Tiffany Haddish being unmasked on The Masked Singer was one of the most shocking reveals the show has done in some time, even if her identity wasn't a secret for long. It didn't take long for the panel to sniff out who was under the Le Who Who mask, and the actress told CinemaBlend she would've been a little upset if Rita Ora didn't recognize her.

As The Masked Singer continues its run on the 2026 TV schedule, I had a chance to speak to Haddish about her time on the show. I asked her when she felt Ora clocked her as Le Who Who, and the Girls Trip actress shared that she didn't think it took long for a couple of reasons:

For only having three rehearsals, I think Tiffany Haddish did a pretty good job. That said, it wasn't good enough to make it through to the next stage of the competition, and when it came to guesses, Rita Ora would not be swayed that Le Who Who was anyone other than the Girls Trip 2 star.

Rita was confident in her guess during The Masked Singer, and Haddish told CinemaBlend she had good reason to be. The two are actual friends, and according to the actress, they talk quite often:

Haddish and Rita Ora are close, but thankfully, no throuple rumors have surfaced about them. It's cool because obviously we don't want to assume that all Hollywood celebrities are good friends, so it's always nice to hear about the ones who are.

The Masked Singer Season 14 has given us a lot of quality reveals so far, including Todd and Julie Chrisley months after receiving a pardon from their prison sentence. We've also seen baseball player David "Big Papi" Ortiz, rapper "Tone Loc", and Taraji P. Henson in the latest episodes.

It's shaping up to be one of the most star-studded seasons of The Masked Singer, and there's a strange twist as well for those who haven't checked out the new season yet. This year, the show revealed that Kylie Cantrall is the Cat Witch and is sharing her behind-the-scenes experience as the panel remains completely oblivious to her identity. I'm really enjoying it as a fan who took a break from the series temporarily, and can't wait to see who wins it all this season.

The Masked Singer is rolling along on Fox with new episodes on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. I'm loving the season thus far, and can't wait for the rest of the episodes to see what other celebrities are unmasked after such a strong start.

The Masked Singer Season 14 is currently on Fox and streaming for those with a Hulu subscription and it recently featured some reality television royalty. Todd and Julie Chrisley were the second contestants voted off the series, and while their time on the 2026 TV schedule didn't last long, it could've never happened at all.

I was surprised when I talked to The Chrisleys that they went on The Masked Singer just months after being released from prison, and apparently, so was Todd. The Chrisleys: Back To Reality star admitted that he thought he was done with television after his prison sentence, but daughter Savannah kept telling him to get back out there:

As wild as it may be to hear, the Chrisley Knows Best star wasn't dying to get back on television after receiving a pardon from President Donald Trump. Savannah, who has been holding down the fort for her parents since they were incarcerated, kept pushing, which makes sense considering she also did The Masked Singer. Todd and Julie did better than their daughter, who had a one-and-done performance back in Season 11.

Todd Chrisley was swayed to at least consider a television return at Savannah's assistance, but she was the only person he had to consider. The appearance was a package deal, and he needed his non-singing wife to get on board for it to happen. Fortunately, he didn't have to make the first move, because she called him:

The rest, as they say, is history. The couple did The Masked Singer dressed as croissants, and even referenced their time in prison. CinemaBlend also asked the couple about that, who said they're not running from their past as they continue forward in their reality television careers.

One thing worth mentioning is that Todd Chrisley does have some music experience, having recorded a song with artist Sara Evans back in 2016. The song wasn't a massive hit, but it did chart on Billboard's country music charts, which is more than most other celebrities on The Masked Singer can say.

Unfortunately, that music experience didn't lead to a long run on the show, though I'm sure the Chrisleys were happy to get their pay and move on to other projects they have planned for their big television return. While Todd was iffy about coming back to television before this appearance, it sounds as though they're working on quite a few things that could get them another show pretty soon.

Catch new episodes of The Masked Singer Season 14 over on Fox on Wednesdays. We'll have to wait and see how much more we see of Todd and Julie Chrisley on our televisions in 2026, but I have a feeling they won't be able to stay away from TV for long.

Todd and Julie Chrisley are out of prison after being pardoned, and slowly but surely, making their way back to reality television. After the first season of their Lifetime series, they're back with another appearance on the 2026 TV schedule as The Croissants on The Masked Singer. The show didn't hold back at poking fun at their prison time during their short run on the program, but the Chrisleys told CinemaBlend that it was absolutely fine.

Though their stint only lasted until the start of the second episode, they outlasted their daughter, Savannah, who had a disastrous run in Season 11. While I was sure they were glad to get some bragging rights over their child, I asked the couple if they were okay with the myriad of references to their prison time, and Todd Chrisley said it best with his response:

The Chrisleys aren't going to be able to avoid the world finding out about their past convictions, and they're not trying to hide it. I do agree with Todd Chrisley that if they did The Masked Singer and there was zero mention of their pardon or past charges, it would be the thing everyone is talking about the next day.

Since there's no hiding for it, the Chrisleys are hoping their appearance on The Masked Singer and other shows going forward can help send a message to the hundreds of thousands in federal prisons that life after lockup doesn't have to be a grim experience:

In addition to trying to serve as ambassadors for those seeking a fresh start after prison, The Chrisleys are in the midst of rebuilding their lives at home and dealing with issues involving their children. This includes a pretty public rift between Savannah and Chase, as well as recent legal troubles for their son, Kyle.

Meanwhile, the fun on The Masked Singer rolls on, with not one but two wild reveals in Season 14. Tiffany Haddish was the next celebrity to be unmasked that night, marking one of the biggest celebrity appearances the show has seen.

I was surprised to see such notable faces on the series, but it just goes to show that TMS still has a lot to give those still tuning in after all this time. I'm hoping for some more big names to be unmasked by the end of Season 14, and may even have a guess or two at who is on the way.

Catch The Masked Singer on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. I can only imagine who else we're going to see before this season is up with the way it started, and I can't wait to see which masked contestant emerges as a frontrunner to win it all.

Fans don't have too much longer to wait before The Masked Singer returns her in the states. All the while, a competitor on the UK spinoff is going viral for filming his parents' reactions to his unmasking. Comedian Matt Lucas kept his participation in the series a secret from his folks. As a result, they were quite shocked, and the video of their reactions really made my day.

As it stands, TMS is set to return to Fox on January 7th as part of the 2026 TV schedule, and I'm eager to tune in. In the meantime, Matt Lucas, a former co-host of The Great British Bake Off was at home with family, eagerly awaiting them to discover he had competed on the UK version. Check out the Instagram video below, filmed inconspicuously on his laptop as they watched:

Lucas' mother can hardly believe it, and I absolutely love her response. Based on this situation, my only guess is that when you're a celebrity, it's a lot easier to keep people in the dark about when you're on set and what you're up to than it is for the average person. Even so, I'd imagine it can be a challenge to keep everyone in the dark. Even a competitor like Drew Carey a.k.a. The Llama had to tell someone he was dating that he was on Masked Singer.

Full disclosure, Matt Lucas wasn't on The Masked Singer UK nearly as long as the usual competitor. While he was suited up as Emperor Penguin, he was unmasked not long after performing, and he then joined the panel as a special guest for the episode. It was just a one-off appearance for the season, similar to how Joel McHale pops in the American version to offer his best guesses and rib Ken Jeong.

I'm sure some would've loved to see Lucas on a proper season of The Masked Singer UK but, if it's anything like the Fox version, it's quite a commitment. Celebrities who participate get paid enough to accommodate travel and lodging, but that's about it. It can be a lot of work and, sometimes, celebrities sign up without even knowing they're expected to sing, somehow.

Now, Matt Lucas' viral video has me psyched to see The Masked Singer premiere for Season 14 in the United States. This season will jump on the Wicked trend by having a Wizard of Oz night, which I can say will be enough for many people in my life to fire up their Hulu subscription to watch that one episode. That said, I would encourage everyone to watch the entire season, as 14 seasons in, the singing show remains as entertaining as it's been from the start.

The Masked Singer kicks off on Fox on Wednesday, January 7th at 8:00 p.m. ET. I'm ready to see who they got for this season, which panelist will get the most correct guesses, and who will win the Golden Mask trophy at the season's end.

2026 is close to being half-over, but instead of panicking and worrying where all the time has gone, I think it's better to plan ahead for all the new Netflix shows, upcoming horror series, new DC projects and everything else coming during the rest of the year. June 2026 is hardly an exception, and I'll be firmly planted for House of the Dragon's massive Season 3 premiere, the latest round of America's Got Talent auditions, and Tom Hanks' American Experiment, to name a few.

June is also a big month for live events, from the NBA Finals to the Stanley Cup to the livestream of Bonnaroo 2026 to the BET Awards. And you better believe I'm also jazzed to see Larry David's HBO return for Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness. And that's not counting everything else coming later in the year. [You can jump ahead to see what's coming in July, August, September, October, November and December.)

NOTE: New series premieres are listed in ALL CAPS, and all times listed below are in ET/EST.

June 2026 TV Premieres

Beyond everything noted above, June 2026 also brings the romance with Sweet Magnolias Season 5, the fantastical with Avatar: The Last Airbender and culinary moodiness with the final season of The Bear.

July 2026 TV Premieres

At long last, Paramount+ revealed that fans can look forward to the fourth genre-mashing season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds in July, which also comes peppered with returns from Apple TV's sci-fi fave Silo, the long-running reality series Project Runway, and the final story-concluding feature from Netflix's Heartstopper.

August 2026 TV Premieres

This is not a practice drill. I repeat, not a practice drill. Ted Lasso is making its long-awaited Season 4 return on Apple TV in August, and fans couldn't be happier to have it back on the horizon. One premiere that's earned slightly less warm embraces from fans is HBO's DCU mystery drama Lanterns, which finally got its August premiere confirmed in late April.

September 2026 TV Premieres

September can be a bit of a bummer as it marks the end of summer (no rhymeplay intended), but NFL fans always have a lot to look forward to. And this September will also deliver the one-two punch of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao on Netflix, as well as the streaming service's first LEGO special for the popular anime adaptation One Piece.

October 2026 TV Premieres

November 2026 TV Premieres

December 2026 TV Premieres

2026 Shows Without Premiere Dates

Quite a few upcoming TV shows are locked in for 2026, but without official premiere dates set in stone. Here's a round-up of some of the biggest projects that we can expect to see at some point later this year.

• 3 Body Problem Season 2 - Netflix
• BLADE RUNNER 2099 - Prime Video
• CAMP ROCK 3 [TV Movie] - Disney Channel
• CARRIE - Prime Video
• COVEN ACADEMY - Disney Channel
• DESCENDANTS: WICKED WONDERLAND [TV Movie] Disney Channel
• A DIFFERENT WORLD - Netflix
• The Diplomat Season 4 - Netflix
• The Hunting Wives Season 2 - Netflix
• Leanne Season 2 - Netflix
• MONSTER: THE LIZZIE BORDEN STORY - Netflix
• Nobody Wants This Season 3 - Netflix
• Outer Banks Season 5 (Final Season) - Netflix
• The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 4 - AMC
• The Witcher Season 5 (Final Season) - Netflix
• Yellowjackets Season 4 (Final Season) - Paramount+

Remember to check back for more dates as they're revealed by networks and streaming services in the coming months.

The Road hit the airwaves in the fall 2025 TV schedule as network television's newest music competition show, and it's definitely not just another version of The Voice or American Idol. The contestants are on tour with Keith Urban, and their performances are as the opening acts to throngs of fans who are there to hear somebody else sing. Country star and Grammy-winner Gretchen Wilson is the show's Tour Manager, a role that she took on not too long after winning a different music show: The Masked Singer. Here's what she told CinemaBlend about the differences between the two shows.

Gretchen Wilson competed on The Masked Singer Season 13 as the Pearl, and she ultimately won and wasn't unmasked until the very end. In contrast, her role on The Road is to support the contestants, who have needed help with everything from nerves to actual illness. As she put it, "If it's two o'clock in the afternoon, and they have a question about a song that they chose, they would come to me." So, when I spoke with her ahead of the premiere of the new show, she shared what it was like to go from The Masked Singer in early 2025 to The Road this fall:

Being a competitor on one show and the Tour Manager helping the competitors on another was bound to be different, but even as a viewer,The Masked Singer really feels like it's on the opposite any of the music TV spectrum from The Road. Gretchen Wilson looked back on her first day on the Fox competition show, and what she took away from the experience as a whole:

Plus, while she shared the screen with talented musicians on both shows, at least she know who she's dealing with on The Road as opposed to masked competitors en masse! Wilson described Keith Urban as a "force to be reckoned with" and a "constant professional" as the headliner of his own tour. As for Blake Shelton, she described him as "just hysterical" and a candidate for becoming a stand up comedian if he ever decides to hang up his music career."

New episodes of The Road air on CBS Sundays at 9:30 p.m. ET, and stream next day with a Paramount+ subscription. The competition is fierce, as the up-and-coming country artists are competing for a grand prize of $250,000, a recording contract, and a performance slot at Stagecoach Country Music Festival 2026. As for Gretchen Wilson's run on The Masked Singer, you can find Season 13 streaming with a Hulu subscription.

Life has no doubt been a whirlwind once more for the Chrisley family in the weeks since Todd and Julie were given a Presidential pardon from Donald Trump that allowed the couple to end their respective prison sentences and return home to spend time with the rest of their thankful family members. Speaking of being thankful,, the clan’s patriarch seemed pretty appreciative that he was able to avoid witnessing daughter Savannah Chrisley’s hilariously terrible appearance on The Masked Singer.

Daughter Savannah has kept busy defending her parents from rumor mongers, while also working with others on a new reality TV show focusing on the family. So it was quite surprising to see the popular podcaster showing up inside the Afghan Hound costume in The Masked Singer’s “Wizard of Oz” episode from Season 11, even though it was no surprise that she was eliminated, given how cringey the performance was even for this series. (She told CinemaBlend she’d never seen the movie, nor heard the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”)

When Savannah Chrisley appeared with her parents on ABC News’ IMPACT x Nightline: The Chrisleys Life After Lockup, the largely heavy conversation hit a patch of levity when Fox’s reality competition came up, as it was one of several TV projects she took on to support the family. For all of his assumed graciousness, Todd Chrisley was hilariously harsh with his assessment, or lack thereof, saying:

Now, the way Todd Chrisley say that didn't quite sound so wildly judgmental, but it is still very amusing to hear any celebrity say they avoided an offspring's TV appearance out of second-hand embarrassment.

Don't ask me if I'd watch my own daughter go on that or any other reality show, because I'm gonna plead the fifth, possibly while also drinking from one.

In any case, Savannah was not at all taken aback by her father's take, and actually doubled down in agreement, saying:

For all that he wasn't interested one bit in tuning into her Masked Singer episode to experience the audio wonders of the episode himself, Todd did give Savannah props for having the confidence and the gusto to go through with it in the first place. As he put it:

Bwahahaha, he still couldn't let that compliment close out without ribbing his kiddo one more time. Dads are ruthless, man.

On the opposite side of the parental spectrum, Julie Chrisley said she did watch the episode, but without any memorable reactions to lean into. Maybe she thought it was better to just leave it alone. Don't poke the bear, or in this case, don't poke the screeching Afghan Hound.

ABC News’ IMPACT x Nightline: The Chrisleys Life After Lockup is available to stream with a Hulu subscription.

