TVSquad

(S05E03) "There isn't a single person in Santiago my size." - overweight Craig, walking around in his underwear

So tonight I decided that instead of just looking at all of the players equally to see if they were the Mole, I would focus on the two players that I have narrowed it down to (I know, a little early, but you have to start looking early). So I paid attention to everything that Mark and Victoria said, did, ate, wore, and didn't do. And you know what? I'm as lost as I was in the opening scene of the first episode. OK, not that confused, because after tonight's third person was eliminated, I guess mathematically I have a better idea of who the Mole is or isn't. But I know that it's not easy to figure this out.

I also know that I don't want to see Craig walking around in his underwear ever again.

Tonight is the night where Paul lets loose on several contestants, not just Nicole (who threatened his life last week). Paul is so "reality show a-hole" that he's either a real player trying to win this game or he's giving a performance that Emmy voters should consider next year.

The first challenge tonight is "Fruit of the Luge." Basically teams of two go down a luge (one blindfolded, one not) and have to memorize signs that have fruit pictures on them. Every one they get right they get $2000. Oh, and they can't talk at all once they cross the finish line. So what happens? They get a ton of money, but two teams are completely disqualified because they spoke after crossing the finish line! Now, was this stupidity or Mole sabotage? (Nicole also got her fruits mixed up in a really suspicious manner, but that could be "I want them to think I'm the Mole" strategy.)

This challenge is notable for two other reasons: one, when it starts, Jon Kelley is eating an apple, which I believe is something that Anderson Cooper did when he hosted the show (Anderson did it better). Is this an homage to earlier seasons or a clue? Bobby thinks it's a clue. He tells Mark that he picked up on that right away (he's been a fan of the show since the first season) and thinks the Mole might be Paul because apple = New York. Of course, apple could = other states as well, but at least Bobby is thinking about the game. Mark thinks he's nuts (and he and Clay don't quite trust him).

The second challenge is "Dress Code." The gang goes to a spa for some massage and relaxation. But that doesn't last long, as Jon steals their clothing and sends it out to be cleaned! Their mission? Go into Santiago and beg the townspeople to give you clothing! But it has to be nice so you can meet Jon in a nice restaurant later. Needless to say this isn't the most hygienic challenge this show has had.

I can't imagine anyone in any town giving a stranger his/her clothing, and it makes me wonder if the players are allowed to say "hello, I'm participating in an American reality show and could win thousands of dollars...can I have your pants?" Amazingly, some of the guys get clothing. The girls are gawked at by 50 school boys getting off a bus (they follow the girls through town), until a woman in a restaurant has extra pants. Paul actually finds a New Yorker who has extra clothes at his hostel. But the most intriguing part of this assignment is that just when you think half-naked Craig isn't going to find any clothing, he goes to a laundromat to see if they have any extra shirts and pants...and it's the same laundromat where ABC brought the players' clothing! Shocking luck or did Craig know something? Hmmmm...

At the dinner, Paul talks back to almost everyone. He calls Bobby a "punk," he and Craig get into a little, and of course he hates Nicole for just being alive. He also accuses Mark of changing his attitude after Mark says he'd rather be a decent person than win money.

At the elimination, Jon offers $20,000 to anyone who wants to just quit the game now. No one takes him up on the offer. Three players are then deemed safe by the computer, so Jon ups the offer to $30,000...and Ali takes the money! The others are shocked. So we now know that Ali wasn't the Mole. We also find out that if she had stayed, she would have been safe.

But that doesn't mean the elimination part is over. Two players are going home tonight. And the person executed is...Bobby! So I guess Mark and Clay were completely off base when they said they didn't trust him, and Bobby was way off base when he thought the apple munching was a clue (either that or he's right and he just answered the questions wrong).

Some observations:

- They're still in Chile? I can't remember how many places we went to in other Mole seasons, but I hope they move on to other countries in the coming weeks.

- A lot of viewers noticed that in the first episode, Victoria was the only player who had a green Mole logo on her helmet in the waterfall challenge, so tonight I paid attention to the helmets in the luge challenge. Unfortunately, all of the helmets had Mole logos this time, so there was no clue to be found in that aspect tonight.

- Our collection of Mole collectibles grows again tonight, with black and green Mole underwear!

Next week: mountain climbing! (By the way, you can read Jon Kelley's blog about the show here.)