The Mole - Behind the Scenes

Episode 10

So, it was you Craig.  The fun, lovable teddy bear.   Who knew that you were capable of such dastardly works of sabotage?  What's even more impressive is that you were able to play dumb the entire time (Craig actually posseses a high octane intellect of the 143 IQ variety).  Honestly, I'm just sad to see it all end.  I had the chance to see the cast again for the finale and everyone was exactly how I remembered them.  Except, of course, that Nicole and Alex totally were c-r-u-s-h-i-n-g on each other.  At least, in my opinion.  I honestly believe I saw sparks between those two.  Just another example of how The Mole always manages to surprise you -- even if you think you got it all figured out.

Case in point:  right before the finale, Mark watched the final episode.  At the end, he watches as Clay tells Nicole that he voted for Craig.  Uh oh.  Watching that hit him like a rock.  For Mark, $420,000 came down to one simple question:  did Clay tell him the truth.  Even in a small hotel room, outside of LAX, just hours before the finale -- this game was as potent as ever.

When I asked Mark how he felt, about it he said,"That’s what I wanted out of this.  Every emotion. I wanted to be done panting saying this was just a thrill.  And I feel that way.  I'm sitting here right now ... I don't know.  I honestly don't know... and for me that's fun."

Now, that's a gamer.  Congrats, Mark.  And so another great season draws to a close.  From the Andes to the hipster boulevards of Buenos Aires, it was a trip I won't soon forget.  Thanks to everyone who made this insane show possible:  the cast, the crew, the fans and, of course, one lovable, huggable graphic designer from San Diego, California.

Until next time,
Matt

Episode 9

And it all comes down to this.   Craig, Mark and Nicole.  Our first mission was "Tick Tock Boom" and it definitely went down to the wire.  The answer:   CUT WIRE THAT IS RED + BLUE wasn't easy to unscramble.  Earlier that day, our segment producers cornered people on the crew and asked, "Hey, wanna help us prototype a clue for today's mission?"  I personally spent a good half-hour on that thing and came up with something like "BURP LER DER LUBE."  Not so  hot.  The RED + BLUE = PURPLE discovery was really a lucky break for those guys -- had it said "DON’T CUT RED + BLUE," they would've been up a proverbial creek.

Once again, the only suspicious activity appeared to be coming from NICOLE.  What ... now, she can't read maps?  It raised the same question I've had from day 1:  is Nicole the Mole or is she simply incompetent/insane?  I'm still trying to figure that one out ...  Speaking of which, when we got to the final mission, Doctor Diva had returned with a vengeance.  As you've seen, Nicole is very Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde ... you can never tell who or what is going to show up on a given day.  Like when she lied to us about getting "dulce de leche" ice cream ... or couldn't be bothered to find an Argentinian flag ... or hung up on our affable host Jon Kelley.  Now, that was classic.  Meanwhile, Craig and Mark were busting at full speed to make it to that bridge.  Incidentally, one of the locals told me that landmark was built by narco-traffickers as a visual homage to well ... you can probably guess.  After saying that out loud, I'm starting to think the local was pulling a fast one on me...

When Mark decided to pay $75,000 for the Mole's dossier, you could see the concern on Craig and Nicole's faces.  With every question counting on the final quiz, Mark's choice could have been the turning point of the game.  Or he could just be taking $75,000 out of the pot as his final Moley gesture...

What really fascinated me were some of the conversations I had with the final three in their hotel rooms in those final days.  Actually just one in particular ... I was talking with Nicole in her room when she suddenly pulled out a guitar pick from her pants pocket.  And not just any guitar pick ... it was Alex's.  And then it hit me in one fell swoop ... Alex and Nicole totally were crushing on each other!

There's some great "behind-the-scenes" video where she gushes about him that might be too hot for tv -- but let me tell you, it was a complete shocker for me.  Just when you think you've figured this game out, it always throws you a curveball.  Needless to say, now that we're back in the States, everyone on the cast, crew and staff is dying to know who actually IS the mole.

Only one more week and the secret shall be revealed.  I can't wait...

Episode 8

This episode was shot on the grounds of a creepy, abandoned mill on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. It looked like the backdrop of a first-person shooter video game: eerie tumbleweeds, bright yellow caution signs written in Spanish and broken window panes.  To top it off, most of us were wearing protective masks which only added to the overall aesthetic.