Since Bob Saget’s sudden death in 2022, The Full House cast has kept his memory alive through throwback party photos and endless stories about him and his penchant for hugging, but he also inspired Cameron Candace Bure in a possibly unexpected way. Bure was recently unveiled as Cherry Blossom on The Masked Singer’s 13th season (airing on the 2025 TV schedule and streaming with a Hulu subscription), and she opened up about how Saget impacted her decision to do the show.

Candace Cameron Bure played DJ, the oldest daughter of Danny Tanner (Bob Saget) on Full House and later on the spinoff, Fuller House. While Saget’s raunchy standup would seemingly conflict with Bure’s more conservative sensibilities, the two were undeniably close, and she said on the Whine Down with Jana Kramer podcast that she wanted to honor her former co-star. Bure told host Jana Kramer:

Bob Saget was revealed to be the Squiggly Monster on The Masked Singer in Season 4, which apparently another Full House alum, John Stamos, had been aware of because the Uncle Jesse portrayer would have appeared as a clue if Saget had made it further.

Candace Cameron Bure, meanwhile, wasn’t informed beforehand that her former TV dad would be one of the costumed contestants, but it didn’t take her long to figure it out. She continued:

What a fun memory, and I can see how channeling his energy could be motivation to finally accept The Masked Singer’s invitation, despite being so scared to do it.

Jana Kramer — who, like Candace Cameron Bure, has done both The Masked Singer and Dancing with the Stars — said the mask provided a shield between her and the audience that made her more comfortable singing. That was a key difference-maker for Bure compared to ABC’s celebrity dance competition.

The Great American Family star agreed, to a point, saying she had such a fulfilling experience on DWTS, while her early elimination on the Fox series didn’t allow her to fully overcome that fear of singing in front of people.

I’d like to think that either way, Bob Saget would be proud of her for facing that fear. If you want to revisit some of Full House’s best episodes (or the worst episode, according to Full House co-stars Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber), the entire series is available to stream with a Max subscription. The Masked Singer Season 13 continues at 8 p.m. ET Wednesdays on Fox.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Masked Singer Season 12 finale. Stream it with a Hulu subscription and read at your own risk.

We've come to the end of the road of The Masked Singer Season 12, in what ended up being a throwback night of phenomenal R&B singers. Wasp put on some stunning performances, but the singer, who was ultimately revealed to be Mario, fell short of the trio that is Buffalo. They're the first performance group to win the Fox series, so I had to ask Boyz II Men if they felt it was easier or harder for groups to thrive on this series, as opposed to solo artists.

Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Wanyá Morris were gracious enough to speak to me ahead of The Masked Singer Season 12 finale airing. As The Masked Singer closes out for the season and we look ahead to the 2025 TV schedule, here's what Nate had to say in regards to whether they had an advantage over everyone else performing as three talented singers as opposed to just one:

It's interesting to hear contestants' perspectives on the other side of the group vs. solo debate. As mentioned, this is the first time a group has won the series, and except for one contestant who didn't know they'd be singing on The Masked Singer, I thought just about everyone this season had a chance at winning. I've long believed that groups have an advantage over solo competitors, but this season, I would agree with Nathan Morris that their work was cut out for them.

While it was obvious (to CinemaBlend at least) that Buffalo was Boyz II Men in hiding, the singers assured me that it wasn't easy getting their signature sound out from within those hefty costumes. Wanyá Morris said that the experience even gave him a whole new appreciation for a specific type of job that he might have dismissed previously. In his words:

The Masked Singer's competitors always seem to have some eye-opening experience after performing on the show, and I always love hearing about what everyone took away from it. Maybe Wanyá Morris' public support of showing respect for mascots will get that one who flirted with Sydney Sweeney a date, or maybe not. If nothing else, I'll show more respect to the mascots I see occasionally, which has to count for something. Probably not as much as a date with Sydney Sweeney, but I'm only speculating.

Overall, The Masked Singer Season 12 was a blast. It had some wild theme nights, a competitive finale, and a cameo from a very famous director. I'm not sure there's more you can ask for regarding this Fox series, and Season 13 will have to be special to measure up to it.

The Masked Singer will return for a new season on Fox on Wednesday, February 12th. I'll be eager to see who they pull in for the new season and if we'll get another group of competitors capable of winning it all after this historic season.

Warning! The following contains spoilers from The Masked Singer's Thanksgiving episode. Stream it with a Hulu subscription and read at your own risk!

The Masked Singer has delivered some shocking reveals in its run, but we don't talk as often about the people unmasked we're shocked to learn can sing. I was stunned when MLB World Series champion Bronson Arroyo was unmasked as Sherlock Hound, and not just because I had watched The Comeback: 2004 Red Sox with my Netflix subscription. It's always a surprise to see athletes on the show, and Arroyo told CinemaBlend it's not uncommon to get that reaction.

I had the opportunity to speak to Bronson Arroyo ahead of the airing of his elimination on The Masked Singer. During our conversation, I mentioned other contestants who were pro athletes and trying to break into the music world, like former NBA star Victor Oladipo. I wanted his take on whether it was easier or harder to break into music when people already know you as an elite athlete, and his response was interesting:

I'll admit, it's a bias that I only realized I had after hearing Bronson Arroyo talk about it. In fairness, I'm sure many people love to hear Taylor Swift sing but would take her hypothetical endeavor to play professional football with her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, far less seriously. For some reason, it's hard to accept mentally that someone can be great at multiple things if they've shown they're great at one thing on an elite level.

The good news is, that kind of attitude doesn't bug Bronson Arroyo. He explained the upside of going to play shows with a crowd that may not expect you to perform simply because you used to be a baseball pitcher:

As Sherlock Hound, Bronson Arroyo showed he had those rocker chops. While I was a bit bummed "Peanuts Night" didn't include any songs synonymous with the franchise, I did love hearing him bring some edge to Group C with "Ho Hey." I also was a big fan of his performance of "Under The Bridge" by The Red Hot Chili Peppers. I think maybe with a stronger theme night in his favor he might've beaten Strawberry Shortcake, but she is very talented.

With the exception of Macaron, who didn't know she'd be singing when she initially signed onto The Masked Singer, Group C has been filled with fierce competition. If they haven't had a chance to see his show, hopefully, the world is now ready to see Bronson Arroyo as a serious musician.

The Masked Singer Season 12 continues on Fox at its normal time of Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. I'm ready for the back half of this season to kick off, so it's a good thing the Quarter Finales are just around the corner!

Warning! The following contains spoilers from The Masked Singer's Thanksgiving episode "Peanuts Night." Stream the episode with a Hulu subscription and read at your own risk!

The Masked Singer's Thanksgiving episode could've used more Peanuts music, but aside from that, I'd call it a big win for the Fox series. The only downside was that the Season 12 Group C finals were super competitive, and it's a shame they all couldn't advance to the next stage. That said, Royal Knight, who was unmasked and revealed to be actress Jana Kramer, was grateful to be in the mix and shared her joy of performing on the show with CinemaBlend.

Kramer isn't just a face you expect to see on the 2025 TV schedule, as she's divided her time between acting and performing music on stage for some time. I asked her what it was like to hear kind words from professional singers like Robin Thicke and Rita Ora, and she talked about how great the vibes of The Masked Singer are overall:

The Masked Singer does thrive on positivity, which may further explain why they sidestepped that Robin Thicke tie-in on "Miley Cyrus Night." While the audience may jeer Ken Jeong from time to time for a terrible guess, they never really take it out on the contestants. If Savannah Chrisley can't get booed on TMS, no one can!

I feel mildly bad for that criticism, especially since Jana Kramer talked about the amount of it she faces in her daily life. She talked about how it feels to be in the public eye and how The Masked Singer was a nice change of pace:

No one was going to judge Jana Kramer for giving out sex toys ahead of a Lifetime movie or the goofy puns of her Hallmark movies on The Masked Singer. I love how she highlighted the Fox series as one of the safe spaces of modern television, and she's so accurate with that analysis. America's Got Talent can keep Simon Cowell and his judgmental attitude toward acts!

Jana Kramer was not the only contestant sent home this week, as Sherlock Hound was also unmasked and revealed to be former professional baseball player Bronson Arroyo. Both gave great performances their entire run, but whoever is underneath the mask of Strawberry Shortcake just continues to be so incredible and advancing. I'm thinking they may go on to win Season 12, but it's been so long since I've seen the other finalists perform that I think I'll have to hear all of them before making an official pick.

The Masked Singer returns to its normal time on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. There are not many episodes left in this season, so be sure to catch up as we head into the next stage of the competition.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Masked Singer's Thanksgiving episode "Peanuts Night." Stream it with a Hulu subscription and read at your own risk!

While I think The Masked Singer's "Peanuts Night" was sorely lacking in songs tied to Charlie Brown and crew, I still think the holiday episode was a massive success for Fox. The network already has me looking forward to more holiday episodes hitting the 2025 TV schedule, especially after an unexpected cameo from a major director that was handled quite wonderfully.

Before this episode, I thought I'd seen enough shocking reveals on The Masked Singer that nothing would stun me. Now, I'm eating crow with a side of pumpkin pie after being as shocked as I've ever been by seeing a celebrity wasn't even under any of the masks. Let's talk about it.

Taika Waititi Made A Surprise Appearance As "Rita Ora's Husband"

The Masked Singer's Thanksgiving special featured a video segment with holiday messages recorded by the cast's family for the host and panel. We saw messages from a few of Nick Cannon's many children, Ken Jeong's wife, Robin Thicke's children, and Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg's husband, Blue Bloods star Donnie Wahlberg, and their kids. We also saw Rita Ora's significant other appear, and while he was only referred to her "Husband" in the episode, many know him quite well as director and actor Taika Waititi.

Yes, Rita Ora is married to the director who brought us Thor: Ragnarok, Jojo Rabbit, What We Do in the Shadows and so much more. So anyone who thought they might've recognized him but weren't aware of their marriage or hilarious scaring videos together on social media, now you know.

'I'm sure some of the viewers watching The Masked Singer may not even have known he was anyone of note at all, and thus had no reason to consider "Rita Ora's husband" as being anything but an apt descriptor.

Why I Love How The Masked Singer Handled Featuring Him

There was a chance for The Masked Singer to brag and name-drop Taika Waititi as being part of their show, and I think the Fox series probably would have pulled that kind of promotional move in earlier seasons. He's a big deal in Hollywood, and with the episode airing on Thanksgiving and potentially drawing more viewers who don't regularly tune in, I could see the temptation to feature as many worthy names as possible in promos.

I credit the show for resisting the temptation to the point that Taika Waitit wasn't given any more notability than any other family members who appeared in the segment. Despite being a Hollywood director who may or may not be working on an upcoming Star Wars movie, he's just Rita Ora's husband when it comes to The Masked Singer,

Plus, the series had to close out its Group C Finals and didn't have time for everything it already planned. Royal Knight was eliminated and revealed to be actress and singer Jana Kramer, and Sherlock Hound was former baseball star turned singer Bronson Arroyo. That means Strawberry Shortcake will advance to the quarter-finals of Season 12 and move one step closer to winning The Masked Singer.

The Masked Singer continues on Fox at its normal time on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. I'm ready to see who will win this season and hope to find my front-runner pick as the quarter-finals approach.

Warning! The following contains spoilers from The Masked Singer's "Miley Cyrus Night." Stream the episode with a Hulu subscription and read at your own risk!

The Masked Singer Season 12 was back on track this week after eliminating a contestant the previous week who didn't know she'd be singing on the show. Another contestant was unmasked, and as sad as I was to see Ice King bouncing (after being revealed as actor Drake Bell), I couldn't get over the elephant in the room surrounding "Miley Cyrus Night." Panelist Robin Thicke has a big TV connection to the Grammy-winning singer that could've been further acknowledged, but I can understand why the show wasn't keen on bringing it up.

For those in the dark, I'm referring to the 2013 VMA performance where Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke shared the stage for a performance. Let's get into how the show acknowledged the moment and likely avoided giving it a better spotlight.

How The Masked Singer Briefly Acknowledged Robin Thicke's Performance With Miley Cyrus

Robin Thicke had a chance to take the spotlight on Miley Cyrus Night and maybe even make a moment bigger than when he and Ken Jeong walked off the stage in The Masked Singer Season 7. Much to my initial surprise, when Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg opened up the conversation for him to comment on the infamous VMAs performance, Thicke played it off and said the following:

The moment made for a big laugh from the crowd and the panel, but then it wasn't referenced for the rest of the episode. I initially found this strange, considering what a major zeitgeist spectacle it was, but after revisiting some of the aftermath of that performance, it's pretty clear why Robin Thicke and The Masked Singer didn't want to dwell on it.

Why It's For The Best The Masked Singer Left It Out Of The Episode

While the 2013 VMAs may feel like a moment that the world laughed at, it was a bad experience for Miley Cyrus. The singer has talked in past years about how it kept her from wearing shorts, and though she's reclaimed some of that confidence from the foam finger performance, she still seems to feel as if she was needlessly sexualized on the stage.

Despite any acceptance she may feel now, I can see why it would still be in bad taste for The Masked Singer to dwell too much on that moment with only half of the performing parties present to speak about it. And it's not like Robin Thicke didn't have other scandalous things happening surrounding the song "Blurred Lines."

Thicke wants to stay on TMS for a long time, so remaining as noncontroversial as possible in his opinions and career references can only help him remain on the panel.

The Masked Singer Season 12 continues on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. This season has been one where CinemaBlend has learned all sorts of wild stories from its contestants, and if that's of interest, be sure to check out Andy Richter telling us about the time he ran into Conan O'Brien's late-night rival Jay Leno.

Warning! The following contains SPOILERS from The Masked Singer episode "Who Are You Fest." Stream the episode with a Hulu subscription and read at your own risk!

The Masked Singer kicked off the Group C stage of Season 12, and I don't think anyone was surprised by who was sent home in the opening episode. Macaron didn't hit the right notes to ensure another round, and was unmasked and revealed to be surfer, writer and subject of Soul Surfer, Bethany Hamilton. She wasn't surprised to go, but did make a shocking confession in the middle of her interview with CinemaBlend.

Hamilton is no stranger to reality television, having done everything from a celebrity diving competition to a season of The Amazing Race. So when The Masked Singer called, she was happy to sign up, but revealed to CinemaBlend she didn't know there'd be singing involved. As wild as that may sound, her logic checks out:

She did her best, and while she wasn't the worst singer in The Masked Singer's history, it was clear pretty early on to me who would be going home. I'd wager she might've been one of the more shocking reveals on the Fox series, but the judges' panel really did the reveal a disservice with some truly wild guesses. I don't know how they came up with Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Monica Lewinsky, but those were some bonkers guesses.

Bethany Hamilton made her reveal in the midst of answering a previous question, so I had to ask the obvious question: how in the world did she not know she would be singing if she agreed to appear on The Masked Singer? As it turns out, a lot about this series was new to her for one specific reason:

Bethany Hamilton was in the dark about how the show welcomes Grammy-winning singers, but she caught on soon enough. It kind of bums me out a bit she was eliminated so quickly, as it would've been great to get her take on the experience as someone who had no idea what the show was at all, or how she'd feel about outlasting someone as accomplished in singing as Paula Cole.

Unfortunately, she'll be watching the rest of this season from home and seeing who from Group C will advance to the semifinals of The Masked Singer. We're definitely in the back half of the season, but it only feels like yesterday we were talking to John Elway about being compared to Tom Brady. Hopefully, these last few weeks slow things down a bit in a good way because I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to Season 12 just yet.

