, 2001, a reality competition unlike any other premiered on ABC, thrusting a group of ordinary Americans into a high-stakes psychological thriller disguised as a game show. Hosted by the then-relatively unknown Anderson Cooper, the series challenged contestants to collaborate on missions across exotic locales, all while harboring various levels of paranoia. One member of the group was "The Mole," a secret saboteur tasked with undermining their efforts to build a shared grand prize.
The goal of the show? Accumulate as much money for the group's "bank" as possible through puzzles, physical competitions, and strategic decision-making, then identify the traitor in a final quiz to claim it all.
As we look back on this groundbreaking show on its 25th anniversary, its appeal is more apparent than ever. In an era dominated by social experiments like "Big Brother" or "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire," The Mole stood out for its focus on cerebral challenges. It rewarded observation skills, intuition, and ruthless analysis over physical prowess or camera-ready charisma.
Of course, knowing what we know now about how reality shows are deceptively edited, the point may be moot. I choose to believe this was not the case for The Mole, as reality shows like Survivor and Amazing Race were still relatively "mostly real" at the time. Obviously, the show knew who "The Mole" was, so it presented each episode in a way that kept the secret hidden.
Adapted from the 1999 Belgian show "De Mol," the American version of The Mole was so successful that it spawned international versions in over 60 countries. The United States version set the tone for a subgenre of deception-based reality television.
The first season of The Mole featured ten contestants. Nine of them were genuine players, and one was a covert Mole, all selected from a nationwide casting call in August 2000. Unlike any of the polished influencers on today's reality show circuit, these were relatable civilians, including a mix of professionals, retirees, and adventurers whose life stories fueled suspicions from the get-go.
Anderson Cooper brought a calm, journalistic detachment to the series, narrating executions (eliminations) with a gravitas that gave the series a James Bond vibe. At 33, Cooper was not yet the well-known CNN host he is today, and fresh off his run at ABC News, his youthful professionalism made him a perfect guide through the game's intellectual challenges and moral ambiguities.
Leading the pack of contestants was Steven Cowles, a 30-year-old undercover policeman from Denver, Colorado. He took to the game with an analytical mind. However, his calm, detailed observation of the smallest events and his real-world profession immediately created anxiety and suspicion amongst the other members of the team.
Jim Morrison, besides having a fantastic name, was a 29-year-old helicopter pilot from New Jersey. His laid-back demeanor, along with his side job (he's also an attorney), helped him make it to the final three as he forged key coalitions and demonstrated sharp quiz-taking skills.
Charlie McGowan, a 63-year-old retired New York Police detective, had an investigative mindset. Along with his desire for clandestine "alliances," he was immediately a strong suspect as "The Mole."
Afi Ekulona, the 23-year-old actress and performer, had a vibrant personality. She was often energetic in the physical challenges, but occasionally too over-the-top, which aroused suspicion and led to her early elimination from the competition for not paying close enough attention.
Henry Wentz, a 23-year-old bartender from Miami, Florida, was often seen as unpredictable and brought a great deal of enthusiasm and levity to the show. Unfortunately, with the good time he was having, he didn't notice as many details as some of the others and was eliminated in an early episode.
Jennifer Biondi, the 35-year-old Communications Manager from San Jose, California, navigated the social dynamics well but struggled with the details. She was eliminated as the field narrowed.
Kathleen "Kate" Pahls was one of the older players at 55. However, this real estate investor from Cincinnati, Ohio, had a keen eye and was quite observant, but in the end, was the 6th member "executed."
Kathryn Price, a 28-year-old Chicago-based lawyer and law school lecturer, relied on her courtroom skills, appearing composed and strategic throughout the series. Kathryn made it to the finale and the final three members of the team.
Wendi Wendt was a visual display artist, bringing youth and straightforwardness. The 29-year-old from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was eliminated quickly from the series after failing to help the team in several key missions.
And lastly, there was Manuel Herrera, a 42-year-old event coordinator from Oxnard, California. He was the first eliminated from the series, although this surprised some of the players.
This ensemble of various backgrounds was no accident. The producers at Stone Stanley Entertainment sought diversity across age, profession, and personality. As Anderson Cooper noted in a 2001 interview, the "...beauty of the cast is that everyone has a motive to sabotage. Whether it's their job, their quirks, or just survival."