"How’s The View?" was really fun -- especially as a spectator.  Imagine shaving while you're looking at yourself through a mirror that's reflected in another ... basically it's nearly impossible.  It reminded me of an old game I used to play in elementary school.  You can actually try this at home.  Stretch out your arms and cross your right arm over your left.  Turn your palms to face one another and tightly (that's the key) interlock your fingers.  Now, bend your elbows to create a right angle and rotate your clasped hands down and around so that your pinkies are in front of your face.  Without touching them, have someone choose random fingers and ask you to lift them.  Because your fingers are crossed and inverted, you'll find that your brain will get confused and lift one finger instead of the one you intended.  That's just a taste of what it was like for these guys.

Once "Cell Out" began, however, things took a much more serious tone.  As soon as Jon announced there was an exemption at stake, the players were on pins and needles.  As always, Mark proved to be a formidable adversary by blazing through the doublet in near record time.  (I believe one of our PA's solved it in 33 seconds.)  We also had a dictionary at the ready in case the players created a four-letter word that we'd never heard of ... like "pell."

Behind the scenes, Paul was very concerned about his future in the game ... if Mark wasn't the Mole, that meant he had a 50/50 shot of going home.  Normally, Paul's strategy was to start an argument just before quiz time in order to throw players off their game.  This time was no exception and Paul somehow started a HUGE fight with Mark on the way to location.  Since Mark had an exemption, though, Paul's exact motives were unclear...

Although cameras weren't rolling, it apparently began when Paul started talking about his eyebrow ring.  When trying to book emcee gigs at weddings, Paul said it was a problem for some customers -- so he took it out.  Mark chimed in that people with tattoos often have the same problem.  From there, it escalated into a discussion of social mores, stereotypes and ultimately ended with Mark fuming to the point of tears/rage in a dark alleyway.  No question -- Paul is a master at getting under people's skin.

Meanwhile, I have no idea what's happening ... I'm at the spooky quiz station (standing in a pool of stagnant water) in an empty warehouse waiting for Mark.  Five minutes goes by.  Ten minutes.  Over the walkies, I started hearing reports of a blow out ... "[crackle ... hiss -- Mark and Paul have to be separated right now ... crackle -- stand by ... big fight in the van ... hissss].  Needless to say, whatever transpired really shook up both of the players.  Neither of them wanted to discuss EXACTLY what went down, but when Paul was  executed, I think Mark felt bad that they never got to bury the hatchet. 

Guess that's what reunions are for!

Either way, Paul knew he was a goner.  As the players sat down for their final execution, Paul had already started saying his goodbyes.  When the red thumbprint appeared, I have to say it was pretty sad.  For all of his histrionics, Paul was good people and entertaining to watch.  Watch out Mole  –- your days are numbered.

Episode 7

I'm not the type that gets homesick.  In my opinion, once you hit puberty, you should be able to handle being away from home for a few weeks without an emotional breakdown.  ESPECIALLY if you're an adult on the adventure of a lifetime ... it's important to put things in perspective.  Win $500,000 and you'll be able to spend more than enough QT with the fam.

But that's the strange thing about reality shows.  Combine the stress of travel with the tension of the game and contestants start to forget about the big picture. By the time we hit Buenos Aires, the homesick grumblings had risen from a whisper to a constant din.  "I miss my family!  I miss my wife! I think I want to go home!"  Thankfully, help was on the way.

It was really interesting to see how everyone's softer side came out when their folks arrived ... especially Paul.  Despite his tough guy exterior, seeing him play with his daughter cast him in a different light with everyone -- including Nicole.  I must say that Paul's daughter Alexa was preternaturally intelligent.  The girl from Yonkers is only two, but she was sooooo well behaved, loquacious and expressive.   Another good apple from the big one.

Can I be honest though?  As a spectator, I was really disappointed when the train door opened for Tori and Alexa.  Deep down, in a place I don't like to talk about, I was secretly hoping that Paul's reunion would be thwarted.  Can you imagine?  He probably would've jumped on the back of the train, punched through the glass and ridden off with his family into the dark tunnels of the Subte.  Talk about good tv!  Before the reveal, Jon and I were trying to map out exactly how he would subdue Paul if that actually happened.  I'm not even kidding.