Watch new episodes of The Masked Singer on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. We're about a month out from the season finale, so make sure to catch up on streaming if you aren't already, and check in with CinemaBlend for more on this season as it continues.

Andy Richter has been all around Hollywood, so it's not surprising to hear he's rubbed shoulders with many acting greats. That said, when The Masked Singer revealed he once shared the screen with the iconic star of The Godfather, Marlon Brando, I had to do some searching and figure out when the hell that happened. Suffice it to say, I only had more questions when I learned it was from Scary Movie 2. Fortunately, Richter was able to talk about the experience and the wild contract stipulation that came along with it.

I had the honor to talk to Richter after blessing the Fall TV schedule with his presence via The Masked Singer Season 12. After a question about an erroneous guess inspired a story about him encountering Jay Leno in a diner, we talked Marlon Brando and Scary Movie 2. Though Richter eventually starred alongside James Woods in the Exorcist-spoofing opening scene, Brando was the iniital choice. The latter duo filmed a solid amount of scenes for the parody that were ultimately cut once Brando dropped out of the movie due to declining health.

Richter confirmed the experience was as surreal as it sounded when I asked about it, saying:

One of the best Wayans family movies could've been that much better with Marlon Brando in the mix, or at least I can only assume as much. Aged and health-challenged as the actor may have been by that stage, Brando is a legend for a reason, having fronted the best movies of the 70s (possibly of all time) in The Godfather Part II, amidst many other all-time classics. As such, it would've been quite a sight to see him in the finished Scary Movie 2, doing some of the things written for his character.

Andy Richter shared one of those scenes with us and how it led to an outrageous and specific stipulation in his contract for Scary Movie 2. The actor described the scene in broad strokes, though readers can figure out what was supposed to happen between his and Marlon Brando's priest character:

He may not have the contract, but that's an incredible story from Andy Richter tied to one of the greatest actors of a generation. If only the upcoming Scary Movie 6 could attempt something just as great with another legendary actor, I think it would be something that would have the audiences in stitches. That said, I realize how damning it is to speak the phrase "Marlon Brandon hologram" into existence.

If it's any consolation to the actor, Andy Richter's vomit-filled scene in the final cut alongside James Woods and Natasha Lyonne remains one of the more memorable parts of Scary Movie 2, and it gets the movie off to a great start. Full credit to everyone involved for enduring all that gross goop they get covered on in the scene, which I recently rewatched using my Paramount+ subscription.

With the scene cut and the contract gone, I guess the best-case scenario was that The Masked Singer was able to use it for an obscure clue to Andy Richter's true identity when he was masquerading as Dust Bunny on stage. I doubt I'm the only one who learned about the strange connection between these two actors, and I'm doubly glad I asked to learn the wilder story behind the experience.

The Masked Singer airs on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET, and as previously mentioned, Scary Movie 2 can be found on Paramount+ and Pluto TV. Catch Andy Richter in one of those two, and continue to stick with CinemaBlend as we follow Season 12 of TMS and react along the way.

The Masked Singer is a guessing game, and celebrities rivalries can make for risky choices. For example, when the first round of Group B performances hit Fox's Fall TV lineup, I couldn't help but gasp when panelist Rita Ora wrongfully thought Andy Richter was Jay Leno, former Tonight Show host and rival of Late Night's Richter and Conan O'Brien. CinemaBlend learned directly from the former sidekick how he felt about that guess, along with a wild story about him running into Leno at a diner.

I was lucky enough to speak to Richter after the The Masked Singer Season 12 episode where he was unmasked as Dust Bunny, and asked for his thoughts about being guessed as the comic who played an antagonistic role in the late night debacle that allegedly still bothers his former co-host Conan O'Brien years later. Richter offered his thoughts on the comparison and shared about the time he accidentally ran into Leno a couple of years ago:

It's good to hear he can put it behind him now, especially given how many people are still mad about the cancellation of The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien, which inspired him to lift anchor and strike a deal with TBS. O'Brien and Andy Richter were bumped out of their prestigious roles when Leno decided to walk back on his retirement, forcing O'Brien out. Leno eventually retired again, paving the way for current host Jimmy Fallon to take over.

Conan O'Brien and his wonderful on-air sidekick Richter eventually found their way back to late-night television via Conan, but the host largely avoided talking about it for years. On the other hand, Richter had given several interviews over the years, being critical of both NBC and Jay Leno for deciding to pull them from the coveted late-night program. As he said, it's complicated.

I'm sure that had to play into the awkwardness of their diner meeting, which I'm impressed he committed to. Had I been in the same situation with anyone in a similar position, I would've just walked out the door without a word!

Andy Richter's performance on The Masked Singer Season 12 was impressive, but unfortunately, Group B is loaded with talent. His performance of "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond was about as good as anyone could do, and honestly, I think he would've survived at least a week had he been in Group A. The good news is that his early elimination prevented him from having to suit up as the Dust Bunny again, which he confirmed to CinemaBlend was a hot costume to be in.

With one contestant down, we'll have to continue to tune into The Masked Singer on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET to see who will win Group B.

The Masked Singer is a singing competition, and I've often wondered why Grammy-winning artists compete. At best, they win and prove something the world has already decided: that they're talented singers. At worst, they lose and feel a hit to their ego after a crushing elimination, but not everyone feels that way. Paula Cole didn't win the Group A stage over the Buffalo trio, but as she explained to CinemaBlend, it wasn't a big deal.

Cole, an accomplished singer and songwriter, topped the charts with her song "I Don't Want To Wait" and won a Grammy in 1998. I asked her about the risk associated with participating on The Masked Singer and perhaps devaluing her accomplishments in her career, and she gave her honest thoughts on the matter:

Bob Dylan would be about the most shocking reveal on The Masked Singer, but Paula Cole is absolutely right that even at his peak singing ability, he wouldn't have been guaranteed a win. Cole deliberately took the gig on the Fox series not because of the pay (which isn't great) or exposure but to step out of her comfort zone and do something fun she wouldn't normally do.

Paula Cole exited on the same night as Woodpecker, who was ultimately revealed as actress Marsai Martin. While Martin was nervous about Nick Cannon discovering her identity because of their friendship, Cole told us that she was more surprised that the panel guessed so many of her peers from the era in which she first burst onto the scene. Jenny McCarthy correctly predicted it was Cole, though she's usually good at figuring out the identities of celebrities.

Paula Cole competed amongst the Group A contestants, and as she confirmed during our interview, had a blast the whole time. While she had never heard of the show prior to being asked to perform, Cole told CinemaBlend she's watching The Masked Singer while working on other projects:

It's great to hear Paula Cole's perspective, and it makes me want to revisit her performances all over again with a Hulu subscription. Those hoping to see more of Paula Cole singing can always check out her latest album, Lo, which is available on most streaming services or for purchase right now.

Of course, I'm still very much into what's ahead for The Masked Singer Season 12. The show will now move on to the Group B stage, and we'll see a whole new group of hopefuls compete to advance to the next stage of the competition.

The Masked Singer airs on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Now would be a great time to see what else is popping up on the 2024 TV schedule, as many new shows are premiering during the fall season each and every week.

Warning! The following contains spoilers from The Masked Singer Season 12's "Soundtrack Of My Life" episode. Stream it with a Hulu subscription and read at your own risk!

The Masked Singer's Group A finals were super competitive, and the night ended with not one but two contestants being unmasked. Our prediction about Ship being musician Paula Cole was spot on, but Woodpecker was actress Marsai Martin rather than Willow Smith. While we might've been off the mark on guessing, Martin told CinemaBlend she was convinced that everyone, including host Nick Cannon, would figure out her identity immediately.

I had an excellent opportunity to speak to Martin ahead of the airing, and I asked if she was worried about Cannon figuring out who she was since she guest-starred on Wild 'n Out with him years ago. The actress revealed her relationship with Nick Cannon runs deeper than that, and she felt like he and others who knew her well would sus out who she was for one specific reason:

Sure, Black-ish ended with that emotional scene a couple of years ago, but Marsai Martin has stayed busy in Hollywood. She became one of the youngest executive producers in the industry and has slowly shed her persona as a child actress to an adult with a promising career in media. Lots of people know her, including Nick Cannon, and as she mentioned, she felt like he was pretty convinced of her identity long before she was unmasked.

Sure enough, Marsai Martin confirmed to CinemaBlend that as soon as her first performance on the show happened, friends and family members were reaching out to her. Martin doesn't spend a lot of time online, but she had heard through relatives that people had guessed her identity, which made them suspicious she was secretly the Woodpecker. Martin said she kept it secret from extended family members during the process, though it doesn't seem they'll be shocked when they finally see the unmasking.

Ship and Woodpecker's departure left Buffalos as the winner of Group A, and they'll advance to the next stage of the competition. I had Ship as my front-runner to advance, so I was shocked to see the trio outlast them. I would love to see them win it all, but with so many competitors we haven't seen yet, I'm not making any bold predictions about the winner. I do think their unmasking will be one of the more shocking reveals of The Masked Singer because I'm stumped on who they could be.

The Masked Singer airs on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. As we push through what's left of the 2024 TV schedule, look at everything coming up in the months ahead and prepare for more fantastic fall programming.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Masked Singer Season 12 episode "Footloose Night." Stream the episode with a Hulu subscription and read at your own risk!

The Masked Singer "cut loose" in its latest episode and said goodbye to another promising contestant. The Fox series honored one of the best Kevin Bacon movies, Footloose, and despite tearing up the stage, Showbird had to go home. The mask came off, and it was actress Yvette Nicole Brown, who told CinemaBlend she felt Ken Jeong would figure out who she was immediately, even though he's almost always wrong.

Ken is the heart and soul of The Masked Singer, but outside of that wild streak he had in Season 10, he's historically bad at guessing celebrities. That said, a broken clock is always right twice a day, and the same applies to Ken when he used to work with someone on a show. Seeing as they both were on Community, she would've been more surprised if he didn't:

All those years together paid off, and I have to say I loved seeing these two back together before the upcoming Community movie. I should also note this would be Yvette Nicole Brown's second time on The Masked Singer, as she was a guest panelist on Season 3. Brown told CinemaBlend that while she enjoyed being a contestant and bringing her singing skills back to the stage, she preferred being the panelist and guessing contestants' identities.

Yvette Nicole Brown's reveal wasn't among the most shocking we've seen on The Masked Singer, and I'd agree with her assessment that adding Joel McHale to the mix was a giveaway. While I think McHale makes for a great guest panelist on the Fox series, the Community alarm bell is always going to go off in my head if he's involved in a clue since Ken Jeong is also on the show.

I have to give Ken props, as well as CinemaBlend's Heidi Venable for clocking Showbird's identity early. I'm curious to see how the rest of her Group A predictions for The Masked Singer will pan out almost as much as I am curious to see who will emerge as the winner of this group.

Ship feels like a strong choice at the moment who can go far in the competition, but one can never be too sure this early in the season. Group A is scheduled to wrap up in the next episode, so it won't be long before we're through this group and moving on to the next batch of hopefuls.

The Masked Singer airs on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Stick with CinemaBlend this season as we continue to talk to unmasked contestants, and make guesses on who each person appearing might be.

South Park is as unapologetic as TV shows can get, and has ruffled feathers aplenty with some of its most controversial episodes. Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone also aren't afraid to let the series show love to its setting of Colorado, and that applies to paying to renovate the Casa Bonita restaurant when it had financial troubles, as well as honoring its populous' massive love for the Denver Broncos. But does John Elway himself actually like being alleged to be Eric Cartman's dad?

I'd always wondered, and as fate would have it, Elway was recently unmasked as Leaf Sheep on The Masked Singer. He was gracious enough to talk to CinemaBlend about the experience, as well as what he thought about being referenced on South Park over the years. Much to my surprise, it turns out the two-time Super Bowl-winning champion has watched the show in recent years:

The "Duke of Denver" isn't bothered by his South Park portrayal in the slightest, which is great to hear. In fairness, he's gotten far better treatment on the animated hit than other celebrities. Outside of being suggested as Eric Cartman's father, at least before it was disproven, the children also made sacrifices to his statue in "City On The Edge Of Forever," and various other pictures of him have popped up on the show.

Not every celebrity referenced in South Park has gotten away with such a favorable portrayal, as mentioned. Singer Lizzo took her diss in stride when she saw how she was referenced in the "Streaming Wars" special in 2023, but Jennifer Lopez was so offended by her portrayal in Season 7's "Fat Butt and Pancake Head" that she snubbed the creators at an event.

Fortunately, it seems like there is all love for Matt Stone and Trey Parker as far as John Elway is concerned. I'm hoping that, if the creators are genuinely big fans of the player, they can find a way to get him involved in a future episode, just because I never would've guessed he was someone who watched South Park. I guess even Hall of Fame NFL players need something ridiculous to laugh at when during downtime, and we shouldn't be all that surprised they're also watching the same irreverent shows we are.

Now, this just has me wondering what other celebrities are watching South Park, and how they might feel about suddenly becoming the subject of an episode someday. Perhaps there's some secret elite support group we don't know about where they share those feelings, which, ironically enough, might also be a great pitch for a South Park episode.

South Park is available to stream with a Max subscription, though anyone with a Paramount+ subscription can watch a few of their streaming exclusive specials. As for The Masked Singer, Season 12 just kicked off and airs on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Spoiler alert! This story contains the celebrity who was unmasked on the October 9 episode of The Masked Singer’s 12th season. Episodes can be streamed the next day with a Hulu subscription if you need to catch up.

The Masked Singer has returned to the 2024 TV schedule for Season 12, just months after crowning Vanessa Hudgens (formerly known as the Goldfish) the winner of the 11th season. Five costumed celebrities took the stage for the season premiere as Group A, and already we’ve sadly begun to say goodbye to them. (More on that lower down.) Which famous faces and voices hide behind the other elaborate set pieces? Here we’ll break down all the clues and give you our best Group A guesses.

This season features a special clue each week to help the panel; for instance, the Week 1 Ambassador was someone who not only has been on The Masked Singer before but also has a close connection to the celeb they introduced. Let’s get into it:

Buffalos

We got quite a surprise when the Buffalo was actually revealed in Week 1 to be a trio of singers. The three beasts moved into the Season 12 quarterfinals as we all fell in love with the singers in their red vests, boots and cowboy hats. They have certainly brought the energy, dancing around as the panelists dissect the clues, and they seem to be having a great time.

• Songs: “Bitter Sweet Symphony” by The Verve (Week 3); “Waiting for a Girl Like You” by Foreigner (Week 2); [I Just] Died in Your Arms” by Cutting Crew (Week 1).
• Special clues: Performed a halftime show in front of one of the world’s biggest audiences; Ambassador Nick Lachey gave them a golden crown with fleur-de-lis embellishments; a miniature tractor with “Mo-Town” written on the front.
• Clues: Week 3: Bell, Lost their real MacGyver but had to keep the herd together, Dead End sign, umbrella. Week 2: Cactus; Playing poker/poker chips; Bottle of poison with crossbones. Week 1: Raised in “poor grasslands”; kneeling football player on bus stop sign; Betty White, Vanna White and a blank third spot; film reel; Walk of Fame; starred in two of the biggest sitcoms of all time.
• Panel's guesses: Boyz II Men (Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg); Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (Ken Jeong); Black Eyed Peas (Rita Ora).

