I think the difference is that, say, "Wheel of Fortune" lasts a half hour, is a one day deal, and "the mole" is weeks-long, catches candid moments, the cameras are on 24-7, capturing these people doing daily activites, like eating, getting dressed in the morning, etc. Even though the results are highly edited versions, they capture more of "life" than a very structured 1/2 hour show.