Watching the family members interact was also fun.  Behind the scenes, Nicole's mom was a h-a-n-d-f-u-l.  She got into one spat with a handler about him telling her what to do and who does he think he is she can do what she wants when she wants and then some. I loved it. There's no question: Nicole's spunk definitely runs in the family!

If Clay hadn't gone home this episode, I definitely would've tabbed him as The Mole.  His self-proclaimed status as a "math genius" seemed pretty dubious when you consider 1947-1492 was a stumper for him during "Go Figure."  Add 8 to 1492 to make it 1500 subtract 1947 from that and then subtract 8 again?  Wha-whaat?  Then, all of a sudden, he's able to crack the Fibonacci sequence and ultimately save the day?  That's why I was SHOCKED when he became The Mole's next victim ...especially after all of Nicole's self-execution talk.

Speaking of which, Nicole's professed approach to the quiz sounded eerily similar to a move I pulled on my Dad when I was 14.  I played him at chess for the first time, won and refused to ever play him again.  This way, he could never say he beat me.   To paraphrase: "If I try to answer correctly and get executed, that means the guys win.  But if I self-execute, that means they never beat me."  Hmmm.  Given Nicole's apparent inability to be executed, it'll be interesting to see who's left standing next week...

Episode 6

Whenever you travel, a panic sets in when you realize you still have to buy gifts for people back home.  Not this time.  Nearly all of the crew scored in Mendoza: ordering crates of Argentine Malbec (or stuffing their suitcases with bottles to take home.)  A few hours later, the players were trying to find their very own bottles under the warm Mendoza sun.

It wasn't going to be easy.  I knew first hand because I'd prototyped the mission myself.  I'm a pretty avid runner, so I played the role of MARK and jogged on the treadmill while my "teammates" and I tried to solve the clues.  After we discovered our fifth bottle, the treadmill was going so fast it flat out broke.  With no time to wait for the replacement,  I just ran up and down the dirt roads until the seventh bottle made its way home.  Needless to say, it was hot and exhausting.  These guys had their work cut out for them.

Back at the chalkboard, things were getting a bit testy.  Did you hear Paul say Nicole has a "hairy" ass?  That's some really ugly 4th grade smack talk, if you ask me.  I think Paul did strike a nerve when he said, "I thought you were a Doctor?"  in response to her subpar performance on the brain teasers. Truth be told, Nicole DOES talk a lot about how she’s a doctor and how smart she is.  I think we were all a little disappointed in her performance that day.  Then again, Mark a.k.a "the Teacher" was pretty bad at Crusoe...

I also started to notice something quite bizarre:  a brewing romance between Nicole and Alex.  Yeah, you heard me!  When you're isolated with a strange group of people, weird things start to happen.  On the streets of Chicago, I doubt she'd ever give him the time of day.  Behind the scenes?   I started seeing playful touches to the shoulder, pinching and the like.  It was a little like 5th grade, where the girl has a crush but can't quite admit to herself that it's happening. But when you see Nicole's reaction at the execution, it's quite telling.  In fact, I think there may have been some reciprocity in the feelings department...(guess you'll have to wait for the reunion to see what I'm talking about). 

It reminds me a lot of what we call a "showmance"; a term often used in our line of work.  Basically, it refers to the odd and fleeting couplings that can occur during the production of a show.  Banish 100 twenty somethings to a distant corner of the earth for a few weeks and strange things are bound to happen.  Same thing with the players.  Of course, when the show ends ... the relationship typically does as well.  We'll see if Nicole and Alex have what it takes to make it last (or even get it started).

Then there was "Swing Out."  Scary stuff.  Yes ... we were all worried that the ropes were going to snap during Craig's jump.  To be honest, I was more concerned about the structural integrity of the bridge.  You could honestly hear the support beams of the bridge creaking and moaning under Craig's enormous heft. 

I also loved Mark's battle cry as he leapt off the bridge. "Shi-iikes!"  I think I might use that...

After the mission, Jon was crazy enough to try the jump himself.  As an athlete, he really wanted to see if he could score a bullseye.  Jon definitely had the best jump of the day.  Not only did he hit $4K, but he also did the old "Heisman" pose as he flew off the plank AND maintained solid eye contact with the camera.  The guy really is an all-star human.

So, we're down to five.  Even though some of my prime suspects have been executed, next week's episode was a REAL shocker for me...

