Overnights
Weak debut for ABC's returning 'Mole'
By Toni Fitzgerald
Jun 3, 2008 - 11:27:02 AM

ABC’s “The Mole” had an inauspicious return after a four-year absence last night, finishing third in its timeslot and losing a good deal of its “Bachelorette” lead-in.

“Mole” averaged a 1.9 adults 18-49 rating at 10 p.m., according to Nielsen overnights, well behind timeslot leader NBC’s 2.9 for game five of the Stanley Cup finals. It was also behind a 2.6 for a repeat of “CSI: Miami” on CBS.

The series, making its first appearance since a celebrity edition in 2004, also lost 21 percent of “Bachelorette’s” 2.4 lead-in at 9 p.m., dropping ABC well behind the leaders on an otherwise fairly competitive evening.

"Mole" was ABC's second attempt at reviving a long-dormant reality series this summer. "Bachelorette" has also put up middling numbers in its return.

NBC and CBS tied for first for the night among viewers 18-49, each with a 2.5 average overnight rating and a 7 share, with Fox third at 2.4/7, ABC fourth at 2.1/6, Univision fifth at 1.6/5 and CW sixth at 0.6/2.
 
At 8 p.m. NBC was first with a 2.2 for the first hour of the Stanley Cup Pittsburgh Penguins-Detroit Red Wings game, followed by CBS with a 2.1 for repeats of “The Big Bang Theory” and “How I Met Your Mother.” ABC and Fox tied for third at 1.8, ABC for “The Bachelorette” and Fox for a repeat of “Bones,” with Univision fifth with a 1.7 for “Al Diablo con los Guapos” and CW sixth with a 0.6 for a repeat of “Gossip Girl.”
 
Fox took the lead at 9 p.m. with a 3.0 for a repeat of “House,” with CBS a close second with a 2.9 for repeats of “Two and a Half Men” and “Rules of Engagement.” NBC was third with a 2.5 for hockey, ABC fourth with a 2.4 for another hour of “Bachelorette,” Univision fifth with a 1.8 for “Fuego en la Sangre” and CW sixth with a 0.5 for a repeat of “One Tree Hill.”
 
At 10 p.m. NBC was first with a 2.9 for more hockey, while CBS remained second with a 2.6 for a repeat of “CSI: Miami.” ABC was third with a 1.9 for “Mole” and Univision fourth with a 1.3 for “Cristina.”
 
CBS was first for the night among households with a 5.2 average overnight rating and a 9 share. Fox was second at 5.2/9, ABC third at 4.2/7, NBC fourth at 3.6/6, Univision fifth at 2.1/3 and CW sixth at 0.9/1.