Our Best Guess

The Buffalos are sounding more and more like Boyz II Men to me, and the clues back it up. As Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg pointed out, the bell could be the Liberty Bell, which is in Philadelphia, and that connects to the “Mo-Town” clue. The “Dead End” sign could be for the group’s song “End of the Road.” In 1992 their tour manager Khalil Rountree was murdered, which fits with the clues about losing their “MacGyver.”

Boyz II Men also performed in the Super Bowl halftime show in 1998, and the kneeling man at the bus stop was “Down on Bended Knee”; but you’d think if it is Boyz II Men, Robin Thicke would know it, since he was a special guest at their four-night stint in Las Vegas this summer (and remember the clue about poker?).

Unmasked: Woodpecker

The Masked Singer has seen some wonderful avian costumes over the years, and the Woodpecker, aka actress Marsai Martin, can add itself to that list. The beautiful, red-and-black-feathered friend was unmasked in the Group A finals.

• Songs: “Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae (Week 3); “Holding Out for a Hero” by Bonnie Tyler (Week 2); “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus (Week 1).
• Special clues: Pair of glasses that remind her of how she got her start. Ambassador Jenifer Lewis gave her a World Record; Kevin Bacon’s sneaker from Footloose, which Woodpecker said alludes to someone in The Masked Singer family sharing her shoe obsession.
• Clues: Week 3: Comes from a long line of strong women, Regina Hall, hamburger, globe. Week 2: Director’s chair; started Hollywood career young; crates of peppers, carrots and other vegetables; Rubber Duck; small brown briefcase. Week 1: A mogul; friends with Beyoncé; red sports tape with the word “NEXT” on it; framed photo of the word “Family” on a gated entrance; striving to be the youngest billionaire; SAT test sheet.
• Panel's guesses: Quinta Brunson (Ken), Keke Palmer (Rita); Tatiana Ali (Jenny); Liza Koshy (Robin).

Connecting The Clues

The panel was stumped with this one, but Nick Cannon knew. He pointed out that Marsai Martin became the youngest executive producer in Hollywood at 14, which speaks to many of the clues about her career and the world record. The glasses are obviously a nod to her role on black-ish, as was the SAT test, and speaking of the beloved ABC sitcom, she gave us a big clue when talking about her love for shoes and someone sharing her “style-ish” obsession.

The sports tape clue was likely a reference to her boyfriend Rajah Caruth, who is a NASCAR driver, and her Ambassador was Jenifer Lewis — another actress from black-ish.

Unmasked: Ship

This was my favorite costume of The Masked Singer Group A, because who doesn’t love an inanimate object come to life? Unfortunately we said goodbye to The Ship, as Paula Cole was unmasked on October 9.

• Songs: “Because the Night” by Patti Smith (Week 3); “Almost Paradise” by Mike Reno and Ann Wilson (Week 2); “Pompeii” by Bastille (Week 1).
• Special clue: Letter from LeAnn Rimes congratulating her on Best New Artist win in 1998; Ambassador Jewel gave her a sparkling silver cowboy hat, and referenced working together many years prior; she’s worked with Melissa Etheridge.
• Clues: Week 3: Sang backup for an international singer, rowboat, John Wayne. Week 2: Medical boot; prom queen; class president; white cowboy boots; raven on a piano; shipwreck/aquarium. Week 1: Silver chalice; career set sail rapidly; she’s had massive hits; white toy plane with a clock on the front set at 11:36; Wanted poster with $15,000 reward; small old-fashioned TV set with rabbit ears that she moved into the shape of an X.
• Panel's guesses: Sarah McLachlan (Rita), Paula Cole (Jenny), Amy Lee (Robin); Alanis Morissette (Ken).

Connecting The Clues

The clues in the Group A finals further confirmed even before her unmasking that we were right about Paula Cole. She sang backup on Peter Gabriel’s world tour in 1993-94 and won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1998. We got another cowboy clue in John Wayne following previous weeks’ references to “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” and the rowboat was a nod to Dawson’s Creek, which she provided the theme song for.

Our reasoning in previous weeks stemmed from Paul Cole being prom queen and president of her senior class in high school. She broke her foot, which is when she turned her focus to music. The title of her sixth studio album is Raven, and Cole dueted with Melissa Etheridge on VH1. As was pointed out by Jenny McCarthy Wahlbert, Paula Cole and Jewel were both main-stage performers for the inaugural year of Lilith Fair.

Unmasked: Showbird

We bid farewell to the Showbird, as Yvette Nicole Brown was unmasked on the October 2 episode. Here’s how her run on the show played out:

• Songs: “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” by Deniece Williams (Week 2); "Just Fine" by Mary J. Blige (Week 1)
• Special clues: Ambassador Joel McHale gave her popcorn; music box that represented being part of a hip-hop empire in 1994.
• Clues: Week 2: Large rings; a windmill; purple cupcake; and a shout-out to her man. Week 1: Three microphones; was a tomboy growing up and self-described nerd; Advanced Singing 401 textbook; golden gavel; appeared in some of the biggest blockbusters of all time.
• Panel's guesses: Yvette Nicole Brown (Ken and Robin); Taraji P. Henson (Jenny and Rita); Sheila E. (Rita).

Connecting The Clues

Ken nailed it with his guess, and I was confident we’d made the right pick in Week 1 with Yvette Nicole Brown, largely because of the cadence of her voice, but the clues definitely backed it up. Everything she said about finding love referenced her fiancé, actor Anthony Davis, especially the fact that they reconnected after knowing each other for years. In 1994, she was part of the East Coast Family group that included Boyz II Men. The cupcake might have been a nod to her appearance on Cupcake Wars. There were also the Community-based clues in Joel McHale and a textbook.

The gavel possibly referenced her role as Judge Harper on A Black Lady Sketch Show, and she was in Avengers: Endgame — one of the biggest blockbusters of all time. The actress has described herself as a “nerd,” and is a well-known superfan of properties like Star Wars and The Walking Dead. Lego was mentioned amongst the clues, and Yvette Nicole Brown has voiced roles on several Lego movies for Marvel, DC and Star Wars.

First Eliminated Celebrity

• The Leaf Sheep — which yes, is apparently a real thing — was unmasked in the season premiere to reveal it was none other than Denver Broncos legend John Elway. The two-time Super Bowl champ (who the panelists thought might be Tom Brady) delivered a rousing performance Tim McGraw's "I Like It, I Love It," though perhaps one that didn't exactly remained on key.

Group A is going strong on The Masked Singer Season 12, and I can't wait to hear what else they bring in the coming weeks. New episodes air at 8 p.m. ET Wednesdays on Fox.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Masked Singer Season 12 premiere "Who Can It Be Now?" Stream the premiere with a Hulu subscription and read at your own risk.

The Masked Singer returned to Fox's Fall TV schedule for Season 12, and as usual, the first reveal was a big one that was pretty easy to see coming. While the panel ultimately did correctly guess the Super Bowl-winning first contestant's identity, they initially mistook them for football legend Tom Brady. Leaf Sheep was sent home, and considering he was a Super Bowl-winning NFL quarterback, CinemaBlend had to get his thoughts on being compared to the G.O.A.T.

Brady wasn't the worst guess for The Masked Singer panel to throw out there. He's getting paid an exorbitant amount of money to commentate football for Fox, so I could easily see them offering a guest spot on the show to promote that further. As previously mentioned, it wasn't him, but I did get a chance to speak to the legendary quarterback who was underder mask, and get his thoughts on being compared to the arguable GOAT.

John Elway Was Unmasked As The Leaf Sheep

The Leaf Sheep stepped out of their uniquely shaped vehicle and was revealed to be John Elway, the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback of the Denver Broncos. Elway amassed many accolades over his career, but apparently never had the time for singing lessons. Elway confirmed to CinemaBlend that his swift exit was not a surprise, as he's well aware his vocal chops don't stack up to professionals.

How John Elway Felt Being Compared To Tom Brady

While Ken Jeong shockingly guessed John Elway as Leaf Sheep before the rest of the panel, the name Tom Brady was obviously also thrown out. I told the legend I couldn't help but chuckle when I heard Brady mentioned, even though he's an icon that many credit with the massive success of the New England Patriots. There was once a point where Elway was one of the most talked-about quarterbacks of the league, so I had to get his thoughts on being compared to his younger peer:

John Elway noted that the panel got it right in the end but added that he was never insulted to be compared to Tom Brady. After all, Brady had the Netflix roast, is on television honing his commentating skills on Sundays, and posts thirst traps in between all that. Elway had his time to shine back in the '80s and '90s, and completely understands why the world might fall back on recency bias in thinking of other great quarterbacks.

Hats off to Elway for the honest response and for participating in The Masked Singer. As readers may know, contestants don't get paid much to be there, and he didn't have a tour or any upcoming project to promote. He went out of his comfort zone to do this just for the fun of it, and while he told CinemaBlend he wished he had more time to prepare, his unmasking still made for a great surprise to cap off the Season 12 premiere.

The Masked Singer airs on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET, so get ready for a fun season!

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Season 11 finale of The Masked Singer. Watch the finale with a Hulu subscription if you missed it on Fox and read at your own risk!

The Masked Singer Season 11 has come to an end, and what a treat the finale was. The Goldfish and Gumball went head to head, and of course, only one could win. The fish came out on top, and after seeing Gumball unmasked and revealed as actor Scott Porter, Goldfish was unmasked and revealed to be actress Vanessa Hudgens. 

CinemaBlend had a chance to speak to Hudgens, who has had a busy start to 2024 between a beach wedding at the close of last year and her pregnancy announcement. I asked the Bad Boys: Ride or Die actress about her feelings before the winner was announced and if she felt victory was a sure thing or had doubts. The actress admitted that she wasn't thinking of either because she didn't get into The Masked Singer to compete: 

Hudgens joined The Masked Singer for the fans, so hopefully, they were watching The Goldfish's jaw-dropping performances. Her singing was a bright point of a season in which the talent was lacking, which had me worried that Season 11 had a major problem. Fortunately, contestants improved as the season went on, and I'd argue this finale was one of the best based on singing. 

So if Vanessa Hudgens wasn't in it to compete, and I can't imagine the small pay to do The Masked Singer was appetizing, so was there any positive to doing the show? The actress confirmed her feelings about playing The Goldfish, and what it meant to be seen as a fish and not the actress who used to be in High School Musical: 

I can certainly understand the appeal of the freedom to sing anonymously and not be judged based on who people may think you are or what you're about. Corey Feldman expressed the same feeling to CinemaBlend, stating that he felt the comments about his performances were kinder than the ones he'd generally receive when the audience knew who he was. 

Overall, Goldfish's win made for a satisfying ending to The Masked Singer Season 11, which did have some other high points outside of singing. Perhaps the biggest plus was adding Rita Ora to the panel in Nicole Scherzinger's absence, and I'd love to see her return in the future. We'll have to wait and see whether or not that will happen, as Scherzinger's status for Season 12 remains unconfirmed. 

The Masked Singer Season 11 is over, but those who want to rewatch the whole season can do so by checking it out over at Hulu. For those in need of something else to watch, head on over to our 2024 TV schedule for a look at what to check out next. 

The Masked Singer Season 11 is coming to an end, but that doesn't mean it can't drop a surprise every now and then. This time I wasn't shocked by an unmasking, or the fact that Grammy-winning singer Thelma Houston was revealed before being sent home ahead of the finale. I was surprised, however, to learn one wild detail about a protective measure the show takes to conceal contestants' identities, which I never heard before.

Following her elimination episode, now available to stream with a Hulu subscription, Houston was kind enough to spend some time talking to CinemaBlend about her experience, and we landed on the topic of the immense amount of effort Fox puts into making sure the identities of contestants remain a secret. This led to a reveal I still can't believe, but am impressed all the same by how dedicated The Masked Singer crew is.

Thelma Houston Revealed The Masked Singer Gave Her A Fake Name

Performing as The Clock on The Masked Singer had its challenges, but as Thelma Houston told CinemaBlend, she had to remain just as covered up even when she was out of her costume. Readers may be familiar with the black sweatshirt and masked visor contestants wear and the fact that all of their skin must be covered to prevent anyone from making a guess about their identity. Houston revealed to me that she had to be suited up from the time she was picked up to do the show and dropped another wild reveal:

According to Thelma Houston, The Masked Singer actually gave the ride service driver a fake name to pick her up! There's a part of me that wonders if maybe the driver was just assuming the person who scheduled the ride was the passenger, though with Houston all suited up and needing a ride to the studio, I wouldn't put it past the network to do something like this. Pretty amazing she went along with it, especially since doing the singing series does not pay well.

The Masked Singer Goes To Great Lengths To Protect Contestants' Identities

CinemaBlend has heard stories of the great lengths The Masked Singer goes to prevent spoilers before. Even Dog The Bounty Hunter confessed he couldn't crack the code of figuring out who he was on the show with when he performed. Besides the aforementioned clothing that hides their appearance, people on set are not allowed to speak to the contestant, though I've heard they do have handlers who will get them things if they request it.

Despite even the best efforts, The Masked Singer has accidentally leaked out the identity of contestants before. One notable event was when the series made headlines when Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke left the stage after former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani was unmasked. That's still a pretty good track record, though, as few others have let it slip who they were before it was time for the mask to come off.

The Masked Singer Season 11 is buzzing along, and I'm still liking the odds of Gumball winning. I originally thought this season had a major problem with the amount of talent attached to it, but these past few episodes have shown that the real diamonds were just waiting for their chance to shine at the tail end. This finale should be a wild one, regardless of who gets the Golden Mask trophy at the end.

Tune in for the Season 11 finale of The Masked Singer on Fox on Wednesday, May 22nd, at 8:00 p.m. ET. I still have no clue who is hiding under the masks of the remaining contestants, so it will be great to see who is finally underneath when it's all over.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Masked Singer Season 11's "Quarter Finals: Final Four." Read at your own risk!

The Masked Singer's quarter-finals concluded, and this is always the part where the season gets difficult. Poodle Moth didn't exactly deserve to go home, but given the stage of the competition, it's inevitable someone talented is bound to. The fuzzy insect was unmasked, and surprise, it was actress Chrissy Metz, who got real with CinemaBlend about the stigma surrounding actors getting into music.

One year after desperately missing This Is Us, the actress continues to move onward and upward into new roles, and taking on new singing adventures. Metz has performed at the Grand Ole Opry and elsewhere since the end of her NBC series, but there are still people who don't know she's as passionate about music as she is acting. CinemaBlend was fortunate to spend some time talking to her about singing, and her goal as she continues to perform alongside her acting career:

Chrissy Metz's music is out on every major streaming platform and she has songs she intends to release down the road. Perhaps those who only knew her from the This Is Us cast or other roles will check it out and hear the voice that I think legitimately could've won The Masked Singer.

Of course, some readers may not take Chrissy Metz as seriously as a singer they do for her as an actor, which is a strange phenomenon she addressed. Metz, who will join the upcoming Starz drama The Hunting Wives, talked about the truth that audiences tend to have a bias when it comes to famous actors and singing:

The actress' statement felt relevant, considering I had only recently talked to Corey Feldman, who talked about the eye-opening experience he had as The Seal. Feldman felt comments about his singing were kinder when people weren't aware it was him, which could factor into what Metz says above. It's also true there are actors like Jared Leto and Will Smith who started careers in music but, for some reason, aren't stigmatized much as the other way around.

While Chrissy Metz's singing journey will continue elsewhere, The Masked Singer still has to crown a winner for Season 11. While I originally noted that there wasn't a clear frontrunner, which created a major problem for the season, I've recently honed in on Gumball being the favorite to win. My second choice was The Beets, but since they were unmasked and revealed as American idol pals Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken, I'm back on Team Gumball!