Episode 5

The Andes were brutal.  Without steaming heads, snow or frosted breath, it's
hard to convey the temperature ... but it was really, really cold.  Needless
to say, we were all really invested in the "All for One" outcome.  If the
players hit a impasse and chose to stay all night, most of us would've had
to stay as well.  It's amazing how freezing temps and chains can help
facilitate compromise.

Then, of course, we had the infamous lemon incident.  Wow.  Let me say that
Clay absolutely deconstructed Paul in that van.  No question.  I used to
practice law and Clay's method was the direct consequence of his training.   
Just like soldiers, lawyers are trained to take someone's arguments, find
flaws and dismantle them.  Clay zeroed right in on Paul's insecurities and
exploited them, i.e. his lack of higher education.  Paul responded in kind
with claims of hypocrisy and questions about Clay's moral character.  And
things just went from there...

For me, this fight was one of the high points of the game.  Ultimately, The
Mole is about getting inside someone else's head.  It's a chess match and
these were two fierce competitors tussling over mental supremacy.  Once Clay
threw the lemon, however, I'd say he lost some cool points.  Of course, Paul
had thrown money at him first so I suppose they were even...

When we finally arrived in Mendoza, it was a sight for sore eyes.  Wine,
sunshine, breezy linen, casinos and tree-lined cobblestone streets.  Known
as the Napa valley of South America, Mendoza's reputation is truly
well-deserved.  If you happen to be in the area – you MUST check out Francis
Mallman's 1884 (ranked #7 in the world’s top ten restaurants).  It was
amazing.

After the lemonhead fracas, when "Travelers" rolled around, the players were
still pretty testy.  We'd gone from sub-Arctic conditions to resplendent sun
and 90 degree temperatures.  Throw in some scuba gear, a donkey and a llama
suit and things were bound to get heated.

At least the tension lead to one of my favorite quotes of the game so far:

"I'm not going to be an ass in an ass."  Nice!

Congratulations, Paul.  You’re now officially neck and neck with Bobby's
"You Suck at Life" in my Quote of the Season contest.

As far as the players' revolt, there was something poetic about it happening
at the foot of the Cerro de la Gloria ... since it's a monument celebrating
independence from the Spanish Empire.   Either way, it was exciting to see
the players completely flip the script.  It just goes to show you that you
never know what to expect in this game.  From flying lemons to revolutions,
things can change in an instant.  Even kind-hearted Craig got caught up in
the fever when he transformed into a ruthless "transpo captain" during
Travelers.  Maybe he was just channeling the spirit of the tyrannical
Spanish conquistadors...

Clearly, the stakes were getting much higher.  There was almost a palpable
sense of panic amongst the players.  Everyone was desperately looking for an
edge, of any kind, over the others.  Craig was gunning for the exemption.   
Paul and Clay were trying to get each other kicked out of the van (if not
the show!).  Even Kristen thought she'd try a novel strategy: going straight
down the line for one person on the quiz instead of playing the odds.

Oops.  Her decision to go all in obviously was a bust.  So that leaves us
with Nicole as the last woman standing.  Interesting.  Verrry interesting...

Episode 4

This episode, we were staying in a small town called Uspallata, Argentina.  It was tiny and quaint.  In fact, portions of the film "Seven Years in Tibet" were filmed there and it seems to have made quite an impact.  Small towns are like people in that regard.  Sometimes when they meet celebrities, they just can't stop talking about it.  What people/towns don’t realize, is that it's much cooler to feign indifference: yeah, Brad Pitt stayed here.  So what?  Better yet ... who is he?

Behind the scenes, all of the chatter was about our hotel.  It was very reminiscent of "The Shining" and had a "Dirty Dancing" meets "dictator's private retreat" vibe.   Rumors swirled about mysterious creatures dangling from shower ceilings and strange welts discovered by morning light.  You'd hear a creaky playground set in the distance and see a limping dog dragging her teats on the dirt road.  I mean, it was real.  Not to mention freezing cold.

Midas Rush was a tough one.  I'm a runner and the altitude really made an impact.  It's almost like you're having an asthma attack -- for some reason, you just can't get enough fresh air into your lungs.   I did the "Race to the Summit" run and to me, this was about 3x as hard.  When they wheeled off Craig, I was worried for the big guy.  At least, he finished the mission before succumbing to the elements. 