The Mole's identity remained hidden from viewers until the finale, with subtle clues planted throughout the editing process to keep audiences guessing. This was the best part of the show: the audience itself wasn't sure who The Mole truly was. Had we found out in the first episode and then just followed along to see if the cast could figure it out, the show wouldn't have been as enjoyable. Instead, we, the audience, had to put on our detective caps and figure it out for ourselves.
Filmed primarily in France, Monaco, and Spain (with a kickoff in California's Mojave Desert), Season One unfolded over nine episodes from January 9 to February 28, 2001.
The structure was quite simple. Players tackled missions to add funds to a pot capped at $1,000,000, while The Mole subtly (or not-so-subtly) attempted to derail each mission. At episode's end, a 20-question quiz tested knowledge of The Mole's actions and traits; the lowest scorer was "executed" via a dramatic green-screen reveal. Players could win exemptions from quizzes, which added layers of strategy. These exemptions were often won through individual challenges that popped up throughout the series.
Episode One, which aired on January 9, 2001, began with the ten contestants meeting in the Mojave Desert in California. There, they successfully completed a high-stakes skydiving challenge by all jumping tandem from a plane, earning $75,000 for the pot. They were then flown to Paris, France, where they were allowed to spend the night out. Tensions rose when Manuel pushed to break the curfew rules (he was ultimately overruled, thereby avoiding a penalty). The team then excelled at a memory-based puzzle challenge, adding $50,000 to the pot despite a $15,000 penalty for Wendi's rule violation by discussing personal information. The total pot reached $115,000, and during the quiz, Manuel was the first player eliminated, even though he suspected one of the eventual final four was "The Mole."
Episode Two, airing January 16, 2001, finds the group relocating to Monte Carlo, Monaco. The players discover that Steven had been "kidnapped" overnight and shackled to a prison cell in Cannes. Splitting into search teams, they failed to rescue him in time, earning $0 of the possible $50,000. Three players (Henry, Kate, and Kathryn) correctly identify a fake Cartier watch, adding $20,000 to the pot of winnings. A hidden camera then catches Charlie snooping through the production vans for "clues," heightening suspicions among the cast and audience. In a nighttime cornfield maze, leaders guide blindfolded followers, but each team failed, missing out on $60,000. By the end of the second episode, the pot had grown to $135,000, and Afi was executed.
The third episode, airing January 21, 2001, finds the cast in Seville, Spain. The eight remaining players faced charging bulls in a ring, successfully completing their tasks to earn $65,000. Three players handled "dirty laundry" by washing loads in separate village locations, adding another $10,000. In a dice game, the players rolled to "earn" an unsavory task. Many failed at their task, but Kate completed all four tasks offered to her (including posing nude, casting her legs, and dyeing her hair). This earned the team $40,000 and an exemption for herself. The pot rose to $250,000, and Wendi was "executed" at the end of the episode as the late-night drama exploded over who was deliberately sabotaging each mission and who was deflecting.
While still in Spain for Episode Four (airing January 30, 2001), the group selected Kate to relax as a reward for winning all four competitions during the previous episode. The others, in laser tag vests, rescue her from "snipers" in a village. They failed and missed out on $30,000. At the University of Seville, teams solved puzzles in a trap setup, with one group's successes deducted from the others. In the end, they won only $60,000 of the possible $120,000. Hidden cameras caught several more suspicious behaviors, prompting the cast to point fingers at one another. In the end, the pot reached $310,000, and Henry was the fourth member to be executed.
Episode Five aired on February 6, 2001, and began as the remaining six players were divided into "smart," "resourceful," and "stupid" pairs. Their task was to find the hotel in Jerez, Spain. The "stupid" team was brought directly to the hotel for lavish spa treatments, while the "smart" team was given a Smart car, a map, a cell phone, and a few clues. The "resourceful" team was given a broken-down truck filled with odd items, including a scooter, a bicycle, a life raft, and even live geese. The "Smart" team arrives at the hotel in time, bringing the pot to $370,000 total winnings. After nearly three weeks of seclusion, a mystery "loved one" for each of the six players arrives. The players are given six statements from each "loved one" and must match each statement to its intended recipient. For each correct answer, $5,000 was added to the pot; they got four correct. However, all players were allowed to reunite with their families. Jennifer was executed at the end of the episode, declining to name The Mole but claiming that Kathryn and Steven had a pact to work together.