The Masked Singer airs on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Season 11 is quickly winding down, so be sure to get current and prepare for what should be an exciting finale.

The Masked Singer threw Season 11 viewers for a loop with The Beets, as I'd imagine most viewers failed to successfully guess the talented duo. Upon elimination, famed American Idol alums Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken were revealed to be in costume, which likely shocked anyone who put stock in rumors that the respective Season 2 Idol winner and runner-up hated each other. Now, over 20 years after that life-changing finale, they're talking about the reality behind their supposed feud. 

Considering they teamed up for The Masked Singer after having previously appeared on American Idol in recent years, I figured Studdard and Aiken had by now put any lingering tensions behind them. But when they sat with CinemaBlend to talk reality TV, I had to ask them about tabloid reports about personal feuding that I could still recall seeing when I was younger. Clay Aiken listened to my story and then set the record straight: 

The allegations that tension existed and thrived between the two singers was completely false, according to Clay Aiken, who recently went on tour with Ruben Studdard, which would be one of the worst things to do with a legitimate rival. They've always been supportive of each other over the years when it comes to music and seemed as thick as thieves during our interview as they did on The Masked Singer stage. I guess that makes sense if their friendship actually did start forming 20 years ago without any authentically foul feelings building up.

It's a bond that's proven strong enough for the occasional ribbing, as Studdard cracked a joke leaning into the idea that he and Aiken were enemies. The singer joked about "bullying" Aiken when they were on the show together so that he could have an edge in the competition: 

Great banter from two American Idol legends, who seem so far removed from today's current product. Not through any fault of their own, as a lot has changed about the series in over two decades. Minus the fact that both the Fox and ABC iterations are part of Ryan Seacrest's biggest hosting gigs, the world has changed drastically. Imagine the online tweets about their finale had X existed back then!

Looking back at The Beets' prior performances, which can be found by streaming The Masked Singer with a Hulu subscription, it's a shock that they didn't make it out of the Group B Finals. Gumball was just too much to overcome, it seems, though their exit, paired with fan comments, did make the other eliminated contestant, and actor Corey Feldman, feel much better about leaving. 

Their elimination also solidified my opinion that Gumball is the new frontrunner to win The Masked Singer Season 11, which is a relief. This latest season had a major problem starting out in that none of the artists stood out, but it feels like he's started to separate from the pack. The season, hopefully, has the ability to finish just as strong as when it started with Rita Ora and will hopefully get me jazzed about the idea of Season 12. 

The Masked Singer airs on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. I'm dying to see who the remaining contestants involved in this season are, so I can't wait to see who else is unveiled in the coming weeks. 

Spoilers ahead for the April 24 episode of The Masked Singer on Fox.

The Masked Singer is a great show where a shocking reveal is never too far off, and suffice it to say the latest elimination was a surprise. To see Miss Cleocatra unmasked as actress Jenifer Lewis was a real treat, especially considering her participation might never have happened. Lewis agreed to the show while recovering from a near-fatal accident (and on morphine for th pain), but she didn't let that slow her down. 

Lewis, who was just featured on the recently canceled So Help Me Todd a couple of weeks ago, spoke to CinemaBlend about her run on The Masked Singer. Not long into our interview, the actress mentioned how doing the show was a little more difficult than agreeing. She was still unable to walk following a near-fatal accident in Africa, but worked with the show anyway to find ways to be a part of the fun: 

For readers unfamiliar, Jenifer Lewis was on vacation in Africa when she fell from a balcony ten feet onto rocks and stone. The actress had only gone public about the accident back in March, telling ABC News she didn't want to talk about the incident until she was sure she could recover from it. It seems like The Masked Singer was a test for Lewis to prove she could still do what she loves, and she found a way to make it happen. 

Not only did Jenifer Lewis make it happen, but she outlasted Afghan Hound, who was one of the worst singers the franchise ever had. Even so, to do that with all the hurdles and work she had to do while recovering was very impressive and something I guarantee I wouldn't be up for after an injury like that. Actresses must just have that X factor, considering Kate Flannery told us she carried on after taking a big tumble in her costume. 

Apparently, if readers use their Hulu subscription, they may be able to spot some of the devices used to keep Lewis upright during her performances. The actress noted a specific scene she spotted one of the devices and talked about having to be on pain medication during the show: 

And here I thought it was trippy for Savannah Chrisley to compete on The Wizard Of Oz episode, having never seen the movie. Doing the show while on morphine had to be quite an experience for Jenifer Lewis, and she's done quite a few wild things in her career. For now, she's settling back into Hollywood following her recovery and even reprising her role as Mama Odie from The Princess and the Frog for Tiana's Bayou Adventure at Disney World.

Season 11 of The Masked Singer is still rolling on without Miss Cleocatra, though it still has one major problem. I'm still waiting on one of the contestants to blow me away, and with only two more group finals to get to before we move on to the final stretch, I'm wondering if this season may just not have an outright frontrunner. 

Catch new episodes of The Masked Singer on Wednesdays on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET. After seeing Jenifer Lewis go home, I hope the rest of the competitors can step up.

The Masked Singer is a fun experience, according to most celebrities I've spoken to over the years, but if there is one complaint many of them have, it's the wardrobe they wear. The costumes are colorful, inventive, occasionally terrifying, and they're often uncomfortable. Contestants have had to wear ice vests to keep cool and have struggled with mobility. Kate Flannery was one of the latest to talk about her struggles and falling while wearing the Starfish costume in Season 11.

If viewers go back and watch Kate Flannery's performances as Starfish by streaming The Masked Singer with their Hulu subscription, they'll see some really interesting movements. I clocked it immediately and wanted to know from the actress if that was her committing to being a humanoid Starfish or movement restrictions from the costume. It turns out, the answer is a little of both:

Issues with movement aside, The Starfish I think is worthy of inclusion in the best costumes on The Masked Singer list. It's so colorful, cute, and fun to look at. Totally in the spirit of the show and a reminder that not every costume has to be super elaborate to be awesome-looking.

That said, it was a struggle to move in, and as I guessed, Kate Flannery did fall down one time while wearing it. Flannery said that while she did okay with it for the most part, the one off-camera fall she did take required a lot of effort to get back up:

Fortunately, the actress was unharmed, which wasn't too surprising to me. I saw Kate Flannery's Meredith get hit by a car on The Office, so I figured it would take more than a trip on stage to bring her down. Fun fact: Flannery actually filmed that sitcom stunt (via Mashable), which immediately ranks her in my mind as one of The Office's best characters.

Kate Flannery's elimination meant that Goldfish is moving on to the finals, and I'm concerned. The Masked Singer Season 11 still has a problem in that it doesn't have a standout singer who I'd say is better than the rest of the pack, though it does heighten the thrill of guessing who will win. It also has made big singing nights like Queen Night feel a bit lackluster, especially when no one attempts to sing "Bohemian Rhapsody." At least I'm still having fun so far, even if I'm a bit bummed we had to say goodbye to The Starfish after just three appearances.

The Masked Singer airs on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Season 11 is going by fast, so if you haven't had a chance to check out the new season and the latest panel judge Rita Ora in action, now would be a great time to catch up ahead of next week's episode.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Masked Singer's Season 11 episode called "Group A Finals: Queen Night." Read at your own risk!

The Masked Singer team clearly loves its theme nights, and it's rare that the series ever misses the mark. That said, I couldn't help but feel Season 11 disappointed a little with Queen Night, though the letdown is understandable. How, on a night that celebrated the awesome rock band, was "Bohemian Rhapsody" left out of the performances?

It's a song so iconic that the award-winning biopic about the band was named after it, and it's part of the reason why Wayne's World is one of the best movies based on Saturday Night Live characters. It being left out of performances is questionable, to say the least, but also understandable for a few reasons.

Why I Get That No One Sang "Bohemian Rhapsody"

The Masked Singer's Queen night was also the Group A Finals for Season 11, so there was a lot on the line. I can only imagine the pressure of picking a song performed by one of the best modern vocalists in Freddie Mercury, and hoping the audience likes it. Ultimately, Goldfish was the big winner who advanced, with Ugly Sweater being unmasked as singer Charlie Wilson and Starfish being unmasked as Kate Flannery. It was a night that felt like anyone could advance, so I can understand why singing a song as complex as "Bohemian Rhapsody" was a risk no contestant wanted to take.

While I loved Rita Ora's stunning performance during the premiere, which can be streamed with a Hulu subscription, I doubt even she or fellow panelist Robin Thicke had the pipes to do justice to that song. Adam Lambert had time for a cameo in Bohemian Rhapsody, but the current Queen frontman didn't have time to appear to perform this song on The Masked Singer?

The Theme Night Did Nod To The Song In Other Ways

While "Bohemian Rhapsody" was not performed on stage, The Masked Singer did find other ways to pay homage to the song. Galileo (Galileo) came out to deliver a clue, and Ken Jeong's tagline under his title card referred to him as a "Silhouetto of a man." Unfortunately, at no point did he do the fandango, so I do have to subtract points for that.

It's disappointing because The Masked Singer has delivered on wild premises like Harry Potter Night, and I felt like they felt short with a relatively tame premise. Of course, I kind of expected that because I think Season 11 has a major problem in that none of this season's contestants are stand-out excellent singers. At least, not as impressive as some of the ones I've seen from previous seasons, but there's still plenty of time for at least one to step up with a truly show-stopping performance.

The Masked Singer airs on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Group A final is already wrapped up, so be sure to tune in and see who will advance to the Season 11 finale and be crowned the next champion.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Masked Singer Season 11 episode "Transformers Night." Read at your own risk!

The Masked Singer is known for shocking reveals, and while the latest elimination may not make the list for everybody, I certainly was shocked to learn Lovebird's identity after seeing them go home on their second appearance. It was also surprising to see them back on network television, but Colton Brown-Underwood has returned, and it may not be the last time we see him doing reality TV. 

Brown-Underwood, formerly known to The Bachelor viewers simply as Colton Underwood before coming out as gay and marrying his partner Jordan C. Brown, spoke about appearing as his true self to audiences on The Masked Singer, which had me wondering if it was the first of many more appearances in reality television. I asked the reality star if we could expect to see him on The Traitors or maybe Celebrity Big Brother, and he said the following: 

In short, it sounds like Colton Brown-Underwood is already in discussions for future reality show performances. Whether or not those come to fruition are yet to be determined, and I wouldn't expect to see him back with The Bachelor anytime soon. Brown-Underwood said in 2021 he doesn't mess with the franchise, with a couple of expletives that make it seem he has no interest in retreading that old ground. 

It's understandable, considering Colton Brown-Underwood has gone through a lot of changes since then, and it sounds like he's hoping to showcase a new side of himself to audiences. The reality star shared with CinemaBlend how he's already doing that with one side project and navigating how to share this side of himself with the world:

Colton Brown-Underwood just laid out how complicated it can be to be a reality star who wishes to have a private life as well. With that said, it seems like he's willing to navigate it for the sake of others, and we could see more of him beyond the series Coming Out Colton, which is available with a Netflix subscription. Of course, we won't see him on The Masked Singer anymore, given his elimination alongside Koala, who was NFL pro athlete DeMarcus Ware.

Transformers Night was another exciting episode that somehow outdid The Masked Singer's fantastic Season 11 premiere, and I give all the credit to Optimus Prime. Sure, Rita Ora has been a fantastic addition to the panel, but can you imagine having the leader of the Autobots on the panel? If we can never get a movie about Optimus Prime, that would be a pretty sweet consolation prize. 

Until the day the Autobots live among us, I'll be content with new episodes of The Masked Singer on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Those who want to revisit Colton Brown-Underwood's previous performance can do so with a Hulu subscription, and I'd certainly recommend they do because it was impressive. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers from The Masked Singer's "TV Theme Night." Read at your own risk!

The Masked Singer delivered another entertaining episode in Season 11, but for the first time this season, I couldn't quiet the nagging voice in my head. After the Smack Down round in which Lizard once again stood tall and defeated The Lion (who was revealed to be TV personality Billy Bush), there was no denying it. No contestant so far has stood out as a favorite for me, and I think that's a problem.

Season 11's strong premiere clouded me from seeing it, but after witnessing Joe Bastianich getting robbed of his chance to advance over Lizard, it feels clear. Every previous season has had a clear frontrunner or maybe even two who seemed prime to win, but we haven't seen that in Season 11 yet.

The Masked Singer Has Shown Some Good Singers, But No One Great

The Masked Singer Season 11 has shown us some good singers, but I can't say any of them have knocked me off my feet like others have in previous seasons. The episodes have also featured some of the worst singers we've seen yet, but the truth is the talent pool thus far is just okay.

While I've often argued that The Masked Singer is more about the guessing than the singing, Season 11 is steering me the other way. As much as seeing a shocking reveal is fun, it's also fun to hear some unexpected jaw-dropping performances from performers out of nowhere.

The panel has cried before because a contestant has sung so beautifully, but it's dry eyes all around this season. While I might be the only one with this opinion for now, fans may see what I'm talking about if they use a Hulu subscription to check out past seasons.

The Masked Singer Season 11 Only Has Two More Contestants To Show

With the first wildcard eliminated on The Masked Singer, there are only two more contestants who have not performed. All I'm saying is we better see something spectacular from Koala or Seal, or this might be one of the worst seasons of the series in terms of performers.

One thing I will say is that it's a good thing that Joe Bastianich did go home despite me calling shenanigans on his elimination. While The Lizard was in the Bottom 2 of the night yet again, his vocal range allows him to do a wider range of songs than Bastianich might've had. He did really crush those Billy Joel covers, however, and I won't take that away from him. We'll have to wait and see if this continues to be a problem as the season goes on, or if the Wild Card contestants or someone we've already seen takes a massive step forward with their performances.

Catch new episodes of The Masked Singer on Wednesdays on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET, and be sure to check out what else is on the 2024 TV schedule. With so much to look forward to, my DVR is going to be clocking in some serious overtime to record all the shows I want to watch.

The Masked Singer's Joe Bastianich was sent home following the Smackdown round, which I feel might be one of the more controversial eliminations the Fox series has shown in recent seasons. Bastianich gave about as pitch-perfect performance of Billy Joel's "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" as one could give but was sent home over The Lizard. I told the MasterChef judge I thought he was robbed, and he reacted to that in addition to telling CinemaBlend why he went with a more traditional performance. 

I was thrilled to be speaking to Bastianich about The Masked Singer, as I felt he had no business being eliminated on Billy Joel Night. His performances led me to believe he's sung those songs before, so I asked about that and learned what the singer/songwriter meant to the successful restauranteur's life:

It's no surprise to hear Joe Bastianich speak so fondly of Billy Joel, especially since he  grew up hearing those iconic songs and actually knows the singer. I can also understand it because when Bastianich is not appearing on Gordon Ramsay's TV shows, he's making his own music. Bastianich's music can be found on Spotify, and he'll be touring Europe this summer for any who want to see The Masked Singer's Spaghetti and Meatballs without the costume.  

Knowing Joe Bastianich is a singer, I had to wonder if it stung to lose in the Smackdown round considering he lost essentially because The Lizard did a bunch of vocal runs rather than singing the actual song they were tasked with. After a short "No comment," Bastianich said the following about it: 

The Masked Singer's contestants live and die by the votes of the audience, who were once deemed so non-essential during the lockdown they were replaced by unsettling fake attendees. I only say this because I think Joe Bastianich was robbed, and after praising the Fox series for Season 11's premiere outshining Season 10, I feel it's time to get a little critical. 