Victoria was fun to watch this episode.  At "Midas Rush," it was a bit strange when she didn't even fight Clay for the exemption.  That was very red flag for me.  But what seemed very Mole-ish, ended up being nothing more than apathy.   I also enjoyed Victoria's comment about Nicole during "Who Said That."  There's no question it rankled Nicole.   Later, Nicole mentioned off camera that Victoria’s "fame" dig was a typical put-down from one woman to another ... and didn't go unnoticed.   Nicole knew what was up.  Uh-oh.  I just hoped that wasn't code for someone dying in their sleep.

Naturally, I kept my eye on them.  They seemed to get along, but in that forced "we're acting so nice to each other we couldn't POSSIBLY hate each other!" way.  It's too bad Victoria went home, because I was really looking forward to seeing their passive aggression kick in to high gear.

At "Burn Journal Burn," Mark was livid.  No question.  There was even some tension between Mark and Jon for a few minutes!  It was all in the heat of the moment, but it was a fascinating dynamic to observe.  On any reality show, there's no doubt that the host interacts with the players in different ways.  But just like the secret inside jokes between a Jimmy Kimmel and his guest going to commercial, it's interesting to get a sneak peek.  Thankfully, by the next day, Mark had made his peace with the mission (and with Jon).  It's probably better that way since you never know what tricks Jon has up his sleeve...

As an amateur pyrotechnician (I earnestly pursued the craft as an adolescent), watching the set up for the journal burning was fun.  They had all sorts of gels, liquids, foams and powders that they put to use in setting up that blaze trail.  What you didn't see was that once the fire reached the table, of course, the books didn't catch right away.  We had to break for a minute to throw more fuel on the pile.  After that, it worked like a charm.

Long story short, the Andes were stark, harsh and gorgeous.   A perfect backdrop for an international espionage thriller.  And if you thought this week was tough, the next mission pushes the cast right up to their breaking point.

Stay tuned...

Episode 3

Whether you're a player or a producer, secrecy on The Mole is a top priority.  At many hotels, we'd run into Americans who were attending Some Random Conference With A Large Acronym (SRCWALA).  Riding up the elevator they'd ask, "What are y'all shooting?"  To be safe, we were told to say, "a documentary about whales."  Simple, boring and strangely effective.  In contrast, my explanations were often elaborate and involved either Mia Sara, Balthazar Getty and/or a race against time.  I mean, if I HAD to lie, why not make the most of it?  Seriously, what ever happened to Mia Sara?

Our first mission ("Fruit of the Luge") took place at a quirky amusement park called the "Rodelbahn" nestled in the mountains above Santiago.  The owner was this old German guy who relocated to South America years ago.  Don't know what he did before opening the amusement park, but the luge was definitely scary.  I went blindfolded and literally flew off the track at 50 mph.  I'm not even kidding.

Then it was on to "Dress Code."  As we waited outside the restaurant for the teams to arrive, we learned that a local news crew was spotted trying to film spoilers of our cast.  Rumors quickly spread that one of our local crew had tipped off friends in the Chilean media.  Apparently, even our production had a Mole.  A few minutes later, I spotted them across the street hiding behind a van with a shaky camcorder.  Since the players were about 5 minutes away I had to, as Jon Kelley put it, "flex" on them – which really just involved me standing in front of their cameras until they finally went away.

When Craig, Bobby and Nicole walked down the street, it was truly a sight to behold.  What you didn't see was when one local started yelling  "Pig" "Pig" "Pig" as Craig sauntered by.  It felt like junior high school in slow motion ... so bad it was almost surreal.  "I had the strangest dream last night -- I was walking around in this foreign country and all of my clothes were gone.  This one guy kept pointing and calling me a 'Pig' while I was followed by a camera crew."  Kudos to Craig for keeping his sense of humor under some pretty tough circumstances.

That wasn't the only strange moment during "Dress Code."  How about when that guy ripped off his shirt for Ali, Victoria and Kristen?  Honestly, it looked like we planted a male stripper in a small, Santiago suburb.  I don't know about you, but if 3 cute girls ever ask me to take off my shirt in the street, I really hope I do it like that guy ... with class.

