Chalk it up to a tough timeslot and a slump for all reality-TV shows not named Survivor, but ABC's onetime hit series has been sabotaged early into its second run.
After three poor-performing episodes, the network is yanking The Mole II: The Next Betrayal from its Friday lineup--the first time a serialized reality show has been pulled before its completion.
Viewers still hoping to find out who the Mole is may now have to wait until next January or March, when ABC is hoping to relaunch the series. (Note to the winner: Are you really good at keeping secrets?) For now, ABC is replacing The Mole with less mentally challenging reality show America's Funniest Home Videos, at 8 p.m.
But unlike frowning fall castoffs like Joan Cusack and Daniel Stern, Stone Stanley Productions insists it's actually happy about the pulled Mole. "We look at this as good news," Scott Stone tells Variety. "ABC loves the show and they want to give it a good relaunch."
These days, ABC will take optimism wherever it can find it. The Alphabet Network has tumbled in the ratings this season, with its viewership down 21 percent from its first three weeks last fall, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Meanwhile, CBS and NBC continue to dominate Nielsen's top 10 for the week ended October 14, as Friends and the premiere of Survivor: Africa landed in first and second place, while both networks accounted for the 13 most watched shows of the week.
Overall, NBC edged out CBS among total viewers (13.3 million vs. 13 million) as well as in the advertiser-friendly adults 18-49 demographic (5.3 rating/14 share vs. 4.4 rating/11 share).
Among the Peacock's highlights: Quirky dramedy Ed drew 12.3 million viewers to its Wednesday 8 p.m. season premiere--the final piece in NBC's all powerful West Wing/Law & Order lineup. And on Sunday, Law & Order: Criminal Intent made its franchise proud, averaging 14.5 million viewers to top ABC's heavily hyped spy series, Alias (11.3 million).
At 10 p.m., however, viewers opted for ABC's The Practice (15.2 million viewers) over U.C.: Undercover (11.4 million).
Meanwhile, CBS is trumpeting more than just the survival of Survivor. Its Tuesday night dramas continue to thrive, with JAG (17 million) and Judging Amy (16 million) sandwiching the week's highest rated new drama, The Guardian (14.8 million).
It's almost enough to make you think Americans prefer sober dramas over lame comedy these days. Wait, nevermind: CBS' campy two-hour movie Surviving Gilligan's Island also scored big for the network, drawing 13 million viewers and giving CBS its best Sunday-movie performance among adults 18-49 since May of 2000.
Fox scored respectable (read: better than Pasadena) numbers Friday with its hastily assembled special edition of America's Most Wanted. The episode, focusing on the 22 "most wanted" global terrorists, pulled in 7.2 million viewers.
Fox placed fourth for the week among total viewers with 7.8 million, behind ABC's 10.2 million average. Among the junior nets, UPN placed fifth with 4.8 million and the WB settled for sixth with 3 million viewers.
The Frog Network got little help from the Wednesday premieres of Dawson's Creek and Felicity. But on the bright side, Tuesday night's return of Gilmore Girls averaged 6.6 million viewers to top UPN's Buffy the Vampire Slayer (5.6 million).
Here's a rundown of the week's top 10 among total viewers:
1. Friends, NBC, 29.2 million viewers
2. Survivor: Africa, CBS, 23.8 million
3. The West Wing, NBC, 23.6 million
4. C.S.I., CBS, 22.7 million
5. Law & Order, NBC, 22.1 million
6. ER, NBC, 21.7 million
7. Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS, 21.4 million
8. Will & Grace, NBC, 19.6 million
9. Just Shoot Me, NBC, 18.3 million
10. Becker, CBS, 17.3 million