That said, The Lizard is still a solid singer. This isn't a case where he was the worst singer The Masked Singer has ever seen; Billy Joel's song catalog just didn't match his vocals. He almost had to try and do something different to try and win, and the gamble paid off.

Ultimately, we'll see if he can give a cleaner performance on another night or if he'll be the next person out of his group. I wouldn't be surprised if he just had an off night, considering The Masked Singer contestants aren't paid well to be in top condition. 

Joe Bastianich's early departure wasn't the most egregious elimination we've seen on The Masked Singer, but it was unexpected. The show has gone to such great lengths in the past to combat the occasionally questionable judgment of the in-studio audience that it would be nice to see something implemented earlier in the season. I don't think anyone deserved to go home this week, but of course, that isn't how it works this season. 

The Masked Singer airs on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Season 11 still has yet to deliver a front-runner that I feel confident will take this season, though there are still some wildcards planned for this season that we haven't seen yet. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Masked Singer's Season 11 episode "Billy Joel Night." Read at your own risk!

The Masked Singer has debuted another one of its fun theme nights, this one featuring the music of award-winning singer and songwriter Billy Joel. Just when I thought the show was on the right path after rightfully eliminating its worst singer, Season 11 of the Fox series might have its first controversy.

In what is a credit to Billy Joel's song catalog, there wasn't a bad song performance of the night. Regardless, two people had to enter the Smackdown round, and we learned Spaghetti and Meatballs was set to go against Lizard. The latter ended up winning the showdown, but I'm calling shenanigans and going on the record to say MasterChef judge Joe Bastianich didn't deserve to go home.

Let's revisit how the Smackdown played out and why I think the judge from one of Gordon Ramsay's best TV shows didn't deserve the boot. 

The Masked Singer's Smackdown Round Went Differently Than Past Seasons

The Masked Singer's Smackdown round was centered on a performance of "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)," though it was unlike what we've seen in the past. Spaghetti, who we now know as Joe Bastianich, gave more of a karaoke performance of the best Billy Joel impersonation we heard of the episode. He didn't sing it as well as Joel did, of course, but if I was watching him in a bar on a Friday night, I'd say, "That spaghetti costume is weird, but he's pretty talented."

When it was time for Lizard to go, he did something different. He started off singing "Movin' Out," but midway through, he essentially abandoned the song and just started performing vocal runs. It was a bold gamble, but ultimately one that paid off as the crowd was chanting his name and ended up advancing him through over Spaghetti and Meatballs.  

Should The Theme Night Factor Into The Audience's Vote? 

I'm not sure this will go down as one of The Masked Singer's most shocking, or even the most crushing elimination, considering we've seen Grammy winners sent home over non-singers. I will say, though, that I feel the audience got this vote wrong, and I'm kind of upset about a singer advancing despite being the objectively worst performer of Billy Joel's songs. 

I think that the theme night should absolutely factor in the decision of voting in The Masked Singer's Smackdown, and that Joe Bastianich should've gotten to advance. Why are we still trusting the people who were deemed so nonessential they were faked in episodes during the pandemic to make decisions on who goes forward in the competition? 

Controversial elimination aside, The Masked Singer Season 11 is killing it, and that's thanks to big celebrity guests and new panelist Rita Ora. I don't think this latest elimination set the season on the wrong path yet, but I hope to hear a frontrunner soon because I'm not sure I have a firm grasp on who I think will win this season. Perhaps the Wild Card competitors will give us a better idea of that. 

The Masked Singer airs on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET, and those with a Hulu subscription can watch it on streaming. Tune in to see the long-running Fox competition ahead of next week, where the contestants will sing their favorite TV themes. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the series premiere of We Are Family. Read at your own risk!

Anthony Anderson just kicked off a new series on Fox with his beloved Mama Doris, and as a fan of The Masked Singer, I really enjoy We Are Family. For those who are missing their usual Wednesday night obsession, the new series centered on relatives of famous celebrities is a solid spiritual spinoff, and there are some key similarities viewers will appreciate. 

Before we get much further, viewers needn't fear about the status of The Masked Singer. The Fox series is already slated to return with Season 11 in the 2024 TV schedule, so everyone can tune into We Are Family while waiting for their other beloved celeb-singing series to return. In fact, they may want to after how the series premiere went down!

Anthony Anderson's Mama Doris Is Just Like Ken Jeong

Outside of his unexpected hot streak in The Masked Singer Season 10, Ken Jeong is typically awful at guessing contestants' identities. Fortunately, he's able to make up for that by being entertaining, which is exactly what Anthony Anderson's Mama Doris has decided to do on We Are Family. I can't imagine she actually thought Johnny Depp or Joe Biden were inside the sphere in either of her guesses, but I love the way she tied both together with the clues in an amusing way. Much like Jeong, she's found that being extremely wrong is funny and it adds to the appeal of the show. 

The Singing Is Pretty Good So Far

It's taken some time, but The Masked Singer has reached a stage where it nets consistently good singers, even if a talent like John Oates was ready to leave when his time was up. We Are Family set the bar pretty high with its singing talent in the premiere and rolled out former Destiny's Child singer Michelle Williams, much to the delight of guests. Of course, much of this show leans on the talent of celebrities' relatives. Maybe talent running in families is why nepo babies are so successful?

Contestants Are Trying To Win Money, So The Guesses Are Solid

While The Masked Singer's Ginuwine thought calling him Brian McKnight was a crazy guess in Season 10, that guess was within reason compared to earlier seasons. The judges frequently used to throw out guesses like Lady Gaga, Tom Cruise, and other A-listers that, with all due respect, would not do a guest appearance on a Fox reality series. The Masked Singer has had shocking reveals, but nothing quite as shocking as that. 

We Are Family features a studio audience that is all competing for a share of $100,000. They all get chances, and unlike the celebrity panelists of The Masked Singer, have a real incentive to put forward the best guess they can muster. There were a few outliers, but I felt that many gave some really good ideas. I certainly appreciated it, because I didn't come anywhere close to getting any celebrity right in the premiere, so hopefully, the good guesses keep on coming in future episodes. 

Is We Are Family the next hit singing show like The Masked Singer? Only time will tell if it has staying power, but for now, I can say that I enjoyed the premiere and the fun of seeing people compete to guess the identity of celebrities Michelle Williams, Joel McHale, or Nikki Glaser. Maybe next episode, I'll try to give it a better go with deciphering the clues, and pretend that I'm also playing like there's money on the line. 

We Are Family is some good television, so be sure to tune into new episodes on Fox on Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. ET. Those without access can also watch the premiere with a Hulu subscription and check out the wide variety of shows making a splash as 2024 gets underway. 

The Masked Singer Season 10 recently concluded, and it was a super-sized season finale featuring four contestants, all battling for the top position. Despite being my frontrunner to win since Episode 2, Gazelle did not advance, and Ken Jeong was eager to see them unmasked. Jeong was mainly thrilled because he was sure he'd be saying hello to friend and actress Constance Wu. So, how did Janel Parrish feel when her mask came off and she shocked Jeong? CinemaBlend was lucky enough to find out. 

I had the honor of speaking to Janel Parrish about her time on The Masked Singer, which featured a near-elimination in the Group A final before she pushed to the finale only to fall short of eventual winner Ne-Yo. What I wanted to know most was how Parrish felt when Ken Jeong gave his heartfelt speeches about Constance Wu and her career, knowing he would be shocked when she was unmasked. Here's what she had to say: 

Even if she wasn't Constance Wu, Janel Parrish still managed to wow Ken Jeong with her singing. She also managed to wow the judges enough to be saved ahead of the finale after losing to accomplished pop singer Ne-Yo, which is a huge accomplishment in itself. This is especially true for an actress like Parrish, who is more commonly known as a former cast member of Pretty Little Liars than a singer. 

Janel Parrish's run was just one of the elements that made Season 10's finale one of the most memorable to date, as bittersweet as it was. It's hard not to be bummed out realizing this could be the final time the celebrity panel is together. As a fan who watched since Season 1, it won't feel the same watching Season 11 without Nicole Scherzinger. I could always rewatch her on previous seasons with my Hulu subscription, but it will just feel different when the new season finally kicks off in 2024. 

With a vacant spot on the celebrity panel, it would be cool to see past competitors like Janel Parrish and others return to critique the contestants after their performances. One thing I think The Masked Singer could improve on going forward is bringing on guests who can provide more perspective on what the contestants have to go through while they're still wearing the mask. People like Parrish, who wore a Gazelle costume from the start to the finish, would be great at that, so hopefully there's time to include them in the fun. 

The Masked Singer Season 10 is over, but Season 11 is on the way to Fox in 2024.  Here's hoping the new season can deliver on the thrills we saw in Season 10 because the bar is as high as it has ever been for the cast and crew to deliver. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Masked Singer Season 10 finale. Read at your own risk!

The Masked Singer closed out an epic Season 10, and it was as wild as expected. With four contestants in the finale, there was a lot to fill two hours of the show, and it was a real nail-biter until the winner was finally crowned. Cow stood tall among the rest, and after he was revealed to be pop superstar Ne-Yo, I'm not all that surprised he won. All that fun aside, there was one aspect of the season finale that had me bummed out, and it had nothing to do with the competition. 

I was a bit sad that my prediction since Episode 2 that Gazelle, who turned out to be actress Janel Parrish, would win didn't pan out. It wasn't that, however, or the reveals of Sea Queen as singer Macy Gray or runner-up Donut as actor John Schneider that had me down. Instead, my thoughts were on the panel, and the realization that one of the best things about The Masked Singer might be coming to an end. 

Season 10 Might Be The Final Time We See The Core Masked Singer Panel Together

While Nick Cannon confirmed The Masked Singer will return for Season 11, there will be one key change. Nicole Scherzinger will not return for the upcoming season, and it's unknown when or if she will return at all. It will be the first season since the beginning that the series had a different guest panel than the core four of Scherzinger, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Robin Thicke critiquing performances and giving clues. 

Season 10 of The Masked Singer, with its wild theme nights tied to the NFL and Harry Potter, was a celebration of the series. This landmark season was a tribute to everything that came before and almost a capstone on what's ahead for a new era. When thinking about the current panel, that's kind of sad because everything they bring to the show as a team makes it so great. 

First, Nicole Scherzinger leaves, and then what? Will Ken Jeong start getting correct guesses more often than his unexpected hot streak in Season 10? So much has gone right for this franchise so far I hate to think of anything changing that could jeopardize that going forward. 

Why I Am Optmistic The Masked Singer Will Persevere Despite Panel Changes

I would say that The Masked Singer's greatest strength is being able to switch things up. Use a Hulu subscription to revisit the Season 10 premiere that felt like a throwback of sorts to the inaugural season, and it's wild just how much this show has changed. Hell, the show even went forward without Nick Cannon when he had COVID, so there's a case to be made it can carry on through any change. 

Which is to say, perhaps my fear about seeing a member of The Masked Singer panel leave for an entire season is rooted in the fact that it hasn't happened yet. Maybe when Season 11 gets started I'll be more at ease, and realize it wasn't quite as big of a deal as it felt watching them all together in their corner for what could be the last time. I hope that's not the case, but we'll see!

The Masked Singer Season 10 is over at Fox, but Season 11 starts in March. Tune in then to see how the show raises the bar yet again and how it'll fare without having one of its founding panelists a part of the fun. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Masked Singer's Season 10 episode "Soundtrack To My Life." Read at your own risk!

It took weeks of costumed competition, but we finally know everyone who will be facing off in The Masked Singer's Season 10 finale, with Donut beating out Candelabra and Anteater. And while fans may be upset to see the pair leave, at least one those two competitors was relieved to hear the results. Anteater was unmasked and revealed to be Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer/songwriter John Oates, who admitted to CinemaBlend that he felt a bit burnt out by the end of his run, so it wasn't quite as sad to exit as viewers might have ant-icipated. 

I had a fantastic chat with John Oates about his time on The Masked Singer, and before I could even bring up my thoughts on some of the Group finals being unfair, he made it clear he wasn't exactly sad at the time he was eliminated. When I asked why, the Hall & Oates legend recounted what was happening in his life when the episodes were filmed, and how the timing was kind of hectic for him as the finale taping loomed. In his words:

As a touring musician, John Oates is no stranger to jet-setting across the country for performances, but this is obviously a unique circumstance, and trying to keep up with other shows in addition to The Masked Singer put him at a disadvantage. More credit to the guitarist for committing to the series despite a rampant touring schedule, especially since the pay for The Masked Singer isn't really a draw for the celebs. 

While he had a good time, Oates added to CinemaBlend later that he wished he had not been on tour while filming, so that it wouldn't have been such a strain to compete. Despite any issues, he still had a great time showing off his talents on the Fox series, which included participating in some of the Season 10's wild theme nights in Season 10. 

It's wild to see talented competitors like John Oates - as well as the singer under Candelabra's mask, Keyshia Cole - leaving ahead of the Season 10 finale, especially knowing how successful their careers have been. Unfortunately, there weren't any safety nets for these competitors like there were with the Group A upset. Though again, if Oates was relieved to be done with it, I can't be too upset. Cole could've stuck around for the finale, however, and would've been saved by the "Ding Dong Keep It On Bell" had it not already been used. 

With Donut advancing and joining Sea Queen, Cow, and Gazelle, the stage is set for The Masked Singer's two-hour Season 10 finale. I'm still betting on Gazelle, who I've seen as the clear winner since Episode 2. I still feel strongly about that after revisiting her and Cow's performances with my Hulu subscription, with all due respect to Donut and Sea Queen. I think this finale will ultimately boil down to another showdown with Cow and Gazelle, but perhaps we'll be surprised yet again. 

The Masked Singer airs its Season 10 finale on Fox on Wednesday, December 20th at 8:00 p.m. ET. Be prepared for what feels like the biggest season finale the show has done yet, and maybe even the most competitive as well. 

Throughout ten seasons, The Masked Singer panel has become pretty adept at guessing the identities of the mystery contestants. When Ken Jeong unexpectedly started guessing competitors correctly, I thought no one would be safe this season, but the panel didn't pick perfectly. In fact, they were pretty off the mark in guessing Husky's identity and threw out Brian McKnight as a guess, before the singer was ultimately revealed to be Ginuwine. CinemaBlend caught up with the performer following his elimination and asked about his honest reaction to the "crazy guesses" surrounding his identity. 

Ginuwine, who was eliminated in the first round of a Group B final (which felt unfair), took some time out of his busy schedule to chat with CinemaBlend about participating in the show. During our chat, I couldn't help but ask him how he felt about the guesses that the panel had for his identity. When responding, the veteran singer confessed that even he felt that a pick like Brian McKnight was way off the mark: 

Both Brian McKnight and Ginuwine have some certified hit songs that still hold up to this day. However, any assertion that they have similar sounding voices or singing styles is certainly a stretch. Ultimately, Robin Thicke was able to put that idea to bed, as he mentioned working with McKnight in the past and knew the voices didn't match. Thicke even went on to say that as the "Brian McWhite," he could firmly say that whoever Husky was, it wasn't McKnight.

The Group B final saw Sea Queen advance to the upcoming Season 10 finale of TMS. She'll go up against Cow and Gazelle, the former of which pulled off a stunning upset that would've resulted in Gazelle's elimination if not for the "Ding Dong Keep It On" bell. It originally seemed like Gazelle was the eventual winner after the first two episodes, but it now feels like it's anyone's game. 