Episode Six (February 13, 2001) starts off with a penalty. A $20,000 penalty was imposed after Kathryn and Steven were found in Jim's room, breaking room-confinement rules, and suspicions immediately rose among the others. The five remaining contestants are left to defend an abandoned fortress overnight with paintball guns against attacking "aggressors." They fail to stop the aggressors in the capture-the-flag-style game. Later, they decipher clues in a Spanish library to find train tickets. Despite several "mix-ups," they all board successfully, adding $60k to the pot, which now sits at $410,000. Kate was the sixth team member executed.
The seventh episode (February 20, 2001) found the remaining team members heading to a farm, where they were tasked with herding sheep. They are provided three dogs to help them, but only one of the dogs has actually been trained to herd sheep. Somehow, they manage to add $20,000 to the bank, but fail to earn several bonuses. Afterward, the team creates art to fool an art critic, but fails the challenge and earns no additional winnings. During a trust challenge, Steven convinces all three other blindfolded players to face frightening tasks (revealed to be safe), earning $60,000 and an exemption from execution. The pot hits $490,000, and Charlie is "executed," leaving only Steven, Jim, and Kathryn as the final three. One of them is The Mole!
Episode Eight (February 27, 2001) is technically the final episode of the competition, with the next episode set to reveal the winner... and "The Mole." The final three members answer personal questions to locate hidden players in a village and, in two of three rounds, win an additional $20,000. While locked in seperate hotel rooms with various clues, they attempt to communicate with one another and escape to meeti n the lobby within a 90 minute deadline. The three fail, missing out on another $75,000. The final pot is now locked in at $510,000. After an emotional dinner that invites reflection on the journey (including betrayals and suspicions), the episode ends with the three remaining contestants taking the ultimate quiz to determine the saboteur's identity.
Episode Nine aired immediately following the last episode, but took place "Live," four months after the previous episode was filmed. In a reunion episode format, previously executed players gathered in the studio with the final contestants and Anderson Cooper to reveal the results of the final quiz amid season highlights, hidden sabotages, and not-so-obvious clues. During filming of the 8th episode, the quiz results were given to each contestant, but they were kept secret from one another for four months until this reunion episode aired.
** Warning - 25 YEAR OLD SPOILERS BELOW**
In the end, Steven answered 16 of 25 questions correctly to win the grand prize of $510,000. Jim answered 13 correctly... meaning Kathryn was The Mole all along!
It turns out that Charlie, the police detective, had suspected Kathryn from the first day and had unwittingly given the information to the eventual winner, Steven.
The show cost $2 million to produce, with the skydiving bit in the first episode alone costing $150,000, yet the winnings were over $500,000 thanks to the efficiency of its filming.
ABC considered Anderson Cooper a gamble. He was nearly cut early on for being "too stiff," but audiences liked his deadpan delivery and monotone steadiness.
Filming wrapped in 28 days across 12 cities, with players spending time in luxury hotels (unlike Survivor's wilderness), earning the nickname "The Glamor Mole."
Season One averaged about 8 million viewers and was critically lauded as "the smartest reality show." Yet its Friday-night "death slot" on ABC doomed it to ratings it deserved. Following its post-9/11 hiatus (Season Two) and Celebrity editions (Seasons 3 and 4), the magic was only diluted, leading to a 2008 cancellation.
Netflix picked up the series in 2021, initially streaming Seasons 1 and 2. Viewership was enough that the streaming service revived the show with a new season in 2022, hosted by Alex Wagner. Seasons 6 and 7 modernized the series with a very diverse cast and "worldly" settings (Australia and Malaysia). Netflix reports that over 100 million hours were spent watching the series.
The Netflix reboot was criticised for being "too youthful" and for some forced political commentary, compared to the original's "everyman" escapist-thriller vibe.
Twenty-five years later, The Mole endures as a reminder of television's power to probe a nation's psyche. From the first moments in the Mojave Desert to Kathryn's unmasking as The Mole, it wove trust and treachery into addictive television.
It also served as a mirror to our modern age. We live in a world of fake news, deepfake videos, and divided homes. As the original winner, Steven, mused in 2022, "We are all moles in someone else's story."
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