Finally, it was time for an execution.  The location was definitely in my Top 3 for the show.  Mostly because I can’t wait to have this conversation: "Matt, have you been to the Eiffel Tower?"  "Of course, but my favorite Eiffel is the old Central Station in Santiago.  It’s absolutely magnificent."  I live for moments like that. 

Although you got a small glimpse on the show, Nicole really made quite a spectacle when Jon offered the bribe.   She'd stand up, look around, tap her foot and be all, "Oh, wow.  I think I should ... hmm.  Err.  $20,000?  For real?"  More consternation.  There was so much needless drama (and if a reality show guy is saying that -- it's saying something!), one of the EPs finally said, "Okay.  Here's the deal:  if your butt leaves the seat, you have accepted the bribe.  Everyone clear on that?"  When the cash hit $30,000, Ali popped out of her chair like she got pricked with a startle stick.  And that was that.

Would I have taken the money?  No way.  Think about it -- half of that goes straight to taxes -- so you’ve got $15,000 to play with.   Thanks, but no thanks.  If you make it to the final three, with hotels/meals/travel – I'm thinking you're probably close to $10,000 in expenses right there.  That's not even counting the value of the missions and, believe me, there are some big ones coming up. 
It's cliché, but the experience was priceless ... not to mention giving up a 1 in 9 chance of winning $500,000.  Odds or no odds, Ali's decision was just plain crazy. 

I mean, unless I was Bobby ... then taking the bribe makes total sense. 

Episode 2

In my mind, there are two basic approaches you can take as The Mole.  You
can fly under the radar, befriend everyone and try to sabotage with subtlety
and grace.  Or you can screw up missions so badly that no one will actually
think you're The Mole ... because it's way too obvious.  I'm starting to
think Bobby falls into that second category.

He's been so completely inept that I can't help but wonder if he's taking
the "I'm acting SO ridiculous that I couldn't possibly be The Mole" route. 
But what if he's just doing that to make us think he's The Mole?  But what
if he really IS the Mole?  Clearly, the mind games have begun.

When we arrived at the soccer field, I have to say -- I totally agreed with
the "Goal Oriented" players:  I thought they were going to DESTROY those
kids.  And I wasn't alone.  More than a few of us thought it might turn into
an anticlimactic cakewalk.  In my mind, they'd pass the ball to CLAY who
would barrel Will Farrell-style through a sea of helpless adolescents.  If
it took longer than 60 seconds, I would've been shocked.

Fourteen embarrassing points later, it ended up being a trouncing of epic
proportions.  On a small, dusty field in Santiago ... America got served.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain, Mark and Kristen
were just trucking along.  I loved their little exchange around the halfway
point.  Mark:  "I swear this is one of the hardest things I've ever done."
Kristen:  "I'm alright, actually."  Mark:  "Umm, you're not pushing the bike." 
He had a point.

But then Kristen innocently called him out: "Want me to push (the bike)?"
Mark's reply was a gruff, "No."  Did someone just get emasculated?  That's a
rhetorical question.  I think Mark was fully aware that Kristen could've
easily grabbed the bike and huffed it all the way up the hill.  I just don't
think his ego could've handled it.

When the mission was finally over, Paul went pitbull on Bobby and
deservedly so.  After all, Bobby DID say he was a soccer player.  I started
to notice that Bobby is one of those people that has great zingers -- but in
the heat of the moment --  he often comes up short.  I can sympathize because
I'm exactly the same way.

Perfect example:  when Bobby and Paul traded barbs at the execution.  Bobby's
burn on Paul?  "You can be competitive in this game and still be classy. 
Some people are competitive but not very classy."  Uhh, ok.  That's aight. 
The construction is a bit clumsy so I'll give you a B/B- on that one.

Paul's response?  A+  "Riding in a wheelbarrow, letting a woman push you
around is real classy ... let me tell you."  SNAP!  He just took you to
Yonkers, boy!  That being said, Bobby still has some of my favorite lines of
the season so far.  Like his take on Alex: "He's just so cocky and arrogant. 
We get it - you know Spanish ... but you suck at life."  I love that one. 
You suck at life.  It really doesn't get more straightforward than that.

When the execution finally rolled around and Liz was axed, I think we were
all a bit sad.  Sincerely.  Everyone really loved her spunky, "can do"
Grandma attitude.  Not to mention, she was probably one of the biggest
flirts on the show. I'm not even kidding.  Liz, don't be surprised if I show
up at your doorstep one day with a bottle of Chardonnay and Centrum Silver.