Ginuwine's time on The Masked Singer may be done, but he can leave the show with his head held high. His Season 10 performances, which are available to stream by watching previous episodes with a Hulu subscription, were worthy of a trip to the finale. Yet the elimination rounds can be brutal. Fortunately, Season 10's wild theme nights have featured the most talented ensemble of performers the show has ever seen, so anyone eliminated shouldn't feel bad at all. This season has certainly has lived up to the hype, and will likely ensure the show has a future on television for years to come. I'll also say that after those Brian McKnight picks, I'm curious about what other surprising comparisons might be made next.

The Masked Singer airs on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET as part of the 2023 TV schedule. Tune in and catch the final episodes of Season 10, and buckle up for what should be an exciting two-hour finale. 

With The Masked Singer's Group B finals now finished, the usual discussions and debates have been had over who should have emerged victorious. I previously voiced my thoughts about the round lacking fairness without the bell in play, as it meant only one of the three talented singers - Tiki, Husky, and Sea Queen - would advance. In the end, Tiki was unmasked and revealed to be heavy metal icon Sebastian Bach, and CinemaBlend had to get the Skid Row frontman's thoughts about getting axed on a night dedicated to rock music. 

Whether as a solo artist or as part of Skid Row, Sebastian Bach is a name that's long been synonymous with rock music, long hair, and soaring vocals. As such, it felt like he might have taken exception with being voted out during the genre-friendly "I Wanna Rock." When I asked the singer for his thoughts, Bach noted there were no hard feelings over what happened - one could even say he could stand the heartache  - even if he wasn't altogether in agreement that he was the one who should have gone home over Sea Queen. In his words:

Sea Queen coming out victorious over Tiki wasn't quite on par with Group A's stunning upset, but I do agree with the Gilmore Girls vet. I don't think Sebastian Bach performed poorly in the slightest, and he may well have "won" that final round, so to speak. It's never an easy decision for the audience when they're forced to choose between two equally talented singers who aren't performing under ideal circumstances. Still, it's always unfortunate to see someone getting eliminated for what's essentially their career. 

Bach is moving onward and upward, of course, and just recently released a new single, "What Do I Got To Lose?" on his social platforms, Spotify and elsewhere. The latest single features the singer sounding essentially as clean and polished as he did on Skid Row's self-titled debut. "18 and Life" is understandably not a go-to karaoke song. 

I asked Bach if he's tried out or adjusted to any different techniques as far as his singing preparation and training has gone over the past few decades. And I was surprised to learn not only how little his process has changed, but also how influential his specific routine has been for other rock legends. 

Sebastian Bach has plenty to hang his hat on thanks to a long career in rock music on top of Broadway and TV roles, which has earned him much respect from his fellow musicians. And you know his Trailer Park Boys appearances give him major cred among comedy fans.

As such, the rocker told CinemaBlend he was just focused on having fun with this Masked Singer appearance, which means he wasn't backstage psyching out people like Anthony Rappaport as The Pickle. Instead, the over 6'0 singer was busy maneuvering backstage in the Tiki outfit, which made him even taller with the straw and umbrella on top. 

With its wild themes and a great roster of performers, The Masked Singer Season 10 has lived up to the hype of its landmark season. The only thing that could top it at this stage is if TMS did a live season, though the showrunner said there are some logistical issues in doing so. I'd still be up for seeing it happen, though I concede I don't really have to do anything but wait on it, and I'm sure contestants would have to get paid well, unlike previous seasons. 

Catch new episodes of The Masked Singer on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET, and catch up on Season 10 with a Hulu subscription. We're only a short way off from the finale, so be sure to catch up in time for the Group C final and be ready for a big supersized finale. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Masked Singer episode "I Wanna Rock." Read at your own risk!

The Group B finals are now finished for The Masked Singer contestants and judges, and we know for sure which remaining competitors will be advancing to the finale. After Tiki was unmasked as hard rocker Sebastian Bach, and Husky as R&B crooner Ginuwine, Sea Witch was announced to be the big winner from this batch. While I'm not mad about the result specificaly, I do feel as if this round wasn't nearly as fair as the previous round. 

The Group A finals featured a stunning upset, but it fortunately allowed a way for both Cow and Gazelle, my personal favorite, to advance. The "Ding Dong Keep It On Bell" ensured that two competitors moved forward, so why was it not still present for the rest of the competition? 

Nick Cannon Explained The Bell Had Already Been Used Once

I was shocked at the top of the episode when Nick Cannon explained that because The Masked Singer panel had already used the Ding Dong Keep It On Bell once, it would not return for the rest of the finals. I guess I thought each round would be allow the opportunity, instead of just a single shot.

In fairness, Cannon did say in the previous episode that it could only be used once, which I went back and double-checked with my Hulu subscription. In any case, since it was used on Gazelle, the bell could not be used again, and will not show up again in Season 10. 

Bringing Back The Bell For One Round Felt Unfair

Regardless of such Bell rules being in place, it still felt unfair to bring back a game-saving twist just for one round of The Masked Singer's group finals. To me, it felt like a way to conveniently ensure that the animalized tandom of Cow and Gazelle, who have long seemed like easy shoo-ins to last the entire season, both made their way to the finale. They may be the frontrunners, but it soured the competition and in hindsight made it feel like they were given an advantage. 

I've appreciated that The Masked Singer Season 10 has felt like a throwback in many ways, but this potential manipulation of the results via a twist wasn't one of them. Had I realized sooner that the bell would be gone for the rest of the season, I might've been ok with Gazelle going home in the previous episode. If there are too many twists being thrown in to alter the competition, how can the series help former competitors like David Archuleta feel healed after their run?

With the potential future exception for The Masked Singer finally deciding to air a live season, Season 10 has been my favorite run of the show. I've loved the wild themes and reveals so far, but a finale that doesn't feel earned could jeopardize my enjoyment of the season overall. I'm hoping the removal of a fair chance at saving competitors in each round doesn't make it all too predictable who wins at the end. 

The Masked Singer airs on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Season 10 is rolling right along, but there aren't many episodes left. Be sure to tune in for the final stretch, and see who will be the winner of this landmark season. 

The Masked Singer's latest Season 10 episode was one to remember, and while the Group A final's stunning upset was the conversation of the night, we also saw another talented competitor fall short. S'more was unmasked as former O-Town singer Ashley Parker Angel, and while he graced the audience with a stunning rendition of "All Or Nothing" before his exit, Angel told CinemaBlend a reunion with the boy band is not in the cards for his future. 

In an time where even *NSYNC reunited for Trolls: Band Together, Ashley Parker Angel has rebuffed opportunities to rejoin O-Town for reunion tours for a while now. Angel was gracious enough to talk to me about the circumstances that led to that initial decision and how even The Masked Singer's performance hasn't changed his thoughts on a return:

Ashley Parker Angel had a chance to compete against The Masked Singer's Cow, as well as someone I've thought will be the eventual winner since Episode 2, Gazelle. For now, he's content with that experience and his performances as S'More, all of which can be revisited by O-Town fans who missed out with a Hulu subscription. 

As for what the singer and former Making The Band winner is doing now, Ashley Parker Angel has found a new calling as a celebrity fitness and lifestyle coach. Angel spoke about his business High Level Performance Academy, and how he's now connecting with fans of his music in a different way: 

While he didn't make it to the end, Ashley Parker Angel got about as complete of an experience as someone competing on The Masked Singer could ask for. This included being a part of the premiere episode, which felt like a throwback to Season 1, which I really appreciated. To make it all the way to the Group A final was impressive, especially since it seems the finale will ultimately see Cow and Gazelle competing again for the win. 

Some competitors like Tyler Posey felt some tension following their elimination, but Ashley Parker Angel seemed at peace with how it went down. Now he's back to work coaching people on changing their lives, and thinks that paired with his special performance on The Masked Singer satiated any potential urge to want to reunite with his fellow boy band members:

The Masked Singer panel figured out Ashley Parker Angel ahead of his unmasking, and it's largely thanks to Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg getting back to form on her guessing game after the unexpected trend of Ken Jeong guessing Season 10 contestants correctly. Angel told CinemaBlend he wasn't shocked the actress guessed him, especially with her husband Donnie Wahlberg's connection to the boy band universe via New Kids On The Block. 

Season 10 will roll on with the Group B and C finals and then the two-hour finale to crown the winner of The Masked Singer. This is shaping up to be one of the most competitive seasons yet, so I can't wait to see who emerges as the winner of the other groups. 

The Masked Singer airs on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Tune in to see who else will be in the finale and for other surprises in Season 10 as we travel through the back half of the season. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Masked Singer Season 10 episode "Disco Night." Read at your own risk! 

The Masked Singer is a show where the unthinkable can happen, and that's especially true in Season 10. Ken Jeong's unexpected trend of correct guesses remains a wild concept to consider, and the Fox series hit us with another curveball with its "Disco Night" installment. The Group A final turned into a double-elimination, and it almost took out the celeb I believed would win it all. 

Gazelle, Cow, and S'More battled it out in the Group A final, and following Smore's unmasking as O-Town singer Ashley Parker Angel, it was down to Gazelle and Cow. The season's first Battle Royale featured them singing a song from one of Season 8's unmasked contestants, Gloria Gaynor. After two energetic renditions of "I Will Survive," Cow was declared the winner. However, Gazelle isn't out of the fight just yet, and I still feel good about her chances of winning.

Gazelle Was Saved By The Ding Dong Keep It On Bell

I was not a huge fan of the "Ding Dong Keep It On Bell" when it was first introduced in The Masked Singer Season 9, but I'm singing its praises now since it saved Gazelle from going home ahead of the finale. She'll thankfully still be in the mix alongside Cow, but we'll have to wait and see how the Group B and C finals shake out to see who joins them. There are still four episodes left to go, offering plenty of time to see what the competition for the finale looks like ahead of its two-hour curtain call.  

Why I Still Believe Gazelle Will Win The Masked Singer Season 10

I've thought Gazelle would win The Masked Singer since Episode 2, and while she lucked out with the bell-ringing twist, I still feel like she's going to stand tall as the winner of Season 10. After this shocking turn of events, I'll confess I revisited her past performances with my Hulu subscription just to see if I was ignoring Cow's talent while overly concerned with my preferred artist. After the review, though, I still feel confident in saying this was a case of a bad match-up in terms of song choice and that Gazelle would be Cow most other times. 

In my opinion, Gazelle's loss in the Battle Royale wasn't indicative of a bad performance. The Cow offered up a really funky stylized version of "I Will Survive" that stood out over the more traditional performance. It's part of the reason why I don't really like the showdown rounds where competitors are performing the same song. Still, that's a part of the game, and hopefully, Gazelle kept that in mind that sometimes the safest performance is not the one that will move them to the next level. 

While I still feel confident that Gazelle will stand tall at the end of The Masked Singer Season 10, I can't deny that this show is notorious for breaking the hearts of talented singers. American Idol fans were likely bummed when David Archuleta was sent home runner-up, and that could happen again in Season 10. After all, this whole season has felt like a big throwback to previous seasons, so a controversial elimination would be par for the course. 

The Masked Singer airs on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. This season is winding down, but there's still plenty of excitement before we reach the finale, so make sure to tune in every week. 

The Masked Singer Season 10 has stunned and awed fans with its wild theme nights, and now it has amazed again. On the same night that Cuddle Monster was unmasked as NBA legend Metta World Peace, the panel guessed he was Golden State Warriors superstar Draymond Green. Green is currently under a five-game suspension from the NBA following an altercation in which he placed fellow athlete Rudy Goebert in a chokehold on the court, and CinemaBlend wanted to ask the athlete his take on the whole situation. 

Metta World Peace's joyous performance of "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" by New Kids On The Block in a fuzzy monster costume shows a different persona from his NBA playing days. The athlete's impressive career was marred by several controversies that resulted in suspensions, which is similar to Draymond Green and why the panel leaned in that direction after hearing the clue package. Given his career that ultimately led to multiple major accolades and an NBA championship, I asked the athlete his thoughts on Green's suspension and the league's response to the incident:

As mentioned, Metta World Peace is no stranger to the struggles Draymond Green is going through. He played a heavy role in the infamous incident known as Malice At The Palace, a 2004 on-court brawl involving the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons. Peace was given an eighty-six-game suspension for his part in the incident, the longest suspension for an on-court altercation in NBA history. He might be the most informed person on what someone like Green is going through, so it's interesting to hear his surprise. 

Metta World Peace has moved on from his past and talked extensively over the years about the behind-the-scenes factors that led to his on-court behavior. While Draymond Green currently holds the record for second most NBA ejections of all time, and he may not want to call Peace up asking for singing advice given his quick exit on The Masked Singer. The former Season 10 competitor did tell CinemaBlend he hoped they could connect at some point to talk:

What show other than The Masked Singer would pull in such a relevant celebrity at the perfect time? Even after ten seasons, the Fox series continues to amaze with the most shocking reveals. It's enough to make one want to revisit the previous seasons with a Hulu subscription once this landmark season is over. 

And while Metta World Peace used to have a "bad boy" persona in the NBA, he handled his exit on The Masked Singer with grace. Compared to actor Tyler Posey, who admitted feeling a little tense when he was booted, and Michael Rappaport, who was trying to psych people out backstage, I'd say he's doing pretty great. 

I'd argue Metta World Peace should've lasted another week on The Masked Singer, but after this latest episode, it's hard to say how much further he would've advanced. Thus far, I'm not sure that anyone can top Gazelle, who we saw in the first two episodes of Season 10. The season isn't over yet, however, so we'll have to see if any other contestant can rise up against them as the season continues. 

The Masked Singer Season 10 will return with new episodes on Wednesday, November 29th at 8:00 p.m. ET. Pretty soon, it'll be time to talk about the prospect of Season 11 and if we'll finally get a live season of TMS. I'm ready for one, but we'll just have to wait and see if it ever happens. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Masked Singer's Season 10 episode "One Hit Wonders Night." Read at your own risk!

The Masked Singer Season 10 returned after a brief break with "One Hit Wonders Night," and while it was yet another epic episode, it was a bit of a downer as the show said goodbye to another talented competitor. Hibiscus was eliminated, and while some of the panel were stumped on who was behind the mask, she wasn't fooling panelist Jenny McCarthy. Real Housewives alum Luann de Lesseps told CinemaBlend she wasn't surprised McCarthy guessed her right from the start for a few reasons beyond the fact that the judge is a fan of Bravo franchise. 

Luann de Lesseps took a break from her Countess Cabaret tour and decided to give The Masked Singer a whirl during its landmark season. Fox viewers and those with a Hulu subscription had a brief chance to guess her identity until Jenny McCarthy laid down definitive evidence that it was the Real Housewives star under the mask. I asked de Lesseps ahead of the episode's airing if she was shocked to be outed so quickly, and the reality star said it wasn't a surprise in the least: 

Typically, it wouldn't be too surprising for Jenny McCarthy to correctly guess a contestant's identity. She's often the best guesser of the bunch, though Ken Jeong has set a surprising new trend of being the guess master in Season 10. I think it was wild to see McCarthy get a correct guess with no hesitation whatsoever, but if it was as obvious as Luann de Lesseps indicated above, it's not too surprising. 

In addition to continuing her current cabaret show, Luann de Lesseps will be part of the cast for Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip later this year. The decision to turn what could've been a legacy show into a girls trip spinoff has been somewhat controversial with fans, though many are likely still pumped to see the Countess return. 

