ABC ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF "THE MOLE"

Dubbed television's smartest reality show, ABC is bringing back "The Mole," featuring new "whodunit" game elements, interactivity and a new host.

"The Mole," based on the hit Belgian format, will be produced by Stone & Company Entertainment and follows a group of players as they try to figure out who among them is The Mole, a saboteur trying to keep them from winning money. Players must decide who they think The Mole is and then learn as much about him or her as they can, because, at the end of each one-hour episode, the player who knows the least about The Mole is immediately eliminated from the game. In the final dramatic episode, The Mole is revealed and one of two final players wins a substantial cash prize.

The highly-rated ABC unscripted series aired in various time periods during its four-season run, and was a consistent draw with key young adult viewers opposite established network competition, including NBC's "Law & Order" and the inaugural season of Fox's "American Idol." "The Mole" ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 in its respective slots each season with Adults 18-34 and took second place in each of its time periods among Adults 18-49. Despite facing stiff demographic competition, "The Mole" improved each of its time periods among Adults 18-34.

The original series, produced by Stone Stanley Entertainment, was hosted by Anderson Cooper. Producers are launching a nationwide search to replace Cooper. In addition to a new host, new features, new games, new locations and online and mobile interactivity are planned for the series. Casting for players begins immediately. Casting information can be found at www.molecasting.com.

Scott A. Stone is executive producer.

Stone & Company Entertainment is one of television's leading independent production companies, specializing in a wide variety of television genres, including reality, docu-drama, documentary, talk and game. After 14 years at the helm of the highly successful company (Stone Stanley Entertainment, "The Mole," "The Man Show," "Loveline," "Popstars"), Stone, under his new company, has produced over a dozen series, including for Bravo "Top Design," "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style" and "First Class All The Way," for FOX "Ivana Young Man," for Travel Channel "1,000 Places to See Before You Die," for Style "I Propose," for Logo "Curl Girls" and "Gimme Sugar," and for Nick@Nite "Hi-Jinks."