It's really too bad she went home so early because she would've had a field
day with next week's mission...

Episode 1

My name is Matt O'Brien and I’m one of the producers of Digital Content this season on The Mole. Each week, I'm here to give you the skinny on all the behind-the-scenes action that went down on location.  From blow-out fights to off-camera shenanigans, this season was a two-month thrill ride that took us to some of the most spectacular places in the Americas. 

Upon our arrival in Chile, orientation began with a casting tape of our 12 players.  I have to say this season's cast seemed like an absolute dream.  It was a veritable menagerie of classic archetypes: Paul, the Utility Worker from Yonkers – Yo!  I DJ on the weekends and love the Yankees!  Liz, the spunky senior (who, incidentally, has the filthiest mind of any sexagenarian I’ve ever met).  Craig, the funny fat guy who does a killer Chris Farley impression.  Kristen, the femme-bot scientist … I mean, I could go on and on.   Who did I dislike the most?  Probably Mark.  He just has that manic, gleaming chompers chomping on a piece of chewed-up gum intensity that rubs me the wrong way.  Then again, I have a habit of loving the people I hate, so I’m not writing him off just yet...

At times, even our staff and crew seemed to come out of central casting.  Our Director of Photography was a fastidious German with an eye for detail and ambient light.  Our Swedish Set Manager carried three walkies on a gunslinger belt and barked out orders with a cigarette dangling from her lips.  With three different languages being spoken at any given moment, it sometimes felt like we were in the middle of a Benetton ad.  And the local crews?  Well, they took it to another level.

Most of them were vastly hipper than any Americans in a fifty-mile radius.  Picture a chain smoking twenty-something reading a beat-up copy of "The Savage Detectives" in a vintage '69 VW Beetle.  "What are you going to do after the show wraps?"  Takes a long drag.  "Probably heading to Punta Vista.  My friends have a cottage on the coast."  If you’ve ever seen "Y Tu Mama Tambien," that movie pretty much sums up the vibe (even though it’s in Mexico).

If that wasn't enough, most of the S.A. crew wore uber-hip retro sneakers with uber-hip colorful ultra waif jackets with tons of zippers and hangy stuff.  And they all drove stick-shift cars with detached authority.  Long story short, make way Williamsburg, Silverlake and all hipster havens in between -- in a few years, a bumper crop of stylish South Americans will be nipping at your heels.

Back to our orientation ... after we screened the casting tapes, Executive Producers Scott Stone and Clay Newbill played a little game that’s sort of become a Mole tradition.  Before the first mission, they asked all of us (about 100 in all) to write down our top Mole suspect, based solely on first impressions.  Each season, they do this exercise to help gauge whether their Mole choice is, perhaps too obvious or maybe completely under everyone’s radar.  Both approaches have their merits.  Believe it or not, the winner of our pre-game straw poll was, once again ... Marcie.

In retrospect, when the players chose her as their lead suspect, it wasn't such a bad guess.  She ended up having some strange picks in “Over the Falls" (i.e. leaving Kristen and Bobby with fake cash).  And some of her items in "Crusoe" made absolutely no sense whatsoever.  But that's the tough part about this game: sometimes it’s hard to tell who's just terrible at missions and who's the actual saboteur.  It's just ironic that the top Mole suspect was the first one to go home.

To this very day, only a handful of people actually know The Mole's identity.  Even our host, Jon Kelley, is completely in the dark.  In fact, the entire selection process is shrouded under a veil of secrecy ... and I work at the production company for the show!  Over the next 10 weeks, you’ll begin to learn more and more about the players: their strategies, their strengths and their foibles.  Slowly but surely, you’ll begin to put the pieces together.  Just like you, all of us on staff are obsessed with clues, slip-ups ... anything to give us a hint as to The Mole’s identity.  Everyone has their own theories.  The camera operators, for example, were convinced they’d catch one of the EP’s sending messages to the Mole during one-on-one interviews.   "How do the EPs communicate with The Mole if s/he doesn’t have a phone or e-mail?  It’s GOT to be during the interviews," they’d say. 

The best advice is to stay tuned and keep your eyes and ears peeled ... the clues are out there.  The real question is: can you find them?