Unfortunately, we only saw some of her talent on The Masked Singer. She didn't last long in Group C, but her exit will clear the way for another wildcard competitor to step up and potentially be the new frontrunner for challengers to look out for. 

The Masked Singer Season 10 is every bit as entertaining as promised. I still haven't seen anyone as talented as the potential winner in the first two episodes, but there's a chance for another contestant to make a run. Until then, I'm looking forward to more wild themes and performances and maybe a few more surprises before the season wraps up. 

Catch new episodes of The Masked Singer on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. This is shaping up to be the best season the series has done yet, so let's hope it maintains that trend and keeps the momentum rolling for the next ten seasons. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Masked Singer episode "Harry Potter Night." Read at your own risk!

It was a magical night on The Masked Singer as the show celebrated the Harry Potter franchise. There was a sorting hat, some fantastic cosplay, and – depending on who you ask – a potential controversy regarding who deserved to move forward in the smackdown round at the end of the night. Now, following his elimination, the man behind The Hawk, actor Tyler Posey, admitted he had some tension after feeling the victim of an unfair elimination. 

Tyler Posey, of MTV's Teen Wolf fame, sat down with CinemaBlend to discuss his time in Season 10 and falling just short to Tiki in the smackdown round. The two contestants performed Lady Gaga's "Monster" in two wildly different styles, with Tiki going for a more traditional take while Posey did more of a rock music take. In the end, the audience advanced Tiki, and Posey confessed he couldn't help but feel a certain kind of way about it: 

While there was mild tension at first, Tyler Posey said the realization that The Masked Singer is more about fun than competition quickly pulled him out of that mindset. After all, the money to do the show isn't great, and the costumes can get hot. If you are there to compete, you might be there for the wrong reason. 

At the same time, I couldn't help but agree that I felt Tyler Posey was robbed when it came to the audience and panels' votes. I asked the actor if he felt his elimination was potentially due to the audience leaning more toward traditional singing over stylized rockstar vibes and showmanship, and if that factored into his elimination. The actor had this to say:

Tyler Posey made some solid points. The Masked Singer prides itself on showmanship, and some of the show's most shocking eliminations of top performers have happened as a result of a less talented singer bringing more energy than their opponent. Of course, it all comes down to the audience in attendance, and maybe that night, they were just feeling the performance of Tiki more than Hawk. 

If there's some upside to Hawk falling short, it's that he might not have stood a chance against this season's early frontrunner, Gazelle, in the next round of the competition. I'm not sure any contestant we've heard in Group B can stand against her, but there are still weeks to go and others to step up and possibly become the new favorite of The Masked Singer Season 10. 

Catch new episodes of The Masked Singer on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET, or binge the series with a Hulu subscription. Readers can also use their Hulu accounts to rewatch the smackdown between Hawk and Tiki and decide for themselves if he was robbed. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Masked Singer Season 10 episode "Elton John Night." Read at your own risk!

The Masked Singer is celebrating its tenth season and has thus far delivered big on wild themes and the return of classic throwback moments, with much more to come. While the show had plenty of fully planned-out surprises for TV viewers to experience in the first month of the season, I'm not sure the fans, producers, or any of the panelists could have predicted the what the most unexpected surprise would actually be: Dr. Ken Jeong on a legitimate hot streak. The notoriously shoddy guesser has correctly figured out the exiting celebrity performers in three of the four episodes that have aired to date.

Those who have watched the Fox series over the years know that while Ken Jeong can get lucky once a season — ma-a-a-aybe twice — he's generally far off the beaten path with his presumptions. That hasn't been the case in Season 10, and the panelists were once again gobsmacked to see Jeong get a correct guess after figuring out Royal Hen was pro tennis legend Billie Jean King. In fairness, he might've picked up on that fact simply from her singing Elton John's "Philadelphia Freedom," which was written specifically as a nod to the accomplished athlete. It's a difficult song to sing for a professional singer, let alone someone who'd possibly never sang on TV before, and though she clearly gave it her all, the performance wasn't quite enough to last another week. But apparently Ken's mental powers will continue on.

Ken Jeong Has A Big Lead On The Other Panelists

The only doctor on The Masked Singer's panel is crushing it after landing his correct guess in four episodes. Before his latest correct guess, Ken Jeong had pegged actor Anthony Anderson as Rubber Ducky in the premiere and reality star Tom Sandoval as Diver. No one in the panel successfully identified Michael Rapaport as The Pickle, though that might have changed if they heard the actor psyching people out backstage with his signature DGAF bravado. 

In any case, Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy, and Nicole Scherzinger have yet to get on Ken Jeong's level this season. This is especially shocking when it comes to McCarthy, who has historically been the most accurate one in the bunch. It's a shame the Golden Ear Trophy is seemingly gone from the show, as he'd have a good chance at earning the prize with this healthy lead. Which probably means he'll be making a personal appeal to bring it back at some point.

Can Ken Jeong Have His Best Season Yet On The Masked Singer?

Ken Jeong is on a roll, but can he sustain it for the rest of The Masked Singer Season 10? Past seasons, available to stream with a Hulu subscription, would show that this streak is truly unprecedented for the actor. With that said, he's had some pretty impressive gets over the years for all of his no good, bad, very terrible guesses. It was pretty impressive when he guessed actress Alicia Witt, and getting the non-singer Bill Nye The Science Guy was probably one of his (or anyone's) best guesses of all time. 

I think that Jeong has the wits and ability to continue this hot streak, but as the comedic relief panelist of The Masked Singer, is that what we want? So much humor in this show is pulled from his off-the-wall guesses and how he connects masked contestants to the most wild celebrities imaginable. Some folks may miss his humor if he's suddenly the master guesser, but I, for one, am here for Season 10 to be redubbed Season Ken!

The Masked Singer airs on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Season 10 is rolling along, but with Harry Potter night coming up, it would be a great time to catch up and join in for a magical evening. 

Warning! The following contains the identity of The Masked Singer Season 10's Pickle. Read at your own risk!

When many celebrities talk about competing on The Masked Singer, they generally describe it as an event that's all in good fun. Many compliment the experience afterward, which is good because they don't get paid much to do it. It's rare I've seen someone on stage "mad," so when Nick Cannon said actor and comedian Michael Rapaport was legitimately upset he was eliminated and unmasked as The Pickle, I thought it was a joke. Then CinemaBlend spoke to Rapaport and learned about his backstage tactics and feeling like "Mike Tyson," and I'm not so sure anymore. 

I was honored to talk to Michael Rapaport about his time as Pickle, performing on bizarre themes like NFL night and competing against talented singers. Rapaport confirmed that he knew these singers were talented, but he had his own strategy for taking down competitors. He explained below: 

Imagine Michael Rapaport, dressed up in the Pickle competition, trying to smack talk people backstage at The Masked Singer. It's absolutely hilarious and makes me wish I could actually see some bonus content of him doing exactly that online or with my Hulu subscription. 

Perhaps we need more tension between performances and some actual feuds between competitors. Don't get me wrong – outside of not giving me a live season, I don't have too many complaints about The Masked Singer. Still, the show could stand to have a touch more drama, though not like the drama happening with Firefly in Season 7. 

Rapaport might've felt like Mike Tyson in his prime, but he was the one who was ultimately "knocked out" of the competition in his showdown with S'More. Following his elimination, Rapaport had kind words for everyone he competed with and acknowledged that he was among a talented bunch:

CinemaBlend asked Michael Rapaport if he'd be doing any singing on the road as he's currently touring the nation on a comedy tour, but couldn't get a definitive answer. Rapaport will be in Chicago on October 20th and the 21st, and tickets for his comedy shows are available on his website. 

The Masked Singer Season 10 is down a Pickle, but there's still plenty of talent in the mix as we head into next week. Granted, I haven't heard of anyone who is nearly as talented as Gazelle, and she's still one of my top picks to win this season until I hear otherwise. Perhaps if we have another competitor this season who also has Michael Rapaport's backstage smack talk skills, they can overtake her. 

Catch new episodes of The Masked Singer Season 10 over on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Now is the time to catch up and get in on the fun of guessing the identities of each contestant involved this season. 

The Masked Singer is in the middle of a landmark season, and it's a big celebration of just how much has been accomplished in the past decade. Through bizarre themed nights and callbacks to previous twists, Season 10 has highlighted so many wild elements that are unique to this series, but there are certainly still new places for it to go. For instance, many fans would love to see what live season of the Fox series would look like, so I asked the showrunner about those possibilities, and learned what it would take to happen. 

CinemaBlend caught up with showrunner James Breen ahead of the start of Season 10, and when I asked if there were ever plans to produce a live season of The Masked Singer, he confirmed he's on board with how great it would be to make that a reality. However, he also addressed the various logistical issues behind the scenes that would make switching up the format easier said than done. In his words:

After getting some insight from James Breen, I can easily see why simply saying, "Let's do a live season of The Masked Singer," isn't nearly enough to actually make it happen. Ten weeks (or more) of the judges guessing contestants' identities and voting them off may seem fun for those at home, but there are celebrities and athletes underneath those costumes who are likely hoping to get back to their careers, families, and ability to speak freely about current projects. Could someone like Season 3's shocking contestant Lil Wayne have realistically committed to potentially making weekly appearaces over a three-month period of appearances if they had a chance of winning?

There's also the issue of increasing The Masked Singer's budget, which would need a boost in order to make a live season viable. The show has succeeded long enough to find its way to Season 10 based on its Fox ratings stats (presumably combined with those streaming via Hulu subscription), but even that audience size may not be enough to justify increasing the budget for such a major change in the production process. Additionally, would the series actually gain swaths of additional viewers with a live season, or would it just maintain the core group who were around the previous season? It's hard to know, and that uncertainty doesn't help. 

On the flip side, many shows like The Voice and American Idol have celebrated long runs by transitioning from previously recorded episodes to weeks of live competition later in their seasons. Outside of the wacky costumes, the contestants already being famous, and the extremes to protect celebs' identities, the formats are fairly similar, so there are possibly ways for TMS to further adapt its structure. 

I can understand just how much more difficult it would be to make The Masked Singer a live show while still saying I think it would be the coolest thing ever. Plus, could you imagine how much wilder unplanned moments like when Duff Goldman's mask fell off would be live? 

I'd love to see The Masked Singer live on Fox, but for now, I'll settle for Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Season 10 is still in the early stages, so there's plenty of time to pick it up on streaming and catch up ahead of next week's episode. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Masked Singer Season 10 episode "NFL Night." Read at your own risk!

With its Season 10 premiere out of the way, The Masked Singer kicked off its themed episodes with "NFL Night" in Episode 2, and combining football and singing wasn't as strange as it first seemed when we first spoke to the showrunner. In fact, it was a real winner, and speaking of winners, even though we're only a couple of episodes into the season, I can't shake the feeling that tonight was the night viewers first met the celeb who'll end up being the eventual winner of the landmark season. 

We still have yet to see every competitor take the stage, of course, and we've only seen a couple of songs from the ones that The Masked Singer has brought out so far. But I think we should all be in agreement that there's a clear frontrunner, and the only question left is how much longer are the show's stars going to wait to just give Gazelle the overall win.

Gazelle Is Blowing Her Competitors Away 

The Masked Singer always seems to have an early stand-out in the mix every season who comes across as more talented than the rest of the early competitors, even despite the various format changes. Those who restream the first two episodes with a Hulu subscription will see that the gap is really wide this year when comparing Gazelle to the rest of the current talent pool. In fairness, the throwback-style premiere voted out actor Anthony Anderson, and the latest episode unmasked Diver to reveal Vanderpump Rules' headline-maker Tom Sandoval, so it's not like any professional singers have gotten the boot yet.

Lackluster performers aside, there's something special about Gazelle. I was absolutely gobsmacked by how great her performance was of Alanis Morisette's "Uninvited" during the premiere, which can be heard below: 

In ten seasons of watching this kooky show, I've never pegged anyone as a surefire season winner faster than now. Gazelle has some pipes, and as of right now, she's going to be the one to beat as this season continues on. 

Who Is Gazelle? 

While The Masked Singer fans are usually on the ball when it comes to identifying celebrities, there doesn't seem to be a clear consensus on who Gazelle is at this time. The panel has thrown out guesses like actresses Camila Mendes, Vanessa Hudgens, and Lucy Hale, and who knows if any of those guesses are accurate of not. Ken Jeong threw out a curveball in the latest episode that it might be his friend and Crazy Rich Asians star Constance Wu. 

Jeong became pretty emotional when guessing, noting that it may just be that he was thinking of her, perhaps due to the actress opening up about her struggles following the cancellation of Fresh Off The Boat. Whether it's Constance Wu or not, we cannot say with any more certainty than when Crazy Rich Asians 2 will happen, but I can say that I see a bright future for Gazelle and good odds of Gazelle hoisting the Golden Mask trophy at the end of the season. 

The Masked Singer Season 10 airs new episodes on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Tune in as this season continues to see who will stand as competition to Gazelle or if no competitor will ultimately be able to stand against her. 

In its tenth season, The Masked Singer is still managing to find plenty of celebrities who want to commit to the wild competition, and the pulls are as impressive as ever. Some of the famed faces make the effort to travel extreme distances in a short amount of time to compete, so the pay must be pretty good, right? Well, it's been a long-standing rumor that the celebrities taking part in the performances are doing so for free, but CinemaBlend recently learned the truth behind those claims from the showrunner himself, James Breen. 

Without any masks involved, Breen revealed further insight into the celeb payment conversation when we spoke ahead of The Masked Singer's Season 10 premiere. During our talk, I brought up the speculation that participants aren't paid to participate, and Breen clarified exactly what the situation is as of Season 10: 

So, while there is ostensibly a payday involved when competing on The Masked Singer, showrunner James Breen admitted it's not something many celebrities would seek out as the core reason to appear on the Fox hit. If someone has reached the point where Masked Singer is a possibility, they're probably bringing in enough money that guild fees aren't a make-or-break issue. It is good to know, however, that there's a minor amount of money exchanged and that celebrities like the late Jerry Springer didn't foot the hotel bill during his considerably short stint.

Even beyond lodging issues, The Masked Singer contestants have gone through a lot over the years. Contestants have had last-minute scheduling changes altering their performances, as well as issues with movement in unique costumes, while one celeb was even shocked on stage due to wiring malfunctions. And yet, when it's all said and done, just about everyone who's taken part has been positive about it while encouraging others to do it.  

The fact that celebrities compete practically for free makes it all the more of an impressive effort that The Masked Singer has kept the train rolling on this series for ten seasons. This year is serving up an even bigger array of surprises, as Breen confirmed that former competitors will continue to appear throughout the season to help celebrate the landmark season alongside the new batch of competitors. 

I know I'd personally love to see someone like past competitor Joey Fatone return and compete in secret, though I'm not sure the Fox series will ever let a celebrity return and try to fool viewers. I don't think there's a rule against it, though, so maybe keep an ear out to see if any former competitors might be under some fuzzy exoskeletons as The Masked Singer Season 10 continues.

This season has been advertised to be bigger than any its done before, and viewers should expect callbacks to previous seasons as well as unique themed nights for the NFL and Harry Potter. It's all winding down to another crowning of the Golden Mask trophy and maybe even a new era in The Masked Singer. 

The Masked Singer airs on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Stream Season 10 with a Hulu subscription, and keep scouring the web for details on this season's competitors and who they might be.