The Resume

(January 9, 2001-February 18, 2004)
ABC
Based on the Belgian TV series ‘De Mol’
A Stone-Stanley production
Seasons 1 and 2 hosted by Anderson Cooper, with only the surviving players being shown in each new episode
Seasons 3 and 4 hosted by Ahmad Rashad, with the eliminated players being shown in each new episode as ‘executed’
Premise: While trying to win money for a pot with a specific maximum amount ($1 million in the Cooper seasons, $250 K in the Rashad seasons), contestants must try to pinpoint the saboteur within their midst; only one will remain to collect that final pot
After each name is entered, a thumbprint appears; green means safe while red means executed (eliminated)

Why Mole might be annoying:

It referred to challenges as either ‘tests’ or ‘assignments’ and alliances as ‘coalitions.’
The Celebrity versions featured personalities past, never at, or never near their prime (the host included).
The pot structure sometimes made it mathematically possible for the total to overshoot the limit.
It was only three episodes into its second season – ‘the Next Betrayal’ – before the 9/11 story (Black Tuesday) all but monopolized the airwaves.
Each season had a different number of contestants, from 10 to 14, down to seven, and finally eight.
For the ‘celebrity’ editions (and the narration of the teasers didn’t help, either), the red thumbprint screen was the last thing seen before every commercial break — clearly inspired by the Bachelor teasers.
After executed players were escorted out of the game, the remaining players talked about them as though it were a funeral.
A third civilian version was considered, to appear in 2002, but nothing came of it.

Why Mole might not be annoying:

Cooper was considered a perfect fit for the show — until he was told to choose between it and his CNN stint.
Non-mole contestants are encouraged to sabotage challenges – thus keeping money out of the pot – in order to gain exemptions.
It gave ordinary people the chance to engage in espionage.
The civilian editions showed straight (no host commentary) teasers before the commercial break.
In the Yucatan season, the first three victims (Ananda Lewis, Stephen Baldwin, Corbin Bernsen) were allowed to return for a shot at payback.
The celeb versions did surprisingly well in the ratings.
It is an international phenomenon, with versions in Poland, Australia, Italy, the United Kingdom, Norway, and the Netherlands (which had a celebrity version of its own).

Credit: Cool It All Right?

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• ABC TV Series
• Celebrity Mole - Hawaii [2003]
• Celebrity Mole - Yucatan [2004]
• Cool It All Right?'s Profiles [Series 02]
• Game Shows
• Known By a Single Name
• Look at Me, I Got My Arms Folded
• Look at Me, I'm a Man in Shades
• Look at Me, I'm a Woman in Shades
• Look at Me, I'm Giving Thumbs Up
• Look at Me, I'm Wearing a Baseball Cap
• Look at My Leis
• Profiles 17501-17750 (Ranked: 17538)
• TV Shows/Series

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 87.50% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 20 Votes: 70.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 13 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 77 Votes: 67.53% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 41 Votes: 53.66% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 46 Votes: 58.70% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 87 Votes: 77.01% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 131 Votes: 61.83% Annoying