Chasing "The Mole"
An episode-by-episode guide to the latest twisted attempt to bring reality to broadcast TV.

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By the Arts & Entertainment staff

ABC-TV's foray into the world of reality TV has produced "The Mole" -- a dubiously imagined adventure game show that sees a group of nine contestants zooming around the U.S. and Europe, completing challenges and endeavoring to discover a mole in their midst.

Our coverage of CBS's reality-TV endeavors -- the irritatingly addictive "Survivor" and the just-plain irritating "Big Brother" -- became one of Salon's all-time most popular features and earned raves from readers around the world.

In that tradition, we'll follow the antics of "The Mole" crew and lugubrious host Anderson Cooper (aka "Coop") as they try to boost ABC's reality cred each Tuesday night.

Look for an update published here every Wednesday morning. In the meantime, check out:

"Temptation Island" -- the episode-by episode guide Babealicious women! Hunkariffic guys! Doomed couples!

"Survivor: The Australian Outback" Hunger! Scheming! Barfing! Why, it's just like old times!

"Survivor," complete Barfing! Backbiting! Richard's big white ass! An episode-by-episode guide to the Darwinian high jinks of CBS's island castaways -- right up to the surprising conclusion.

"Big Brother" -- the complete story Jordan the ho! Eddie the good son! Curtis the cipher! Episode by episode, a complete guide to the antics of Mega, Karen and Brittany the cuddle slut.

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"The Mole," thus far:

Just posted! Episode 9: The mole, the Coop and the dupes The worst reality show on television comes to a merciful end.

Episode 8: The mole burns us again! On the penultimate episode ... nothing happens!

Episode 7: Charlie walks the plank -- literally! Plus: Steve gets teary and Kathryn gets the hatchet

Episode 6: Charlie gets mean Psst! Wanna buy a naked picutre of Anderson Cooper?

Episode 5: The Spanish prisoners Help! we're trapped in a bad reality TV show and can't get out!

Episode 4: Of Vanderbilts and Viagra Coop's got mom problems -- and Charlie's got girl trouble!

Episode 3: A whole lotta bull In which Charlie gets knocked on his ass, and a reality TV show finally draws some real blood

Episode 2: We miss Julie Chen already! In which the French Riviera is made to seem boring

Episode 1: The return of Chicken George In which we are tormented by the Ghost of Reality TV Shows Past.